Tattered Remains

Author

Katherine Houlne

Publication Date

1-1-2016

Document Type

Essay

First Advisor

Labatte, Jessica

Degree Name

B.F.A. (Bachelor of Fine Arts)

Legacy Department

School of Art

Abstract

All life depends upon connections. As one uniting thread begins to unravel, all other threads become tattered and torn. Birds are a vital thread in the connections within an ecosystem. Birds are an indicator species and their presence, or absence, and their relative health is a sign of the overall health of that ecosystem. Seventy-five percent of bird species are in decline globally from habitat loss, habitat transformation, climate change, pollution, human predation, and exposure to pesticides, fungicides, herbicides and fertilizers. Much of this decline can be directly related to human activity in this Anthropogenic Epoch. Birds contribute to the ecosystem, through provisional, regulatory, and supportive services. These direct services are seed dispersing, pollination, waste disposal, disease control, pest and weed removal, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem engineering. Humans benefit directly and indirectly from these services, in the form of production of medicine, air, clothing, wood, and food. Birds provide cultural services as well. Many people find inspiration for art, music, and spirit through birds. Without these species and the services they provide, the world would look very different. There are catastrophic declines across multiple species when even just one connection point of life fails. Tattered Remains is a documentation of the avian part of this sixth mass extinction we are currently experiencing. It is a protest of the dualistic Western view that nature and humans are separate while showing gratitude for the work birds do and the inspiration they bring.

Comments

URL for website to be inserted

Recommended Citation

Houlne, Katherine, "Tattered Remains" (2016). Student Projects. 40.
https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/art-studentprojects/40

Extent

7 pages; 4 photographs

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement 2

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

Media Type

Image||Text