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birds, bullhorns and brian collier Teach the Starlings in Kansas City is the latest incarnation of environmental artist Brian Collier's multi-faceted, ongoing project that begins with the story of one of the most spectacular ecological disruptions ever perpetrated by an individual: the introduction of the European starling to North America. Last summer we invited Brian Collier and his Master Collection of Very Small Objects to exhibit at the Library. Since then, he's been teaching at the Kansas City Art Institute and exhibiting multiple projects around the country. Tomorrow, at Paragraph Gallery in Kansas City MO, Brian will lead a walking tour in search of European starlings, the ubiquitous bird and star of his current exhibit, Teach the Starlings in Kansas City. Participants will learn interesting facts about this species, their history and rapid takeover of North American airspace and how to locate and identify them. Starlings are extremely adept at mimicry, rivaling parrots in their ability to mimic human speech. Therefore, everyone will also be collectively teaching starlings how to say the name of the man who introduced them to this continent, "Schieffelin", using the shouting technique. Bullhorns and paper to make more will be provided. Collier's work is powerfully funny, eloquently sad, exquisite in design and execution. If you aren't yet bothered by the current environmental crisis, you will be after experiencing Collier's work. info: Paragraph Gallery 23 E 12th St, KCMO 816-221-5115 TOMORROW! | Saturday, April 12 1:00 PM Teach the Starlings in Kansas City is offered in conjunction with The Urban Culture Project. An initiative of the Charlotte Street Foundation, the UCP creates new opportunities for artists of all disciplines and contributes to urban revitalization by transforming spaces in downtown Kansas City into new venues for multi-disciplinary contemporary arts programming. http://www.tscpl.org/gallery/comments/birds_bullhorns_and_brian_collier/