Birds are among the most cherished animals with whom we share the Earth. Where birds thrive, people prosper. The presence and well-being of birds reflects the health of the environment; they share every ecosystem with us, playing the role of hunter and prey, pollinator, scavenger, and seed disperser. Feeding the spirit, birds are companions to us and inspire us to think beyond our own confinement and limitations.
Join the staff of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture and Audubon New Mexico on Saturday, May 4th, 2019 at the Center for New Mexico Archaeology for “Audubon Day: A Celebration of Birds.” This collaborative event celebrates birds, their role in our world, and their significance within Native American cultures of the Southwest.
View the exhibit, “Birds: Spiritual Messengers of the Skies,” which is currently on display at the Center. The exhibit illustrates how Native Americans have used bird shapes and images in Southwestern pottery over thousands of years and into the present. It discusses some of the Southwest’s major bird species and how they are a source for food, tools and feathers. It also addresses how birds are studied in archaeology and their overall role in ceremonial life.
The celebration will include hands-on activities and a talk by Audubon New Mexico’s staff on bird conservation. Demonstrations by Native American artists will be performed throughout the event including: the creation of a turkey feather blanket by Mary Weahkee, a member of Santa Clara Pueblo and the Comanche Nation; playing of flutes and whistles made from bird bone by Marlon Magdalena of Jemez Pueblo; Native American pottery making that includes the use of bird imagery. Finally, see live birds and learn about raptors from On a Wing and a Prayer, a wild bird rehabilitation program. The event is free and is appropriate for all ages.
The Center for New Mexico Archaeology is located off the 599 Bypass in Santa Fe at 7 Old Cochiti Road (located off Caja del Rio Road, right across from the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane Society). In addition to this event, the exhibit can be viewed Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (excluding holidays) until September 2019.
