Avian Avatars

Colossal Birds Fly to Garment District for the Winter

Flock of Massive Sculptures by the Myth Makers is the Next Public Art Installation on the Garment District Plazas

NEW YORK, January 9, 2015 – The Garment District Alliance will unveil Avian Avatars, a group of five enormous sculptures, each symbolizing a unique, mythical bird that will captivate New Yorkers and visitors on Broadway’s Garment District Plazas this winter.

Designed by the Myth Makers, Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein, the exhibit will occupy the neighborhood’s pedestrian space on Broadway from 36th to 41st Streets in the Garment District through April.

“Avian Avatars is a spectacular installation that not only intrigues passersby with its impeccable structure, it also tells fascinating stories that embody the imaginative and creative culture of the Garment District,” said Barbara Blair Randall, president of the Garment District Alliance. “We are delighted to showcase the Myth Makers, and we are confident these imposing sculptures will be the most popular public art installation in New York City this winter.”

Crafted from maple saplings, wire ties and found objects, the sculptures stand from 18 to 26 feet tall, with each bird sharing a unique myth. Avian Avatars is meant to indicate transformation, encouraging the public to heed to the stories about current human impact on the changing natural world.

The Tourist - A Victoria Crowned Pigeon
"Visitors drawn to the vibrant city shape culture with their impulsive consumer behavior."
"Who we are cannot be separated from where we're from." - Malcolm Gladwell

The Realist - A Red Tailed Hawk
"Everyone has a killer instinct, a desire to fly and an ambition to achieve their fifteen minutes of fame."
"When it comes to luck, you make your own." - Bruce Springsteen

The Tastemaker - A Falcon
"An uncompromising harbinger of taste, the critic is not a populist."
"The truth is not for all...but only for those who seek it." - Ayn Rand

The Great Spirit - An Owl
"A humble leader embraces the strengths and weaknesses of humanity and inspires from a spiritual perspective."
"Not all of us can do great things. But we can [each] do small things with great love." - Mother Teresa

The Scold - A Crow
"A raucous chatterbox has an opinion on everything."
"I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life..." - Henry David Thoreau