Homing
2023
10 x 10 inches
Smalti, vitreous, ecosmalti, recycled glass, gold on wood panel

In honor of the New York Pigeon, inspired by their beautiful, iridescent neck feathers.

Pigeons are not native to NYC, and were brought here because they were extremely popular pets. When they tragically fell out of fashion (to the point where now they are often called “rats with wings”) they resiliently made homes for themselves in the urban NYC landscape.

I really love pigeons and have always found them beautiful. My respect for them was only deepend by Andrew Garn’s photobook, The New York Pigeon, which goes into the incredible intelligence of these birds as well. It is a sort of Frankenstein story: we brought them here for our enjoyment, and now they are largely resented for being here.

The title “Homing” is a play on Homing Pigeon, of course, but I also like it as something similar to “nesting”. Putting roots down, and creating a home for yourself in a foreign place.