Installed: 07/01/22
Sponsored by:听SerendipiTea
About the Bird: A denizen of the high Arctic, Snowy Owls are impressive to behold鈥攍arge, powerful, and with snowy white feathers perfectly evolved to blend in with their icy habitat. Occasionally people as far south as Utah and Washington D.C. will catch a glimpse of one during the winter, when populations irrupt, or sporadically migrate, much farther south than their typical range. The Snowy Owl's Arctic habitat is especially vulnerable to global warming. If we don鈥檛 take action to slow climate change, 93 percent鈥攏early all鈥攐f the icy tundra where the owls nest and breed will become too warm to support them. A large swath of the听United States is also projected to become unsuitable for them during the听winter, meaning many people听will no longer experience听the wonder of an irruption.
About the Artist: 听 is a filmmaker and photographer based in New York City who strives to build community with his work. He is also the video producer for the 爆料公社, where he is committed to addressing the diversity gap鈥攑rincipally the lack of people of color and young people鈥攊n the environmental field and conservation movement.
Mike has been involved with the 爆料公社 Mural Project since its inception as the person behind the camera documenting the many artists and murals. It鈥檚 an initiative he鈥檚 thankful to be part of, he says. 鈥淎s a New York City resident, this is a way to give back to the community, interact with them, laugh, share stories, and share the joy that birds bring to all of us.鈥 And as a LatinX person, originally from Peru, he also has a special appreciation for the spot where he painted his mural of a Snowy Owl. 鈥淭he Washington Heights neighborhood feels like a special place to me,鈥 he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 colorful, full of life, and many residents are migrants like myself and birds.鈥
Mike chose his mural subject as an homage to Hedwig, a Snowy Owl that was found injured with a gunshot wound near New York鈥檚 La Guardia Airport. A volunteer brought her to the Wild Bird Fund, where Mike photographed the bird. 鈥淚 was starstruck,鈥 he says, 鈥渂eing in the presence of this magical creature, knowing that we would never cross paths again, that this moment was special.听Hedwig spent months in rehab and eventually was released back into the wild."