In Awe of Birds

In collaboration with Shaver's Creek Environmental Center

"In Awe of Birds" invites visitors into a shifting landscape of wonder shaped by the presence of birds—creatures whose lives unfold in patterns, sounds, and stories that mirror our own search for meaning. As guests move through the components of awe, they explore the quiet elegance found in the curve of a feather and are enveloped by the soundscape of birds: layered trills, resonant calls, and percussive beats that shape our emotional memory. Moments of vastness arise as the exhibit shifts from intimate encounters to the sweeping forces of migration, starlings swirling in murmuration, or the delicate mechanics of a hovering hummingbird. Each glimpse reveals just how small—and how connected—we are within the living universe. Visitors may sense the electricity that emerges when beings move together. The collective pulse of a flock lifting off mirrors the way human energy surges in shared moments of action and emotion, reminding us that connection itself can be transformative. Woven throughout, are encounters with beginnings and endings as well as junctures that invite reverence and reflection, anchoring us in life. Ultimately, this exhibit invites visitors to pause, breathe, and open themselves to the possibility that birds—through their presence, their patterns, and their mysteries—can guide us toward deeper connection with the world and with one another. We have used "Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life," a book by Dacher Keltner to inspire us in the creation of this exciting exhibit. We look forward to bringing this exhibition to BAM!