Canaries in a Coal Mine
Where have all the birds gone?
June 28—August 23, 2025
Curated by Rachel Rosenfield Lafo
Walton Ford, Granary, 2020. Image Courtesy of Wingate Studio
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION The number of birds in North America has declined by 3 billion in the last 50 years – and one in eight bird species are under threat of extinction. Birds play an important role in the ecosystem by eating insects, dispersing seeds, and pollinating plants (not to mention the pleasure we receive from watching birds and hearing their distinctive calls).
Canaries in a Coal Mine: Where have all the birds gone? centers around the titular theme of loss among the animal kingdom due to ecological disasters such as human disasters, climate change, the presence of invasive species, and the use of pesticides. This exhibition features a wide array of internationally recognized artists who reflect on the serious dangers birds face.
Rachel Rosenfield Lafo is an independent curator, writer, and lecturer. She previously served as director of the Richmond Art Gallery in Richmond, BC; Director of Curatorial Affairs at the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park, Lincoln, MA, and Associate Curator at the Portland Art Museum, Oregon.