BIRDS MIGRATE FOR TUNE-UP
City to refurbish popular landmarks
The popular public art work known as The Birds will soon be plucked from Olympic Village for repairs.
Since the giant male and female sparrows were installed just after the 2010 Winter Olympics, the shells have become significantly damaged, especially on the male bird. They are both used as ramps by skateboarders and bicycle riders, and people regularly climb over the two structures, which are 4.5 metres tall.
But repeated hard impacts on the plastic shells have allowed water to get inside and weaken the sculptures, said Eric Fredericksen, Vancouver’s public art program manager.
“It’s a really popular, iconic work,” he said.
“Once you’re in the public realm, there isn’t a lot of security. People are going to use things in unexpected ways. Things do tend to have to be made to a high level of durability.”
The Birds is by Vancouver artist Myfanwy MacLeod. They were inspired by both Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 horror movie The Birds and by the way sparrows, an introduced species, have developed a large presence by spreading throughout North America.
When the two sculptures were being fabricated, it was recommended that the bodies be made out of painted polyurea over polystyrene on a steel frame. When the two birds are repaired and improved, they will each have a much harder and more durable aluminum shell.
The cast-bronze legs haven’t been damaged since the works were installed.
The Birds will be removed later this fall and replaced within 10 months. The city wants to ensure they are in place well before birders and bird scientists come to town for the 27th International Ornithological Congress next August.
The budget for repairs is $425,000. Fredericksen said the money is from a reserve fund previously set aside for maintenance of public art.
MacLeod said in an interview she never imagined The Birds would become so popular.
“Yes, I’m very surprised that it’s as popular as it is — and very happy too,” she said.
The city plans to install rougher paving stones on the plaza to reduce the likelihood that the tail of the male sparrow can be used as a ramp by skateboarders and stunt bike riders.
The colour of the female will change slightly from browny-grey to a more yellowy-grey as intended in the original design. Otherwise, the two birds will appear the same as when they were first installed.
“People, especially kids, love to climb on stuff,” MacLeod said. “You can’t stop people from being people. So you need to figure out how to make your work survive the realities of that.”
I’m very surprised that it’s as popular as it is . ... People, especially kids, love to climb on stuff. You can’t stop people from being people.