On Saturday, October 5th, 2024, the National Audubon Society teamed up with lifestyle apparel brand Parks Project in Los Angeles, California for this year’s Culver City Art Walk & Roll, an annual celebration of art, culture, and community. In the heart of the vibrant Culver City Arts District, a stretch of Washington Boulevard was transformed into a bustling scene of live music, local crafts, food trucks, and a wide range of art displays. Among the highlights of this year’s event was The Aviary exhibit—Audubon’s collaboration with Parks Project to bring bird conservation to life through art.
Hosted at Parks Project’s Discovery Center, newly opened this year, the exhibit showcased six original art pieces inspired by birds, all part of The Aviary, a recurring art series from Audubon magazine. In each issue, talented artists create original artwork that reflects on the beauty of birds and the pressing conservation challenges they face. For this event, six of these stunning pieces—by artists George Boorujy, Lauren Levato Coyne, Mayuko Fujino, Meg T Justice, Kirsten Furlong, and Jessica Maffia—were made into limited-edition prints for display within the Discovery Center’s gallery-like events space.
This immersive experience invited attendees to slow down, connect with the artwork, and engage with bird conservation in a new way. Custom brochures were available, detailing the stories behind each piece and the conservation issues highlighted by the artists. Attendees were amazed to discover that Kirsten Furlong’s piece “I’ll See You When I Get There” depicted Bobolinks against a starry night sky, to visualize how migratory birds rely on the stars to guide their amazing hemispheric journeys; and that Mayuko Fujino’s “An Abundance of American Robins” was actually inspired by the artist realizing one year that she wasn’t seeing these familiar birds, alerting her to their decline. Visitors were also treated to free copies of Audubon magazine, while videos showcasing Audubon’s ongoing conservation efforts and arts-related projects played on loop, adding a dynamic element to the gallery.
The space became a popular spot throughout the day for art lovers, bird enthusiasts, and families alike to take a break from the art walk and soak in the beauty of this exhibit. Attendees were able to purchase any of the featured art prints, with proceeds supporting the National Audubon Society’s mission to protect birds and the places they need.
This event marked the first collaboration between Audubon and Parks Project, but it is only the beginning. Both organizations are excited about the future of this partnership, with more potential projects on the horizon. Stay tuned for updates as we continue to explore creative ways to engage the public in bird conservation through art and community action.
Together, we’re inspiring a brighter future for birds—and for all of us who share their world.
