Meet the new member of the scrap board pigeon flock: Jacob. This elegant gentleman, an Old Dutch Capuchine pigeon, was first rescued in 1993. Twenty-two years later, Jacob came to Palomacy Pigeon & Dove Adoptions after a veterinarian intervened in a plan to euthanize him solely because of his advanced age.
Palomacy director Elizabeth Young adopted Jacob and nicknamed him “The Count.” She thought she would be providing end-of-life care, but Jacob thrived in Elizabeth’s home for six more years. He passed away in 2020 at the astonishing age of 28.
Elizabeth told me a story about the photo shoot leading to the glamorous image above. She took Jacob and several other birds out on a cold night to visit acclaimed photographer Kira Stackhouse at Nuena Photography, who had donated the session. Along the way, she started having regrets about disturbing the old man. (“What the hell am I doing?” were her exact words.) Would 23-year-old Jacob have a heart attack from the stress, the strangeness, the camera flash? But Jacob was chill as could be. When they got home, though it was well past his bedtime, he strutted up and down the room’s length, cooing his soft coos. He was exhilarated!
More recently, Jacob had a posthumous moment in the spotlight when he was the face of Palomacy’s annual party, “Feathers & Fashion.” Seeing so much of Jacob earlier this fall must have worked on me subconsciously because when it came time to paint a new scrap board pigeon, no one else would do.
Is it a tree? Is it a sock? No!
I don’t plan paintings ahead of time. After completing one portrait, I wait to see who lights up next. I responded to Jacob even though I could immediately see the challenge ahead — maybe even because I could see it.
When viewing the painting, here are the things people have said Jacob’s unexpected arrangement of feathers looks like:
- a tree trunk
- a sock
- a fur coat
- a finger trap toy
The confusion is an excellent example of how we see when we have no context for what we’re seeing. If you don’t know what a fancy pigeon’s feathers can do, your brain will work hard to make something sensible out of what’s in front of you.
After considering these comments, I added details to make Jacob’s feathers look more featherish. However, with the exception of their collaged eyes and beaks, the scrap board birds are painted roughly — primarily with palette knives — and I wanted to stay true to my feelings and intentions for the series.
The result is that I might have spent a month making a piece that makes sense only to “pigeon people,” but that’s okay. When he comes with me to an event, I’ll be sure to bring his photo along, and I’ll enjoy fielding questions and collecting additional suppositions about what Jacob’s dramatic wrap could be!
Our shining star
I’ll close with a couple more photos of Jacob. He was such a dear bird, beloved by people and pigeons alike. No one expected him to live so long, but no one was ready to lose him, and he won’t be forgotten.
Even when he was blind and frail, Jacob bathed daily and loved to bask in the sunshine.
Fairfax Winter Market: December 15
I’ll be at SOON (51 Bolinas Road) for the Fairfax Winter Market on December 15 from 5-9 p.m. “Shine Your Light,” other original work, and prints will be with me. How it will work being outside on a cold December night remains to be seen. I hope for lots of rain this winter, but not that night, please. I’m crossing my fingers and looking forward to it!
Meanwhile, if you can’t make it to the market and have questions about this portrait of Jacob — 50% of proceeds from the sale of the piece will go to Palomacy — or anything else, reply to this email and say hi. 🙂
