Mysterious Bird Sketch in Hatch Library Leads to Public Art Series

The only identifier on the accomplished drawing was the tag BLUE, written in bubble letters below the bird. Zawisza posted a notice in the daily Campus Digest on October 10, seeking the artist.

"Searching for the Hatch Bird Artist: Did you draw a house sparrow on the dry-erase board in Hatch's GIS lab? Please send me an email, we'd love to have more of your drawings around the library!"

It turns out the creator was first-year student Blue Monreal '28, from Dallas, Texas. In high school, Monreal started to get serious about birding, an interest that was strengthened this summer during an internship with the Trinity River Audubon Center, a nature preserve ten miles from downtown Dallas.

"Texas is right on the migration path for many birds," Monreal said. "We all call the nature preserve a road rest stop for them."

Monreal often draws birds, a habit they are especially keen on doing during study breaks. Monreal-who's been drawing steadfastly since elementary school-is also captivated by people as subjects. "I've got sketchbooks full of portraits," they said. Their plan for now is to major in both visual arts and biology at Bowdoin.

After Zawisza successfully tracked down the bird artist, she asked Monreal if they would be willing to do another piece of art for the library. Monreal instead offered to do a new work every month. Zawisza promptly equipped them with a set of washable colored markers.

Monreal's first creation as the official library artist was a chickadee surrounded by plump blueberries. For the next, Monreal is considering a Red-breasted Nuthatch, in honor of Hatch Library, or perhaps a graceful Great Blue Heron, one of their favorites. The drawing will be done by the first week of November.

"I like that this project shows there's a role for art in the Hatch Science Library," Zawisza said, "and that the library is engaging with students."