The Birds and Books series was made in response to the Coutts farm in southern Alberta and use Jim Coutts long relationship with the region as inspiration for the work. Jim kept a daily journal that recorded the birds sited on his property throughout the course of the year. This journal reflected a continued intimate dialog with the land and its rhythms. Within the Coutts homestead there is also a comprehensive library of historical texts, alongside bird drawings and paintings of the surrounding landscape. All these types of medium combined comprise a complex archive of place reflected through the prism of a domestic interior.
Birds and Books is comprised of 12 archival inkjet prints (7”x6.5”), framed, and two video works. Sponsored by The Pas Arts Council and will be displayed from April 1 to May 24, 2021.