At Crystal Bridges, several of the Moshe Safdie-designed buildings feature glass walls, allowing visitors to experience both the art inside the Museum and the beautiful outdoor setting of the Ozarks. But the windows aren’t such a treat for birds, which sometimes collide with the glass, misreading the reflection as open sky. Artist Calder Kamin’s project Impact Proof responds to this problem, one that extends far beyond our museum (building collisions are the leading killer of birds worldwide). Impact Proof consists of removable vinyl decals in the shape of local birds applied to windows near sites of frequent impact. Birds perceive the decals as other birds and change course to avoid entering their airspace.
Kamin’s artwork sits at the intersection of education, conservation, and advocacy regarding human/animal interaction and cohabitation. Her other projects feature educational graphics, interactive programming, and ephemeral installations that boost localized knowledge and foster direct action. For the artist, visual art functions as a tool to raise awareness about our impact on the world around us.