October 31, 2009


Dear birdwatcher friends,

recently the birds landed twice in the lab town of Los Alamos, NM, birthplace of the atomic bomb and currently home to much high tech weapons development.  The flock also visited nearby Bandelier, the ancient site of Anasazi cliff dwellings.  Documentary film makers Thomas Meffert and Dagmar Diebels were here from Germany;  they have begun to make a documentary about the project, filming on site and also in the studio, with plans to continue through next summer.  

Eight pictures follow.

The flock is growing, and the content which the birds carry on their backs continues to develop.  I'm making more silkscreens from all kinds of new material -- some of which is related to future landing sites.  One of these is scheduled for next July in Peenemünde, Germany up on the Baltic Sea.  Peenemünde is where the Germans were developing the V-1 and V-2 rockets during World War II, and my grandfather was one of the scientists working there.  My father, who remembers the bombing of his house and town when he was seven years old, has sent me some writing about it and some old photographs from 1943, which are making their way into silkscreens.  There is a historical and technical Museum in Peenemünde now, which has also done some work as a center for peace;  the birds are invited to land there July 12th & 13th,  the film crew will be there, and maybe also my parents; my father has not been back since one hour after his house was bombed.

Wishing each of you well,

christy

September 16, 2009

Buenos Dias!

The birds have flown very far indeed, to the island of Santa Cruz, in Galapagos.   We got so many incredible images that I'm sending you two emails, with about a hundred each -- just joking.
These first ones are from the "official" landing at Pelican Bay in Puerto Ayora.   The following email shows more anarchic and erratic landings of the subsequent days.

We are so grateful to have had the chance to be in this beautiful place, with great people, and animals completely at ease...

Photography: Fausto Cardoso, Helmut Hillenkamp and myself.   Many thanks for the help of the Gobierno Municipal of Santa Cruz.

(2nd email):

Here are pictures of the birds in more remote places on the island of Santa Cruz, Galapagos. I think the animals enjoyed the unusual company.  More pictures are on the website www.christyhengst.com....

Going back into the studio, new birds are being born.  Meanwhile, the next landings will be September 26 and 27, in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

All the best,

christy

August 16, 2009.

Hi!

The birds have been travelling along the California Coast, landing in five places in Santa Barbara and Big Sur.   now they're resting up for the big flight to Galapagos...

there are a couple of new media stories about them on the website, and here, of course, are some pictures!

wishing each of you well,

christy

July 3rd, 2009.

Here are a few pictures from yesterday in Central Park -- a great day, with some rain, but lots of interesting people!
all the best,
christy

June 21, 2009:
Bonjour! Güten Tag!

Hello!

The Birds have been flying around a lot, landing two places in Germany, and in front of Chartres Cathedral in France...

here are some pictures.

all the best,

                             christy
                             www.christyhengst.com