Artist/Maker George Boorujy (American, b. 1973)

Gang of Warblers: Study for Audubon Mural Project at 601 West 162nd St.

2017

Graphite on paper

Overall: 8 3/4 × 12 1/4 in. (22.2 × 31.1 cm)

Purchased through the generosity of the Bralver Family

2019.87.1

This graphite study by Boorujy relates to the Audubon Mural Project, the public art initiative of the National Audubon Society, in partnership with the Harlem-based Gitler & _____ Gallery on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. While the project is inspired by the legendary artist John James Audubon (a former resident of the neighborhood, then called “Carmansville”), it is energized by recent findings from the National Audubon Society that nearly half of all North American bird species will face dire threats to their survival by 2080 due to global warming. The project has been commissioning artists to paint murals of each of the threatened species—a total of 314—throughout Hamilton Heights and Washington Heights. To date over 100 embellish local buildings. Boorujy’s “Gang of Warblers,” which is no. 100, is one of three he painted in the mural series. These often monumental murals beautify the historic neighborhood and bring attention to a critically important environmental crisis in the spirit of John James Audubon. For the project see: https://www.audubon.org/amp. Two other works related to another mural are in the collection (2019.87.2 and 2019.87.3).

SignedSigned at lower center on the verso in brown ink: "George Barron Boorujy / 2017"

InscribedInscribed in graphite at lower left: Black throated / Green; at upper left: Palm + Pine / Olive / bay breasted[crossed out] / Chesnut[sic] sided / * Golden cheeked / hermit warbler / h...[illegible]; at upper left of center: townsend’s[crossed out] / wilson’s[crossed out]; below: Palm; at lower center: Painted Redstart; at lower right: George B Boorujy 2017; above: Golden cheeked; at middle right: Cape May

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