Tree where the Birds Go To Die by Kelley Hensing

Title:	Tree where the Birds Go To Die
Date Created:	2014
Copyright:	© Kelley Hensing
Genre:	Unpublished Art
Mediums:	Oils
Views:	947
Posted:	12/4/2015

Projects: Some of Kelley' s favorite projects: -Airbrushing murals and fashion clothing, and creating art live at on-location projects with Marc Jacobs in NYC -Illustrating a card game for Atlas Games, titled Lost in Rlyeh, among other drawings for roleplaying books -Painting public murals, statues and other instillations for the non-profit Artworks of Cincinnati -Creating 10 interior illustrations for the limited edition of Edgar Allan Poe: Poetry and Tales published by Suntup Editions

This piece debuted Last November at Last Rites Gallery in NYC, as part of my gallery show "The Animal Within". I was experimenting with the concept of a central image surrounded by supporting smaller images, and after a long while of working how how this would work, it ended up becoming one of my favorites. All the birds pictured in this piece were from photos I took around New York, while going about my daily life. The images conjured the thought of dying alone, while being surrounded by busy life as it continues on. I wanted to find a way to immortalize the birds individually while reflecting on the idea of the soul going to a final Place. Everything came together after I found the right story, shared with my by my father after his trip to Scotland. The key line is used in the title.