Carolyn Monastra

"Yellow-throated Vireo" - original bird photography by Matt Tillett

2018

22" x 17" edition of 7 + 2 AP $1,400 unframed 36" x 24" edition of 7 + 2 AP $2,800 unframed Combining the documentary style of my previous climate project, The Witness Tree, with my earlier narrative fictional approach, I photograph paper cutouts (from appropriated online images) of climate-threatened birds. I place the cutouts within the birds’ current habitats so that they look real, but upon inspection, reveal themselves to be photos within photos—the gaze within the gaze upon nature—as actual birds recede into marginal zones of survival. The images are meant to disrupt the casual gaze, disarming the expectations of nature photography, leaving viewers disturbed and curious. Divergence of Birds (2017-current) A large-scale, long-term, multimedia conceptual project about the threat of species extinction on birds in North America . My current climate project, Divergence of Birds, takes inspiration from two texts: The Audubon Society’s “Birds and Climate Change Report” which projects that, by 2080, climate change will affect the range of habitat of over half of North American birds; and Phillip K. Dick’s 1968 novel, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” where electric versions of once-commonplace animals are so realistic that they fool even veterinarians. Divergence of Birds addresses the prospect that, one day, only simulacra of climate-impacted animals will be left. Combining the documentary style of my previous climate project, The Witness Tree, with my earlier narrative fictional approach, I’m photographing paper cutouts (from appropriated online photos) of the nearly 400 climate-threatened birds. I place the cutouts within the birds’ current habitats so that they look real, but upon inspection, reveal themselves to be photos within photos—the gaze within the gaze upon nature—as actual birds recede into marginal zones of survival. The images disrupt the casual gaze, disarming expectations of nature photography leaving viewers disturbed and questioning. Audiences will then be invited, through interactive workshops, to participate in climate activism. The full project when completed will include over 400 photos representing the climate-threatened birds, video, soundscape, "memento mori" images in vintage photo cases...

17" x 22" edition of 7 + 2 AP $1,400 unframed 24" x 36" edition of 7 + 2 AP $2,800 unframed Combining the documentary style of my previous climate project, The Witness Tree, with my earlier narrative fictional approach, I photograph paper cutouts (from appropriated online images) of climate-threatened birds. I place the cutouts within the birds’ current habitats so that they look real, but upon inspection, reveal themselves to be photos within photos—the gaze within the gaze upon nature—as actual birds recede into marginal zones of survival. The images are meant to disrupt the casual gaze, disarming the expectations of nature photography, leaving viewers disturbed and curious. Divergence of Birds (2017-current) A large-scale, long-term, multimedia conceptual project about the threat of species extinction on birds in North America . My current climate project, Divergence of Birds, takes inspiration from two texts: The Audubon Society’s “Birds and Climate Change Report” which projects that, by 2080, climate change will affect the range of habitat of over half of North American birds; and Phillip K. Dick’s 1968 novel, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” where electric versions of once-commonplace animals are so realistic that they fool even veterinarians. Divergence of Birds addresses the prospect that, one day, only simulacra of climate-impacted animals will be left. Combining the documentary style of my previous climate project, The Witness Tree, with my earlier narrative fictional approach, I’m photographing paper cutouts (from appropriated online photos) of the nearly 400 climate-threatened birds. I place the cutouts within the birds’ current habitats so that they look real, but upon inspection, reveal themselves to be photos within photos—the gaze within the gaze upon nature—as actual birds recede into marginal zones of survival. The images disrupt the casual gaze, disarming expectations of nature photography leaving viewers disturbed and questioning. Audiences will then be invited, through interactive workshops, to participate in climate activism. The full project when completed will include over 400 photos representing the climate-threatened birds, video, soundscape, "memento mori" images in vintage photo cases...

Blue Tit is part of the In Flight collection, a series of portraits of the wild birds taken in the gardens of Mark Harvey's home in Norfolk, England. Turning on the wind, this juven...

Taken at the beginning of the breeding season in March, this male Blue Tit is showing off his pristine breeding plumage. Spring Blue Tit is part of the In Flight collection, a serie...