I went out into the garden this morning – it was raining. As I stood drinking my coffee, looking at the dark shiny clods of earth, I saw that tender pink Rhubarb shoots had broken through; pale green leaves still curled tight against the cold.
I thought about how the earth had taken the shape of Rhubarb, how there was a possibility of Rhubarb and suddenly, one January morning, there it was, tender, wobbly, prone to slug attack.
I then thought about my Fat Birds and how they were born in a similar fashion from wet clay.
I spent many months thinking about birds and watching them before going into the studio. I saw fat woodpigeons squabbling in the hawthorn, seagulls chasing air currents on a windy day, a tiny robin singing with the voice of silver bells from a tree branch. There was a possibility of Fat Birds.
Later on in my studio the first Fat Bird emerged almost by itself. I had to make very few changes and adaptations.
Because of Fat Birds fondness for the naked fire, I had to find out how to expose them to it without them blowing up in the process. In the end, smoke firing them in a galvanised dustbin filled with sawdust and Fat Birds and then set alight achieved that mottled effect I had in my mind’s eye. I have made hundreds of birds since that day, but I feel that each bird is here on her own terms, telling the story about what it is like to be a Fat Bird.
To see more of my work please go to www.ANNAKEILLER.co.uk
Hi Anna – just come back from a springtime walk and read about the fat birds – I was delighted to see them roosting in their dustbin nest.
My own fat bird [that I had from your flock] continues to bring its magical presence to my sitting room – watching from its still earthy centre that I don’t take myself too seriously!
How wonderful that these birds migrate and continue to spread out into the world.
Blessings and a sunny spring smile to you and your flock from Faith and my fat bird. xxx
LikeLike
So happy you like the Fat Bird, Faith! Love and love from Sunny Hastings and me XXX
LikeLike
How can one obtain a Fat Bird?
LikeLike