Fort Bragg Library Mendocino County, California
ALBATROSS: LIFE ON THE WIND AND SEA
A Museum/Library Collaboration
March 3, 2021
MENDOCINO COUNTY CULTURAL SERVICES AGENCY PRESS RELEASE
Online Exhibition at Mendocino County Museum Soars into the World of the Mysterious Seabirds
Albatross: Life on the Wind and Sea, is Mendocino County Museum’s online exhibition from March 14th to April 30th and reflects the latest discoveries about these seabirds. Through colorful block-printed artworks, sounds and videos of albatrosses, a virtual tour of albatrosses’ Midway Atoll home, and family-friendly activities, the virtual exhibit, Albatross: Life on the Wind and Sea, dispels myths and sheds light on the lives of these large seabirds, of which three species are found in the Northern Pacific. This exhibit will be paired with stories about sightings of albatrosses in Mendocino County. Museum collection highlights and virtual programs will inspire exploration and stewardship of the Mendocino coast.
Albatrosses spend 95% of their lives over the open ocean, using the wind to sail over the ocean for long periods of time. They only return to land to find and meet their life mates, lay their egg, and raise their young. When it’s time to nest, both parents share responsibilities for their egg. While one albatross incubates the egg for up to three weeks, the other travels hundreds or thousands of miles to find food in colder waters. When the traveling bird returns, the parents trade roles.
Throughout Albatross: Life on the Wind and Sea, Hawai’i artist and author Caren Loebel-Fried reveals the story of an imagined nesting Laysan Albatross through her intricate and colorful block prints. Loebel-Fried spent five weeks on the small Northwestern Hawaiian islands of Midway Atoll, working amongst hundreds of thousands of nesting Laysan, Black-footed, and Short-tailed Albatrosses. While on Midway, Caren counted nests with a census team and researched for her artwork for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Her artwork and story originally appeared in the book A Perfect Day for an Albatross, published by Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s publishing wing, and has been verified for accuracy by biologists.
Exhibition Support
Albatross: Life on the Wind and Sea is based on a traveling exhibition from Caren Loebel-Fried, the Seymour Marine Discovery Center (Santa Cruz, CA), and Exhibit Envoy, a nonprofit. The exhibition is adapted from the book , written by Caren Loebel-Fried and published by Cornell Lab Publishing Group.
About the Artists
Author and artist Caren Loebel-Fried is an author and artist from Volcano, Hawai‘i who lives part time in Half Moon Bay, California. Birds, conservation, and the natural world are the foundation for her work. Caren creates award-winning storybooks about nature and culture, and makes iconic, educational art for government agencies and conservation organizations. She uses the power of pictures and stories to open up the world of wildlife for people young and old, like in her book A Perfect Day for an Albatross, on which Albatross: Life on the Wind and Sea is based.
About Exhibit Envoy
Exhibit Envoy’s mission is to provide institutions with diverse and meaningful traveling exhibitions to strengthen their communities. For more information, please visit www.exhibitenvoy.org.
Albatross Programs at the Library
The Mendocino County Library is providing some exciting albatross themed programs in coordination with the Museum exhibit:
- March 14: Readings of Albert the Albatross and The Wandering Albatross will be posted on Fort Bragg Library’s Youtube Channel.
- March 17 at 3:00 pm: Full STEAM Ahead on the Ukiah – Mendocino County Library Facebook page. Sam will demonstrate how to make your own interactive sailboat scene, and encourage viewers to visit the digital exhibit.
- March 19 at 10:30 am: Toddler Story Time on the Ukiah – Mendocino County Library Facebook page. Sam will host a story time all about sailors and sailing, as well as feature “Oly,” the paper doll that the Museum created for visitors to download, print, and make at home.
- March 19 at 2:00 pm: Pre-school Story Time featuring birds on Round Valley Library’s Facebook page includes books: A Perfect Day for an Albatross and Ride the Wind: Airborne Journeys of Animals and Plants.
- March 24 at 3:00 pm: Full STEAM Ahead # 2. Sam will demonstrate how to make a DIY popsicle stick sailboat, and again showcase “Oly,” the paper doll. Ukiah – Mendocino County Library Facebook
- March 26 at 10:30 am: Toddler Story Time # 2. Sam will host a story time all about birds and natural exploration, and encourage viewers to visit the online exhibit to learn about birds and exploration at home. Ukiah – Mendocino County Library Facebook
- March 29: Program featuring The Life of Al the Albatross at Point Arena Cove on Coast Community Library’s YouTube Channel.
Cultural Services Agency
880 N. Bush Street
Office: (707) 234-2873
Ukiah CA 95482
Fax: (707) 463-6951
