Conference of the Birds
Exhibition
Exhibition Overview
Conference of the Birds
Emily Kruse, curator
Sabine Rishell, curator
Sabine Rishell, curator
October 23, 2020–October 30, 2020
https://spencerartapps.ku.edu/spencer-projects/3354
Kick off the 5th annual Backyard Bash with a special edition of Spencer Projects featuring an aviary of art from the Museum’s collection projected on the building. Perch in front of the Museum to view a vast array of bird-themed pottery, paintings, and prints, as well as feathered objects. Afterward, take a flashlight tour of Conference of the Birds, a series of 13 sculptural nests created by KU students, commissioned by the Museum, and installed throughout Marvin Grove. Please wear a mask and practice social distancing. This adaptation of Spencer Projects is curated by student staff members Emily Kruse and Sabine Rishell.
Exhibition images
Works of art
Matt Morgan Art Pottery
jug,
circa 1882–1884
Roza Jaso
untitled sampler,
1820–1860
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858)
Mandarin Ducks Swimming in Stream,
1830s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858)
Small Bird on Mallow,
1830s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Carrie A. Hall (1866–1955)
Red Birds quilt block,
early 1900s
Hoerman Brothers Manufacturing Company (active 1893–1907)
Eagle,
late 1800s–1905
Kōno Bairei (1844–1895)
Kin hayabusa (Yellow Rose of Sharon and Peregrine Falcon),
1883, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Karl Jutz (1838–1916)
Farmyard Birds,
late 1800s
Dr. Harold Eugene Edgerton (1903–1990); Gus Kayafas (born 1947)
Girl with Birds,
1940
Dr. Harold Eugene Edgerton (1903–1990)
Dove Ascent, Multiflash,
1965
Dr. Harold Eugene Edgerton (1903–1990)
Downward Beat of Dove's Wings,
mid-late 1900s
Henry Bugbee Kane (1902–1971)
Chickadee,
circa 1954
Dr. Harold Eugene Edgerton (1903–1990)
Hummingbird,
1979
Patricia DuBose Duncan (1932–2021)
Prairie Chicken,
1977
Louis Gonzales (1907–1990); C. Szwedzicki (active 1929–1952)
C. Szwedzicki (active 1929–1952); Awa Tsireh (1898–1955, active 1915–1955)
The Eagle Dance,
1932
C. Szwedzicki (active 1929–1952); Awa Tsireh (1898–1955, active 1915–1955)
Hawk,
1932
Richard Martinez (1904–1987, active 1920–1970); C. Szwedzicki (active 1929–1952)
Turkey with maize,
1932
Robert Lostutter (born 1939)
John Ashbery (1927–2017)
untitled,
circa 1980
Charles Marshall (1905–1992)
untitled,
date unknown
Lawrence Lithography Workshop (active 1979–1998); Jaune Quick-to-See Smith (1940–2025)
Four Directions,
1995
Tom Druecker
Bang!,
1998
Sue Fuller (1914–2006)
Owl,
1949
John David Boyd (1939–2012)
Hummingbird,
2001
David Bull (born 1951)
Peter Walls (born 1970)
Corvus Prima Materia,
2000
Barbara Mason (born 1945)
Phillipine Eagle,
2001
Félix Bracquemond (1833–1914)
Félix Bracquemond (1833–1914)
Les Hirondelles (The Swallows),
circa 1882
Tony Fitzpatrick (1958–2025); Landfall Press (active 1970–2004)
Crow House,
1992
Jeanne Norman Chase (born 1929)
Spring,
2003
Eli Griggs
20.11.03,
2003
Roger Shimomura (born 1939)
Aerial View, Kansas River,
circa 1970
Bea Gold (born 1927)
Phoenix Aflame,
2005
Eric Hagstrom
Jub-Jub Bird,
2005
long necked bird,
late 1800s–1950
unrecorded Ayoreo artist
feather neck ornament with bird head,
late 1800s–1976
Pablita Concho (1901–1993)
jar,
mid 1900s
Dale Burlison DeArmond (1914–2006)
Sadie Adams (1905–1995, active 1930–1981)
jar,
early 1900s–1965
Bernard Homer
bolo tie,
late 1800s–1964
unknown maker
bird shaped whistle,
late 1800s–1992
unrecorded Lakota artist
beaded coin purse,
late 1800s–1993
Mary Annette Clause
velvet shoulder bag,
1993
Tonalá bird figure,
late 1900s–1994
parrot figure with perch,
late 1900s
unrecorded Guna artist
mola,
late 1900s–1994
Herbert Ben Sr. (born 1950/1951)
Navajo creation story,
1974
Michelle Sisneros (born 1960)
Little White Eagle,
circa 1997
Jacqueline Bishop (born 1955)
Field Guide,
2010
Pierre Joseph-Valcin (1925–2000, active 1960s–2000)
Birds of a Feather,
1975
Norman Akers (born 1958)
Greed II,
2010
bird with egg,
late 1900s–1994
Ravi Varma Press
Vishnu-Garud Wahan,
circa 1920
Christopher T. Creyts; Matthew Day Jackson (born 1974); Collaborative Art Editions
