Canary in the Coal Mine: an exhibition by Zea Mays Printmaking

Did you know that North America has lost 30% of its bird species since the 1970s? That 2/3 of North American Birds face extinction from rising global temperatures? We called on printmakers to promote awareness of the vast numbers of avian species that face eradication due to climate change.

Artists were invited to participate by selecting a bird from The Audubon Society’s list of 389 bird species currently threatened with extinction and to create an edition of prints using an upcycled printing plate. The goal is to create a visual reminder of the birds we will lose if action is not taken on climate change, and to celebrate this one facet of our planet’s biodiversity. Our hope is that by re-using printing plates we lessen the impact our art making has on the earth’s resources.

Canary in the Coal Mine is also a fundraiser with proceeds shared between the Mass Audubon Arcadia Sanctuary, the National Audubon Society and Zea Mays Printmaking’s Technical Research Program. Prints can be purchased at https://www.zeamaysprintmaking.com/canary-in-the-coal-mine-gallery/.