Sculpture
- Description
- Papier-mâché sculpture assemblage titled Feathers of a Phoenix created by campers at America's Camp in 2006. The piece is based on the story of the Phoenix from Greek mythology. The body of the bird is covered in feathers created from children's paintings. The imagery for each "feather" was based on a person the child wished to honor: someone who has supported them or a person of great personal importance. The imagery could be figurative or metaphoric, a name or a phrase. Each "feather" began as a 12" x 12" page made using watercolor crayons or watercolor pencils. The images were then copied and converted into a feather shape to be attached to the sculpture. The campers' "feathers" were all placed on the underbelly of the phoenix. The imagery created by the America's Camp staff were all placed on the top of the bird. The phoenix also glows in the dark with a wingspan of 15 feet.
The artwork also includes a solid white egg, fabricated in the same way as the phoenix. - Historical Notes
- America’s Camp welcomed children whose family members were killed in the 9/11 attacks. Each summer, campers and counselors produced a collaborative art project. Artistic Director Traci Molloy appreciated “witness[ing] the children’s grief transform over time.” Transformation was an integral part of their 2006 project, where each child’s drawing honoring a loved one became one feather of a papier-mâché phoenix sculpture with a 15-foot wingspan. The idea drew from the myth of a phoenix reborn from the ashes, symbolizing a path out of grief.
- Accession Number: C.2007.43.4
- Dimensions: 43" X 158.5" X 93"
- Dimensions (Metric): 109.22 cm X 402.59 cm X 236.22 cm
- Source: America's Camp Foundation
- Credit Line: Gift of America's Camp Foundation on behalf of the children and volunteer staff of America's Camp and Traci Molloy, artistic director
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