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Ornithology

The genesis of the Ornithology series dates back to 2004, when J. C. Fontanive embarked on a masters program in Animation at the Royal College of Art in London. Inspired by the old street markets of East London and the discovery of antique Victorian clocks and discarded mechanical objects, Fontanive breathed new life into seemingly obsolete timepieces. These mechanical relics became the focal point of his exploration into kinetic sculpture and mechanical movement, eventually leading to the inception of the early Flipbook Machine prototypes.

Central to the creation of the Ornithology series was the development of a refined and specialized mechanism. Handcrafted rotating wheels and bearings formed the intricate movement that propelled seventy-two individual illustrations in a continuous loop. Only a small metal pin, a distinctive feature of Fontanive's analog boxes, is used to bring the still images to life.

The Ornithology series delves into the realm of moving images within physical machines, meticulously working with the form and structure of how animation is made. These mini-cinemas create a meditative soundtrack as stiffened paper brushes past the metal pin, resembling the serene flapping of birds' wings.

Ornithology M - Edition 20/20 - Still Image

Fontanive's encounter with The Birds of America by naturalist and painter John James Audubon at the Royal College of Art's library proved pivotal. As he immersed himself in building and experimenting with his Flipbook Machines, the captivating illustrations of Audubon's birds came to life through the sounds generated by the papers.

Each Ornithology artwork is a masterpiece, comprising 72 unique hand-pulled screen prints of carefully chosen antique bird illustrations. The meticulous process involves curating a single bird in flight from these individual screen-printed images, resulting in a rare and fantastical avian creation in both still image and motion.

Ornithology - Edition No. 5/5

Ornithology Exhibition History and Permanent Collections

Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit. The Museum of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville, FL. Jerwood Gallery, London. The Contemporary Art Society, London. Crystal Bridges Museum, AK. Monash University Museum of Art, Melbourne. The Oliver Ranch Foundation, CA. The Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, Rio De Janeiro. Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon. Tyler Museum of Art, TX. Museum Meermanno Huis van het Boek, The Hague. The Nassau Museum of Art, NY. Limerick City Gallery of Art, Ireland. The Center for Book Arts, NY. Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH. Shirley Fiterman Art Center, New York, NY. National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, WY. Woodson Art Museum, WI. James Museum, Fl. Hudson River Museum, NY. Thomas Cole National Historic Site, NY. Cummer Museum, Jacksonville, FL.