Jean Shin: Perch, Appleton Farms, April 22—November 2024

At Appleton Farms, bobolinks—migratory songbirds whose population are in decline—use the grasslands and hayfields as their nesting sites. Marking sites where the Trustees’ ecology team monitors the bobolink population, Shin presents sculptural platforms made from fallen and dead trees found throughout Appleton that visitors can engage with, as they ultimately become participants in this critical monitoring throughout the project’s run. Within the nesting area, Shin created sculptural perches made from fallen trees and salvaged copper in which male bobolinks can perch to search for mates and mark their territory. Perch integrates into the landscape and supports the farm’s agroecological work and is intended to visualize, amplify, and raise awareness around this critical species and its habitat as well as the important endeavors at Appleton.

Images: Mel Taing, Photo courtesy of Appleton Farms, The Trustees, Ipswich, MA