FORCED MIGRATION
These 10 birdhouse shrines compose a series titled “Forced Migration” and were built in December of 2005. Each piece tells part of the story of my personal experiences related to Hurricane Katrina and the devastation of New Orleans.
Each one takes the form of an illuminated bird house, and they are intended to represent the beautiful homes that composed the unique neighborhoods of the Big Easy. The design and decoration style of these pieces is derived from Catholic/ Voodoo shrines, Mardi Gras culture, and Southern folk art.
Each piece contains clues, thinly veiled references, and pieces of a complicated puzzle. They are intended to ask difficult questions and comment on the political, social, geographic, and environmental conditions that created the nightmare scenario of Hurricane Katrina.
Each piece was also specifically built for a certain person who helped my wife and I in some way, either financially, emotionally, with shelter/ clothing, or in helping me to restore my ability to create art. These bird houses tell my personal story of loss, despair, migration, refuge, and renewal.
The “Forced Migration” series is built to be displayed hanging by wires. These birdhouses are my personal tribute to a city that I truly love and miss desperately since my relocation.
Here is a list of the entire “Forced Migration” series:
1. Politics (For Justin and Aubrey Ballard)
2. Agriculture (For Jerry and Janice Ballard)
3. Petroleum (For Brian and Cindy Templeton)
4. Wishful Thinking (For Scott and Nita Ballard)
5. Security (For Rory and Kathy Ballard)
6. Vanity (For Shalee Ballard)
7. Accountability (For Ken and Marleen Kaiser)
8. Doom (For Chuck Murphey)
9. Obsolete (For Susan Edmondson)
10. Final Solution (For Meghan Kaiser)
During 2006 - 2008, the Forced Migration series went on tour and was shown in galleries thoroughout the US. It was featured as part of the American Democracy Project, and was also part of a touring group show made up of artists who had been affected by Hurricane Katrina.
"Forced Migration" Slide Show.