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Minneapolis – Bird x Bird (also known as bird by bird) presents its seventh annual exhibition and auction featuring works in all media by 130 regionally and nationally known contemporary artists, with a free public reception and silent auction Saturday, February 21 from 6:00 to 9:00P.M., with music by Brad Senne, Mary Klueh and Brian Just at the Northrup King Building, Gallery 332, 1500 Jackson St. in N.E. Minneapolis.

Since 2002, Bird x Bird (a nonprofit organization) has enlisted painters, printmakers, photographers, sculptors, multi- and new-media artists to create works of art to benefit the birds. Each year these artworks are exhibited and auctioned raising funds to support critical habitat and environmental programming at Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden (EBWG), in Minneapolis, and Audubon Center of the North Woods (ACNW) in Sandstone, Minnesota. Bird x Bird’s mission is to stimulate a creative interface between artists, environmental advocates and the public in an effort to enhance the stewardship of wild species and the ecoliteracy of human beings. (for the total scoop on BirdxBird and its partners visit www.birdxbird.org).

The works featured in Bird x Bird 2009 are decidedly contemporary; ranging widely in style, media and content offering diverse interpretations that are lyrical, ironic, humorous or provocative. The birds testify to the current state of affairs - they serve as surrogates for other species and resonate with our fundamental connection to nature. The exhibition features indigenous species, imaginary species, eco-imperatives, cultural critiques and examines our contemporary relationships with the Earth.

Since 2004, Bird x Bird has maintained a partnership with Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden & Bird Sanctuary (EBWG) at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis and Audubon Center of the North Woods (ACNW) a K-12 environmental learning center in Sandstone, Minnesota. Both EBWG and ACNW collect and share data about avian species with Bird x Bird - data posted on its website (created by Bird x Bird artist Carmen Vazalt) as an educational and inspirational source for the project artists. The website receives numerous hits from visitors around the world each day (see www.birdxbird.org).

Proceeds from BirdxBird 2009 will support future bird banding and wildlife rehabilitation at ACNW; support the bird sanctuary and bird programming at EBWG; and provide support for BirdxBird’s 2009 activities.