Joan Linder, Birds, Bugs and Beasts , 2021, ceramic pigment on porcelain tile and porcelain enamel on steel, PS 97 Addition, Brooklyn Birds, Bugs, and Beasts is a site-specifc artwork created by artist Joan Linder for the lobby of the new PS 97 Brooklyn addition. It consists of two digitally-printed porcelain tile murals on each side of the entrance and porcelain enamel birds mounted on the soffit above. The world depicted is a diverse and fantastical ecosystem intended to bring the outside in and compliment the energy of the neighborhood. It is inspired by historical representations of plants and animals, such as Audubon’s Birds of America. To create the imagery for the project, Linder spent time in Bensonhurst making drawings, taking photographs and researching migratory, invasive, cultivated, native and historic plants and animals. She used black pen and ink to draw the form of the plants and animals and then added watercolor on top. In total, Linder created over 100 drawings that were combined to create this imagined shoreline garden where wild and domestic creatures coexist. Many drawings were created from direct observation either outside in real life or from taxidermy collections. Others were drawn from photographs. The artwork features common birds like the cardinal, blue jay, and hummingbird; reptiles like the eastern spotted newt and the American bullfrog; mammals like the racoon and chipmunk; insects like the damselfly, honey bee, and spider; urban creatures like the pigeon, squirrel, rat, and roach. Others, like the common garden lizard might be found in the zoo or as a pet. The placement of the animals follows the logic of where they actually exist, either on the ground or in the air. While the imagery is meant for everyone, the densest areas are in the lower portion of the walls. The imagery closer to the floor has a hide and seek quality, meant to be especially accessible for the youngest children who attend the school. As a Sites for Students commission, Linder held workshops with 3rd grade students that included collages of still-life plants, drawing taxidermy aniumals, blind contour drawing and outdoor sketching. Joan Linder, Birds, Bugs and Beasts , 2021, ceramic pigment on porcelain tile and porcelain enamel on steel, PS 97 Addition, Brooklyn Birds, Bugs, and Beasts is a site-specifc artwork created by artist Joan Linder for the lobby of the new PS 97 Brooklyn addition. It consists of two digitally-printed porcelain tile murals on each side of the entrance and porcelain enamel birds mounted on the soffit above. The world depicted is a diverse and fantastical ecosystem intended to bring the outside in and compliment the energy of the neighborhood. It is inspired by historical representations of plants and animals, such as Audubon’s Birds of America. To create the imagery for the project, Linder spent time in Bensonhurst making drawings, taking photographs and researching migratory, invasive, cultivated, native and historic plants and animals. She used black pen and ink to draw the form of the plants and animals and then added watercolor on top. In total, Linder created over 100 drawings that were combined to create this imagined shoreline garden where wild and domestic creatures coexist. Many drawings were created from direct observation either outside in real life or from taxidermy collections. Others were drawn from photographs. The artwork features common birds like the cardinal, blue jay, and hummingbird; reptiles like the eastern spotted newt and the American bullfrog; mammals like the racoon and chipmunk; insects like the damselfly, honey bee, and spider; urban creatures like the pigeon, squirrel, rat, and roach. Others, like the common garden lizard might be found in the zoo or as a pet. The placement of the animals follows the logic of where they actually exist, either on the ground or in the air. While the imagery is meant for everyone, the densest areas are in the lower portion of the walls. The imagery closer to the floor has a hide and seek quality, meant to be especially accessible for the youngest children who attend the school. As a Sites for Students commission, Linder held workshops with 3rd grade students that included collages of still-life plants, drawing taxidermy aniumals, blind contour drawing and outdoor sketching.