About the Project
I started this series in 2011 after stumbling upon a flock of pigeons in an old industrial neighborhood where I was living in Jersey City, NJ. The cobblestone street was closed to traffic and very quiet. I felt that I had discovered the secret world of pigeons.
I spent ample time observing these pigeons, and getting to know them. Each bird was distinctive, radiating its own colors and personality. Together, they formed a lively community, and after observing their social interactions over several days, the flock welcomed me into their fold.
Their trust enabled me to get close, affording me the opportunity to experience them from their perspective. To become one of them, I began crouching down on the ground to meet them at their level. The occasional human passing by found the scene quite amusing. But the pigeons had captured my heart and that was all that mattered.
Even today, my endeavor to photograph these urban birds garners perplexed looks from onlookers. I imagine it is because many people look at them with disdain, as they have often be stigmatized as "rats with wings". Through painting them, and honoring them through portraiture, I hope to inspire people to take a fresh look at these fascinating, intelligent birds with whom we share our urban space.
Lynda D'Amico
My love of birds started when I was a very young girl. One of my favorite memories is my father lifting me up to sit on a branch of an old cherry tree so I could feed an injured sparrow.
Many years later, while living the in the NYC metropolitan area, I became fascinated by my neighborhood pigeons and decided to paint them. I couldn't understand why people disliked pigeons so much. Elevating them in fine art is my way to bring attention to how beautiful and interesting these birds are.
D’Amico received her BFA from UMass Dartmouth and her MFA at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. She is also a co-founder of InnerGuide LLC, a publishing company that produces holistic-style planners and personal development products.