Patricia Sullivan (NJ)

Upcycled Landscape: Hawai'i 'Akepa Bird
Mixed-media - digital vector drawing on archival paper, plexiglass, upcycled fibrous frame, cotton thread, brass safety pin,
5” x 5” x .1875”, 2022
The piece can be wearable as a brooch or simply as a wall-pinned mixed-media digital artwork / ornament in its upcycled frame.

The Hawai'i 'Akepa bird is federally and state listed as endangered and endemic to the Island of Hawai'i. The male bird one sees depicted in my drawing reaches full red-orange color plumage around the age of 4 years, and feeds almost exclusively on the nectar of 'ohi'a tree flowers, also found natively in Hawai'i. Hawai'i 'akepas were at one time found on the Hawaiian islands of Hawai'i, Maui and Oahu, however, in current times the Maui and Oahu sub-species of 'akepa are believed to be extinct; this may be due to logging and ranching removing suitable habitat while 'akepas are also susceptible to mosquito-borne diseases. I hope to bring attention to this lesser-known bird species as more conservation efforts move into place.