The Myth Makers: Collaborative art projects by Andy Moerlein & Donna Dodson

The Garment District Alliance is aflutter over our latest public art exhibit, Avian Avatars. Designed by The Myth Makers, Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein, this installation features five colossal sculptures, each symbolizing a mythical bird, located on the Garment District Plazas between 36th and 41st streets.

Crafted from maple saplings, wire ties and found objects, the sculptures stand from 18 to 26 feet tall, with each bird sharing a unique myth. Avian Avatars is meant to indicate transformation, encouraing the public to heed to the stories about current human impact on the changing natural world.

“I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life...” -Henry David Thoreau

The Scold : A Crow
A raucous chatterbox has an opinion on everything.

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can [each] do small things with great love.” -Mother Teresa

The Great Spirit : An Owl
A humble leader embraces the strengths and weaknesses of humanity,
and inspires from a spiritual perspective.

“The truth is not for all ... but only for those who seek it.” -Ayn Rand

The Taste Maker : A Falcon
An uncompromising harbinger of taste, the critic is not a populist.

“When it comes to luck, you make your own.” -Bruce Springstein

The Realist: A Red-Tailed Hawk
Everyone has a killer instinct, a desire to fly and an ambition to achieve their fifteen minutes of fame.

“Who we are cannot be separated from where we're from.” -Malcolm Gladwell

The Tourist : A Victoria Crowned Pigeon
Visitors drawn to the vibrant city shape culture with their impulsive consumer behavior.

Forest Grace

Raucous and sooty, friendly and frightening, the raven is a vivid mark upon the skyline. Their impossibly black feathers flicker with an iridescence that holds the clues to every color in the rainbow. Their vocal variety suggests that raven may have more to say than most birds.

The Breakneck Road at Hulls Cove has been a summer rendezvous for Native Americans as long as memory exists. On this very spot, Samuel D. Champlain landed in 1604- the first of a tsunami of European visitors to this fragile ecosystem. Owl has seen the world change and has a message for humankind. Step into the sacred space and listen. If you open your heart, Owl has advice to share.

The Seer

Just landed, ready to fly, observant, noble and respected, the Red Tail Hawk is a common raptor of human environments. Agile in the cityscape and familiar in the rural hedgerow, Red Tail Hawk is a survivor.

Alight: The Spirit of the Red Tail Hawk

Gray-suited and stodgy, frayed but grand, the Great Blue Heron is no bright flash. Standing perfectly still, forever patiently waiting for the fish to swim through it’s legs — elegantly poised.

The Realist represents the Red Tail Hawk, the most common of the raptors and a determined competitor, portraying the notion that everyone has a killer instict, a desire to fly and an ambition to achieve their fifteen minutes of fame.
The Great Spirit signifies an owl, a humble leader that embraces the strengths and weaknesses of humanity and inspires from a spiritual perspective.
The Scold symbolizes a crow, a raucous chatterbox and gregarious gadfly that holds a strong opinion.
The Tourist portrays the Victoria Crowned Pigeon, a lively bird that is drawn to the vibrant character of the city and strives to shape culture with its spontaneous personality.
Representing a falcon, The Taste Maker is an idealist, a philosopher and an opinionated vocalist with a social vision.

Concord Monitor – 26-foot-tall Owl Sculpture to go from Bow to N.Y.C.
Boston Art Images – Boston Myth Makers Bring Avian Avatars To NYC
SoWa News – Myth Makers Take On the Garment District in NYC
Asmuge – Avian Avatars by the Myth Makers
Artist Initiative – Avian Avatars
Startup Year – The Garment District Alliance Unveiling Art Installation
Artlog – Avian Avatars
This Week In New York – Avian Avatars

Myth Makers