Christopher T. Creyts; Matthew Day Jackson (born 1974); Collaborative Art Editions
Christopher T. Creyts; Matthew Day Jackson (born 1974); Collaborative Art Editions
And frogs in the pools, singing at night,
2015–2016
Christopher T. Creyts; Matthew Day Jackson (born 1974); Collaborative Art Editions
And wild plum trees in tremulous white,
2015–2016
Christopher T. Creyts; Matthew Day Jackson (born 1974); Collaborative Art Editions
Robins will wear their feathery fire,
2015–2016
Christopher T. Creyts; Matthew Day Jackson (born 1974); Collaborative Art Editions
Whistling their whims on a low fence-wire,
2015–2016
Christopher T. Creyts; Matthew Day Jackson (born 1974); Collaborative Art Editions
And not one will know of the war, not one,
2015–2016
Christopher T. Creyts; Matthew Day Jackson (born 1974); Collaborative Art Editions
Will care at last when it is done,
2015–2016
Christopher T. Creyts; Matthew Day Jackson (born 1974); Collaborative Art Editions
Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree,
2015–2016
Christopher T. Creyts; Matthew Day Jackson (born 1974); Collaborative Art Editions
And Spring herself, when she woke at dawn,
2015–2016
Christopher T. Creyts; Matthew Day Jackson (born 1974); Collaborative Art Editions
If mankind perished utterly,
2015–2016
Christopher T. Creyts; Matthew Day Jackson (born 1974); Collaborative Art Editions
Would scarcely know that we were gone,
2015–2016
ACM SIGGRAPH (founded 1969)
untitled (stylized phoenix),
1980s
Matthew Baker (born 1953)
Raven,
circa 2000–2005
Skip Saunders (born 1963)
Raven,
2003
Mamie Deschillie (1920–2010)
blue giraffe with white polka dots and yellow bird,
late 1900s–2010
Mamie Deschillie (1920–2010)
blue animal with yellow bird,
late 1900s–2010
Emmett Williams (1925–2007)
untitled,
1979
Frederick Stuart Church (1842–1924)
Tiger and bird,
1892
Félix Bracquemond (1833–1914)
Demon King Rawana Riding Wilmana (garuda bird),
date unknown
Henry Wessel (born 1942)
untitled,
1977
Dr. Harold Eugene Edgerton (1903–1990)
Dr. Harold Eugene Edgerton (1903–1990); Gus Kayafas (born 1947)
Fighting Finches,
1936
Mark Goodman (born 1946)
untitled (man with bird tattoos),
late 1900s
Maurice R. Bebb (1891–1986); Prairie Print Makers (active 1930–1965)
White-breasted Nuthatch,
1959
Avis Chitwood (1893–1994); Margaret Evelyn Whittemore (1897–1983)
Baltimore Oriole,
1930s
Robert James Hunt (1921–1996)
Cat Night VII,
1987
John Talleur (1925–2001)
"Pit Pat, well-a-day...",
1976
Keith Jacobshagen (born 1941)
Black Bird Wind break,
1979
Sakamoto Koichi (born 1932)
Horizon (B),
circa 1970s
Brion Gysin (1916–1986)
untitled (Gysin at Mistra, Greece),
1935, circa 1982
David Bull (born 1951)
Two Fans,
1999
Lynita Shimizu (born 1952)
Jim Bryant
Patsy Giclas (1938–2021)
Crow County,
2002
Gillyin Gatto
Nesting Kestrel,
2002
Richard Basil Mock (1944–2006)
Carl Fischer (1924–2023)
untitled (man in egg),
1973
Ohara Shōson (1877–1945)
Two birds on wisteria branch,
1920s, Taisho period (1912–1926) or Showa period (1926–1989)
Asada Benji (1899–1984); Uchida Woodblock Printing Co., Ltd.
Pheasant,
early-mid 1900s
Matt Laine
Grebe,
2004
unrecorded Kwih-dich-chuh-aht (Makah) or Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka) artist
stylized bird sculpture,
1900–1926
unrecorded Kotyit (Cochiti) artist
stylized animal pitcher,
late 1800s
Nampeyo of Hano (1859–1942, active 1880–1940)
olla (jar),
circa 1890
unrecorded Northwest Coast artist
miniature totem pole,
late 1800s–early 1900s
Damacia Cordero (1905–1989)
owl figure,
mid 1900s
unrecorded Aénts Chicham artist
waist ornament,
late 1800s–1928
Tonalá owl figure,
late 1900s–1994
unrecorded A:shiwi (Zuñi) artist
owl figure,
circa 1967
Alice Paul
small basket with lid,
late 1800s–1996
Manuel Aguilar
Tonalá owl figure,
late 1800s–1953
unrecorded Ayuukja’ay (Highland Mixe) artist
Hazelle, Inc.
owl marionette,
1959–1979
Fu Bin (born 1984)
untitled,
2007
Harvey Dinnerstein (1928–2022)
Nocturnal Passage,
2009
Adam Leontus (1923–1986, active 1940s–1986)
Tropical Bird,
circa 1950–1976
Norman Akers (born 1958)
Time Traveler,
2010
Ellen Lanyon (1926–2013); Landfall Press (active 1970–2004)
Black Egret,
1985
Elva Nampeyo (1926–1985, active 1940–1985)
bowl with double bird design,
mid 1900s