We are finishing our Film Friday series at Audubon Center at Debs Park with a screening of The Lost Bird Project, a film about artist Todd McGrain and his effort to recognize the tragedy of modern extinction by immortalizing North American birds that have been driven to extinction in sculptures he places at the site of each bird's extinction. We spoke with Todd about his passion for birds and art:

AC:  Why did you choose to focus on birds? Why not another animal?

TM:  I have always been drawn to the shape of birds and though it is heavily traveled territory for sculptors, my interest has persisted.

While I was working on this first sculpture, I came across Chris Cokinos’ book, Hope is the Thing with Feathers.  Chris very thoughtfully tells the stories and describes the decline of extinct North American birds.  With these poignant narratives in my thoughts, the sculpture took on new meaning.  It became a memorial to the Labrador Duck.

AC:  What other artists influence you?

TM:  That’s a good question. Sebastao Salgado is an artist that comes to mind. His photography documenting the plight of workers of the world has long been an inspiration to me for their beauty and activism.

AC:  Who first introduced you to birding?

TM:  My father is a longtime birder in Rochester, NY. Audubon Magazine was always around the house and John James Audubon’s Birds of America was always on our family coffee table.

AC:  What is your favorite bird that isn’t extinct?

TM:  Kingfishers. I often see them flying along the edge of the lake near my home in upstate New York.

AC:  What do you think is the solution to end extinction of birds? Who should step up and prevent this?

TM:  As an artist, I feel the best I can do is to raise awareness.  My hope to contribute to the growing efforts by organizations such as Audubon, naturalists, scientists, ornithologists, environmentalists, teachers, and people in all parts of our society who are attempting to raise awareness about the current loss of species of plants and animals. Our deteriorating environment puts many fragile species under stress.

With The Lost Bird Project I am working to contribute to a rising tide of environmental awareness by telling the stories and keeping the memory of these extinct birds alive.

AC:  Your sculptures are very large, how much does an average one weigh?

TM:  700 – 900 pounds.  The parody of scale I model for these five extinct birds creates a physical sympathy as you approach them. They once were and are no longer.  In this form they are undeniable.  The sculptures were made to be seen in the their landscape, their habitat.  This demanded bronze for durability.  However the tactility of bronze makes people wish to touch them.  Touching the sculptures is a sympathetic gesture that encourages observers to have a deeper experience with the loss of each bird.

Join us Friday 7:00 pm for a screening of The Lost Bird Project at Audubon Center at Debs Park, 4700 N. Griffin Ave, Los Angeles, California 90031.

For more on the Lost Bird Bird Project, visit http://www.lostbirdproject.org.