Julia Feldman
Unclipped Wings, 2020-21
Bits and pieces of ephemeral; remnants of fabrics, threads, and metal from my previous work. Hand embroidery, applique, tucking, wire work, and beading 19 x 18 x 1 in
Unclipped wings (towards the extinction of Turtle Doves). The title references the freedom for women's rights and, like the turtle doves, these rights vulnerable to global extinction.
Julia Feldman
Turquoise-throated Puffleg Hummingbird, extinct, 2021, Julia Feldman, 2021
Mixed media, hand embroidery, found wood, metal, silk, cotton, other fibers 6.5 x 8 x 2.5 in
The habitat in Ecuador has been almost completely destroyed. There was an unconfirmed sighting of this tiny bird in 1976. It is treated as critically endangered and possibly extinct because further searches have not found any of the species.
Julia Feldman
44.6 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius). A Consequence of Redlining, 2021
Repurposed wool, linen, silk, ribbon, hand embroidery 5 x 37 x 2in
"Redlining" - the term for refusals to give loans or insurance to entire groups of people based on racially-motivated concerns for safety and investments. Redlining resulted in densely packed urban neighborhoods for Black residents, while White residents were allowed to purchase and live in more spacious neighborhoods. These densely-packed urban environments also have fewer green areas and more man-made materials that absorb heat, leading to "urban heat islands." In these locations - to this day primarily populated by people of color and people with low socioeconomic status - surface air temperatures have been measured up to 44.6F/7C higher than nearby neighborhoods populated by primarily White residents and people of higher socioeconomic status.
Julia Feldman
Laughing Owl, Extinct 1914, 2021
Mixed media, tarlatan scrim, found objects and upcyled fabric, threads 23 x 19 x 5 in
The species fate was tied to the clearance of its habitat in New Zealand to create farms, and to newly introduced predators. Stoats, ferrets, and cats proved to be the largest threat to this beautiful owls. The laughing owl was known for its shrieks which echoed of laughter.
Julia Feldman
The future of trees, 2014
Found branches, medical tubing, plastic waste, cement variable, 18 x 20 x 6"
Julia Feldman
Passenger pigeon, extinct, 2020
Painted and dyed cotton & silk, cotton & silk embroidery threads, repurposed antique upholstery fabric, found objects 30 x 18 x 1.5"
Passenger pigeons, Ectopistes migratorius, in 1850 were the most abundant bird in North America By the mid-1890s, wild flock sizes numbered in the dozens rather than the hundreds of millions. The breed was hunted out of existence, victimized by the paradox that no amount of hunting could endanger a bird so abundant.
Julia Feldman
The Destruction of Macrocystis pyrifera (Giant Kelp), 2018
Silk, linen, pearl, beads, cotton and silk threads; hand embroidered 10 x 8”
Julia Feldman
The aftermath of global warming on the Norwegian Roof Rat (Rattus norvegicus), 2014
Screen mesh, drapery weights, embroidery thread, dog hair 7 x 21”
