The first to go, always
If a canary stops singing in the depths of a CO-filled coal mine,
and then drops to stillness,
and
then, if her caged body is immediately sprinted through the maze of dark tunnels,
out into the daylight,
supposedly the fresh air will revive her.
But how often did that happen?
The sprinting and revival part, I mean.
…a tiny cage dangling from a racing miner’s hand?
Here’s to all the little yellow birds who dropped with their last breath,
so that the miners could avoid theirs.
Singing all the while.
The first to go, always.
2021, mixed media, 16 x 20 x 7 inches
During the opening, each attendee placed a tea-light behind the yellow feathered curtain in memoriam of all coal miners’ canaries.
Installed July 11, 2021 through August 31, 2021
at The CHUTE, a decommissioned coal chute turned gallery.
Much thanks to Imin Yeh and Paul Mullins.
During the opening, on July 11, 2021, each attendee placed a tea-light behind the feather curtain in memoriam of all coal miners’ canaries.
The first to go, always.
2021, mixed media, 16 x 20 x 7 inches
Installed July 11, 2021 through August 31, 2021
at The CHUTE, a decommissioned coal chute turned gallery.
Much thanks to Imin Yeh and Paul Mullins.