Note
Expanded Wall Label:
God’s Aviary
Edgar G. Boevé
July, 2000
On the fifth day God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let the birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas and let the birds increase on the earth.” Genesis 1:20-21
God created the birds and saw that it was good.
Every winged being is symbolic of spiritualization both in the Bible and in other religions. The bird is specifically symbolic of the soul is found in folklore all over the world. The bird is universally the collaborator with man in myths and folktales and often a celestial messenger. They are symbols of thought, of imagination, and as air-borne creatures, of swiftness of spiritual processes and relationships. The Bible is particularly rich in its reference to birds that express spiritual truths.
The sun is a significant element in each painting as a symbol of true light as “The Lord is my Light” Psalm 27:1. “I am the light of the world” John 8:12.
The thirteen birds chosen for this series are:
The dove of the Holy Spirit as it hovers over the universe. Genesis 1:1 and John 1:32-34. (2001.7.1)
The dove as it returns to Noah in the art after the flood. Genesis 8:8-12 (2001.11.1)
The quails of God sent each morning to feed the Israelites in the wilderness. Exodus 16:13 (2001.12.1)
The swallows that nest “near your altar.” Psalm 84:3 (2001.13.1)
The golden eagle rising above the landscape. “They will soar on wings like eagles” Isaiah 40:31 “My youth is renewed like the eagles” Psalm 103:5 (2001.14.1)
Singing birds praising God. Psalm 104:12 (2001.15.1)
Migrating white storks as pilgrims, but who also have great fidelity to their nesting site. Jeremiah 8:7 and Psalm 104:17 (2001.16.1)
A pair of turtle doves as the temple sacrifice brought by Mary and Joseph at their presentation of Jesus. Luke 2:23, 24 (2001.6.1)
The sparrows who are under divine care. The hymn, “His eye is on the sparrow,” is a familiar expression of this concept. Matthew 10:29-31 (2001.8.1)
A hen with seven chicks expresses Christ’s love for His children. Matthew 13:37 (2001.9.1)
Three feeding birds on a sunflower expressing God’s constant care. Matthew 6:26 (2001.5.1)
Crown sparrows nesting among grape vines. “But the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Luke 9:58 (2001.4.1)
The cock crowing at dawn (Peter’s denial). Matthew 26:34 and 75. (2001.10.1)