Created for the 2020 Eureka Street Art Festival
Inspired by the Northern Flicker, a type of woodpecker native to North America, local illustrator Mir de Silva painted this colorful birdhouse scene titled Of A Feather for the 2020 Eureka Street Art Festival. Mir de Silva is an artist based in Eureka whose “work utilized positive imagery and vibrant colors to encourage civic engagement and environmental stewardship”1. Northern Flickers create their homes in holes in trees and when they leave, other animals make use out of these nesting spaces. Likewise, the birdhouse in this mural has been repurposed into a funky tavern as different birds surround it and stop by to get drinks. De Silva states that “the concept of creating something for yourself that then can be used by other people” helped inspire the theme of this mural, as she created a community of birds that reflects the community of Eureka.
Of a Feather is located outside of Dave’s Place in Henderson Center. The imagined birdhouse tavern echos the real neighborhood bar on the other side of this wall. While the birdhouse welcomes all birds, the mural itself invites all viewers in with its warm colors, lush leaves, swaying branches, and plump berries. By making this scene larger than life, the viewers can easily relate to this group of birds perched in the purple tree branches.
This mural wraps around the side of the building, where there is another birdhouse with even more birds gathered around it. Unlike the more traditional birdhouse featured on the front of the mural, the one on the side shows an interesting dome-shaped birdhouse with various types of birds and colorful plants. De Silva’s painted group of birds is sure to inspire a warm sense of community in Eureka, reminding viewers to look around and appreciate Humboldt’s unique environment.
