Adult Craft: Bird Collisions in the Anthropocene

Did you know that 10,836 birds were found dead on the streets of Chicago in 2023 after they were killed by hitting glass windows or doors? Bird Collisions in the Anthropocene is a crowd-sourced art project to create a fabric bird for each of those Chicago birds that died in 2023.

About Bird Collisions in the Anthropocene

At our free public workshops, participants use upcycled cloth and donated materials to handcraft life-sized bird sculptures. Each artwork commemorates a real bird that lost its life after hitting glass — and connects each crafter with a bird species at risk of building collisions.

All of the artworks will be sewn together into a huge 300-foot-long carpet of birds that will travel the country as an educational art installation, raising awareness about the toll of building collisions on our bird populations. The full project will take 4 to 6 years, with a likely completion date of 2029. 
 
How to Participate

The Vicksburg District Library is hosting a drop-in bird-making workshop from 5-7pm on Wednesday, June 17. All materials will be provided. You will have a cloth bird body ready to be decorated using fabric scraps and other materials. Drop in anytime during the workshop - and bring a friend!
 
After the workshop, all birds will be sent to the project's Chicago headquarters to be included in the final carpet of birds. You will also have the opportunity to learn about ways to protect birds from deadly glass collisions.