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Biodiversity Suits for Urban Pigeons: Guadalupe Caracara

Laurel Roth Hope crochets sweaters designed to fit a standard urban pigeon, a bird which is plentiful and considered a nuisance. This series is inspired by knitting and crocheting objects of comfort, such as scarves and blankets. The tiny sweater transforms the commonplace urban pigeon into the guadalupe carcara, restoring an extinct bird species. The biodiversity is false, however, and the disguised bird serves as a warning that humans can have a negative impact on the natural world.

ArtistLaurel Roth Hope(b. 1973)
Date2013
MediumYarn, basswood, pewter, glass, epoxy, and walnut stand
Dimensions11 x 5 x 11 in. (27.9 x 12.7 x 27.9 cm)
Credit LineCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas
ClassificationSculpture
On ViewYes
Biodiversity Suits f…11 × 5 in.Tennis Ball2.7 in. diameter

This artwork's face covers about 7.5× the area of a tennis ball.Drawn to the same scale.