Everyone was a Bird

Metal sound notes created from birdsong recordings, irrigation tubing, ribbon, soundtrack (Dawn Chorus) Wells Art Contemporary, Wells Cathedral, Wells Everyone was a Bird’ is created from early morning site recordings transformed into delicate notes suspended on ribbons threaded with hand-cut irrigation tubing. Each of the ‘prayer beads’ represents a moment of the Dawn Chorus. This installation is inspired by birds whose songs we no longer hear plus birds whose songs are in danger of being lost such as the skylark, nightingale, and song thrush. As well as seeking to reflect on the fragility of species, this work looks to evoke the solace and joy experienced through birdsong. The title is from a line in Siegfried Sassoon’s WW1 poem ‘Everyone Sang’. Audio link https://carowilliams.com/audio-everyone-was-a-bird