Six Foot Wingspan

The Art of Becoming Birds

Oak Soma Photo: Sarah Bush Dance Project

We are becoming birds through dance, fashion, and art.

During the pandemic, a flock of artists gathered and entered the world of the birds. In a creative study over two years, they explored the question, “how do we embody birds?” Each dancer chose a favorite bird to bring to life, including the Western Meadowlark, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-Shouldered Hawk, American Crow, Cardinal, Snowy Egret, Black-necked Stilt, and Cedar Waxwing.

Dance Films

The Six Foot Wingspan dance films explore birds and conservation through movement, music, and expression. 

Egretta

Becoming the graceful Snowy Egret along the shores of Richardson Bay Audubon Center.

 

Egretta

 

Fire. Wood. Space. Air. Earth. 

The elemental force of wildfire at Bobcat Ranch where regenerative grazing seeks to protect grassland bird species. 

Elements

 

Contact Call

A contact call is a type of call used by birds for the purpose of letting other birds know their location. We listen for these calls to learn the language of the birds and to make contact with the more-than-human world.

 

Contact Call

About Sarah Bush Dance Project

Sarah Bush Dance Project is an LGBTQIA-led company that is known for award-winning intergenerational dance theater performances. The company has developed a This Land creative process of using the senses to generate language and movement. 

 

The Flock

There are 30 gifted artists who flocked together to create this experience. Dancers include Frances Teves Sedayao, Joan Lazarus, Sue Li Jue, Richelle Donigan, Risa Ofelia Diaz, KJ Dahlaw, Julianna Cressman, Sarah Bush, Sarah Cabigas, Hannah Westbrook, Olivia Eng, courtney hope, mindful birding guide Molly Tsongas, filmmakers Lindsay Gauthier, Clare Schweitzer, Aleksey Bochkovsky, sound composer Miles Lassi, video effects and photography Olivia Ting, couture designer Colleen Quen, writer Jessica Zhou, videographer Zegan Doyle, visual artist Sabina Kariat, sculpture artist Kasia Krzykawska, makeup artists Lyle Mackston, Tamiko, Ché, photographer Alex Matt, stage and production managers Raphael Buenaventura and Jeanie Walsh.

 

Bird Fashion Whisperer
Bird-Friendly Communities

Bird Fashion Whisperer

How Colleen Quen brought nine birds to life in silk.

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Dead or Alive?
Audubon Artist Residency

Dead or Alive?

Bird portraits explore the frozen past versus the vibrant present.

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Mesmerizing Bird Collage
Audubon Artist Residency

Mesmerizing Bird Collage

Six bird portraits by artist Julianna Cressman

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Art of Bird Drag
Audubon Artist Residency

Art of Bird Drag

Viral makeup tutorial, bird drag looks, and special interview with L Y L E, drag queen and Disney Prince.

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American Crow

Latin:  Corvus brachyrhynchos

Illustration for American Crow

Red-shouldered Hawk

Latin:  Buteo lineatus

Illustration for Red-shouldered Hawk

Western Meadowlark

Latin:  Sturnella neglecta

Illustration for Western Meadowlark

Dark-eyed Junco

Latin:  Junco hyemalis

Illustration for Dark-eyed Junco

Nuttall's Woodpecker

Latin:  Dryobates nuttallii

Illustration for Nuttall's Woodpecker

Cedar Waxwing

Latin:  Bombycilla cedrorum

Illustration for Cedar Waxwing

Great Egret

Latin:  Ardea alba

Illustration for Great Egret

Black-necked Stilt

Latin:  Himantopus mexicanus

Illustration for Black-necked Stilt

News & Updates

Mesmerizing Bird Collage
Audubon Artist Residency

Mesmerizing Bird Collage

Six bird portraits by artist Julianna Cressman

Dead or Alive?
Audubon Artist Residency

Dead or Alive?

Bird portraits explore the frozen past versus the vibrant present.

Art of Bird Drag
Audubon Artist Residency

Art of Bird Drag

Viral makeup tutorial, bird drag looks, and special interview with L Y L E, drag queen and Disney Prince.

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