Q&A: birdO talks street art and wildlife conservation

Earth-renowned avenue artist birdO has used the previous 10 years bringing mother nature into cities with his breathtaking murals that can be spotted throughout Canada and around the globe. Now he’s teaming up with WWF-Canada to secure the nature he enjoys with WWF-Canada’s Wildest Journey Contest.

The grand prize winner will travel away with an electric powered car that birdO will make just one-of-a-form by portray a customized piece of wildlife-motivated artwork on the roof of the automobile. Obtain tickets in advance of August 26 at 11:59 p.m. ET for your likelihood to win.

We spoke to birdO about his creative inspirations, passion for wildlife and partnership with WWF-Canada.

“This piece was pleasurable to create since we were being dangling off a tower building in midtown Toronto. The neighbourhood it is named right after (Deer Park) is fantastic as it has direct obtain to the ravine technique. A fantastic reminder that Toronto is greener than it seems on the floor.” © Jerry Rugg

In 1 sentence, how would you describe your artwork?
Surreal geometric creatures.

Most of your get the job done features animals. What about them evokes you?
As an artist, it is so crucial to continue to be motivated by your subject make any difference. There is a near infinite catalogue of creatures so when I’m introduced with strange and unusual surface kinds, I’m conveniently able to match that with a probably unusual and uncommon creature that can match the area in a way I’m following.

“Painted in Shanghai, China as a corporate social accountability initiative. A large paint corporation has been refurbishing colleges every single 12 months and evolved into an artwork and mentorship activation.” © Jerry Rugg

Also, with that large array of animals, I’m offered with these a good possibility to generally paint new factors and consider new tactics. Lastly, as anyone who presents do the job in the public realm, I don’t find to ruffle any feathers (eye roll). A unique animal can have little to no that means domestically or have a great deal of relation to the local community. I appreciate possessing that overall flexibility when I’m proposing do the job.

When did you start executing avenue artwork and how has your get the job done progressed over the a long time?
My interest in the artform started while increasing up on the prairies. I would see graffiti vacation on freight trains and it fascinated me. Like just about anything, I was terrible at first. The essence of a lot of my more mature function nonetheless exists stylistically, but (with any luck ,) the enhancements present via strategy.

How do you decide on areas for your art and what you paint in which?
My artist brain gravitates to inventive difficulties and possibilities to set new private benchmarks. Greater structures to paint, bizarre surfaces like rooftops or basketball courts. I like to go after factors that frighten me, to be genuine. I’m so fortunate to be ready to integrate into a group when I paint in 1, if only quickly. Accomplished murals in West Baltimore, or the nation of Jordan for instance, offered me just about every with so considerably new perspective.

Exactly where in Canada — and all-around the world — can admirers find your operate?
Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Moncton, Saskatoon, Sault Ste Marie, Los Angeles, Miami, Detroit, Shanghai, and in Puerto Rico to name a several.

“A partnership with Challenge BACKBOARD and Toronto Local community Housing in Scarborough, Ontario. We had been in a position to refurbish an previous courtroom and mentor local community youth to build the artwork, hoping to inspire group power, possession, and artistic thinking.” © Jerry Rugg

Why do you decide on to keep your encounter nameless by carrying a mask?
To paraphrase the wonderful Ashton Kutcher, “Nowadays, privacy is a lot more important than celeb.”

What function do you assume artists have in the conservation motion?
I have been lucky to work with ocean conservationists that have dedicated their lives to it. Which is not heading to be a feasible solution for quite a few, but I assume we all locate ourselves in a time exactly where we have to commence allocating some of our “bandwidth” to conservation. Some artists have significant platforms or affect, and they could use a portion of that to converse to conservation. When other individuals could come across approaches to evolve their intake patterns or elements use.

And lastly, why did you determine to lover with WWF-Canada to make an first do the job of art for our Wildest Ride contest winner?
The urgency alarms have been ringing louder and louder when it arrives to sustainability. That explained, I’m generally joyful to provide my stage-of-watch when I can and the Wildest Trip inventive chance is intriguing. WWF-Canada is an business I have seemed up to for a lengthy time. It is an honour, really.

Obtain tickets now for your chance to gain a just one-of-a-sort electric automobile painted by birdO. All proceeds from WWF-Canada’s Wildest Ride Contest right assistance tasks throughout Canada that are restoring habitat, combating climate improve and conserving a escalating amount of species at risk.