Birds on Broadway
Cool Hand Movers | Public Art | What is “Birds on Broadway?”
On May 17th, 2019 ten special birds came to roost on Broadway in Manhattan, NYC. However, this wasn’t a normal migration. This was Nicolas Holiber, Birds on Broadway, the Audubon Sculpture Project presented by the Broadway Mall Association. The public exhibition featured ten oversized sculptures of New York City birds that are in danger of extinction due to climate change. This is the multi-year project of Nicolas Holiber. He is a Brooklyn-based artist who is known for his large-scale public works and mixed-media paintings.
Holiber is the youngest artist to have a solo exhibition presented by the Broadway Mall Association; this installation was his second time showing with NYC Parks. Nicolas Holiber: Birds on Broadway will mark the twelfth sculpture exhibition presented by the Broadway Mall Association.
Does Cool Hand Movers have a favorite bird?
We usually don’t play favorites. But we are partial to the Brant goose on 96th & Broadway. That’s because this Arctic bird comes down to New York for the winter. That’s a brave bird! Interested to know more about this fascinating bird?
Are the sculptures still on display?
All ten sculptures have flown the coop but their cause remains. Gitler &_______ Gallery and the New York City Audubon Society supported Holiber to create the work in an effort to raise awareness about a group of more than 300 imperiled birds in North America.
Did you catch the Brant goose or any of the other birds while they were around? Post your shots and tag @coolhandmovers and artist @nicolasholiber — Don’t forget to include #BirdsOnBroadway!
How did these giant sculptures get to Broadway?
Artist Nicolas Holiber spoke to WWD about how the sculptures come together.
The artist, Nicolas Holiber, was kind enough to offer Cool Hand Movers the opportunity to move these ten, enormous sculptures from his studio in Long Island City to their homes on Broadway’s biggest plazas. The Audubon Sculpture Project would not have been possible without fellow contributing sponsors BIG Reuse, Con Edison, Farrow & Ball, Hampshire Properties, Marjam Supply Company, Stanley Black & Decker, The Durst Organization, and Warburg Realty.