Jenny Kendler

📍“Other of Pearl” on Governors Island, New York City

“Other of Pearl,” @jennykendler ’s multi-sensory public art installation, opens TODAY on Governors Island 🦪🐋🌊 Presented by #GovIslandArts and @nrdc_org , this exhibition trans­forms a historic, cavern-like area into a space for slow explo­ration. Here you will encounter sev­en inti­mate and del­i­cate works, includ­ing a hand­blown glass instru­ment where you can sing in the voice of a whale and pearl sculp­tures grown inside oys­ters. “Other of Pearl” is open every Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm, through October inside Fort Jay (@govislandnps ). Learn more and plan your visit at the link in our bio. Sup­port for Oth­er of Pearl is pro­vid­ed by the Rip­ple Foun­da­tion as well as @roseatejewelry . Spe­cial thanks to exhi­bi­tion con­trib­u­tors @davidfgruber and @projectceti and @billionoyster . “Whale Bells,” featured in “Other of Pearl,” courtesy of @jennykendler and @abearnot . Gov­er­nors Island Arts presents its pro­gram with the vision­ary sup­port of the @fordfoundation , as well the @mellonfoundation , the Cha­ri­na Endow­ment Fund, Don­ald R. Mullen Fam­i­ly Foun­da­tion, @snforg , @bloombergdotorg , The Gottes­man Fund, Don­ald A. Pels Char­i­ta­ble Trust, @neaarts , and @nyscouncilonthearts with the sup­port of the Office of the Gov­er­nor and the New York State Legislature.

Day two of install for “Other of Pearl” opening on June 14th on @governorsisland as part of their #publicart program—in partnership with @nrdc_org . One of seven projects in the exhibition, “Mother, of Pearl (Nervous System)” seen being installed above is meticulously strung from many thousands of freshwater pearls. This work traces an interconnected network scaled to the artist’s own nervous system. Following the luminous pathways with our eyes, we are asked to imagine this electric network within our own animal bodies as a way to reconnect our senses to the more-than-human world. Recalling the work of feminist artists like Ana Mendieta and Faith Wilding, this work uses the delicate, unashamedly decorative techniques of beading and jewelry-making to recall the embodied practices of “woman’s work” and the often overlooked care work of femme-identified people. The title evokes the biological process of motherhood itself, linking us through our feral bodies—like a string of pearls—all the way back to the origins of life. (Many thanks to my amazing assistant @syd_g_art — as well as @powerhouse_arts for fabricating and installing the beautiful hanging structure.)

Today is #NationalPrairieDay . It’s a serendipitous time to officially share ‘Through the Eye of the Unicorn’ our collaboration for @chicagobotanic ’s summer exhibition, ‘Lost & Found.’ @dr.aloi and @jennykendler have created a living installation based on the famous Renaissance Unicorn Tapestries on permanent display at the MET Cloisters in NYC @metcloisters . The most iconic panel in the series shows the mythical animal, believed to possess curative and supernatural powers, captive, wounded, and trapped in a small fence surrounded by a wonderfully biodiverse meadow in bloom. Aloi and Kendler’s installation interprets the fence as a symbol of the constriction imposed on the natural world. The installation spills out beneath the fence’s gate, bringing the rewilding of the prairie to the monotony of the common lawn. The plants-studded gravel mounds inside this fence are a reconstructed fragment of Bell Bowl @bellbowlprairie , a rare and precious 8000-year-old dolomite prairie brimming with biodiversity that was recently bulldozed for an unnecessary access road by the Chicago-Rockford International Airport @flyrfd . Today, only 3 acres of this once vast and very precious prairie survive and so this project stands as a memorial to this irretrievable loss. The work asks: As only the smallest fragments of original prairie remain, how could this have been allowed to happen? In folk tales, unicorns are often characterized as elusive creatures, capable of becoming invisible. Only those with a kind and attentive predisposition can detect their presence. Over time, the magical beauty of natural environments like Bell Bowl Prairie has also become invisible to us, to the point where our laws and culture somehow allow for their reckless destruction. Like tapestries, prairies are the result of intricate enmeshments between many, often invisible, organisms. How can we attune ourselves to the complex beauty of these ancient and sacred places again? + CONTINUED IN COMMENTS +

“Through the Eye of the Unicorn” opens at the @chicagobotanic on May 31st, and runs through summer’s end. Created by @dr.aloi & @jennykendler , the project memorializes the ecologically irreplaceable 8,000 year old Bell Bowl Prairie @bellbowlprairie , which was substantially destroyed by the Rockford Airport @flyrfd to build an unnecessary access road. Expect images of the full living artwork after the opening, but in the meantime, here’s some behind-the-scenes images of rare prairie plants growing in gravelly soils, screen printing huge 20ft flags with Bell Bowl species at @spudnikpress , and fun with flame throwers—creating “prairie burn” shou sugi ban for a fence with a special Renaissance-era reference, soon to be revealed.

Announcing “Other of Pearl,” a new site-specific public art project by @jennykendler debuting on Governors Island this summer. Presented by #GovIslandArts and @nrdc_org , this immersive installation tells the story of our changing climate and will re-enchant New Yorkers’ relationship with marine ecosystems. Beginning June 14, “Other of Pearl” will invite visitors to discover a series of intimate, delicate artworks inside Governors Island’s historic Fort Jay Magazine, a cavern-like space that suggests a descent below sea level. Read the full announcement at govisland.org/blog Governors Island Arts presents its program with the visionary support of the @fordfoundation , as well as the @mellonfoundation , the Charina Endowment Fund, Donald R. Mullen Family Foundation, @snforg , @bloombergdotorg , The Gottesman Fund, Donald A. Pels Charitable Trust, @neaarts , and @nyscouncilonthearts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional support for “Other of Pearl” is provided by the Ripple Foundation and @roseatejewelry . 📸: Detail of artwork, courtesy of @jennykendler

Looking forward to our @expochicago /DIALOGUES panel this Sunday at 2pm. Honored to speak alongside curator @sharmila______________ and artist @katiewularni 🍃 Please join us for a conversation about remembering and restoring our kinship with the more-than-human world.

Excited to announce my participation in @pstinla —a program of @gettymuseum . In particular, I’m thrilled to be a part of #BrackishWater , curated by the inimitable @debrascaccostudio and @aandreastang who see the show as “an extended metaphor for in-betweenness.” This iteration of PST ART: Art & Science Collide will create opportunities for dialogue around some of the most urgent problems of our time by exploring past and present connections between art and science in a series of exhibitions, public programs, and other resources. Project topics range from climate change and environmental justice to the future of artificial intelligence and alternative medicine.

Last week, ‘Tell it to the Birds’ came down at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History @morethanadodo , where it was all this autumn, as part of the @oxfordculturalprogramme . It was wonderful to receive so much feedback from people who were touched by the work, which “translates” visitors’ secrets into the song of endangered birds. The project was also the museum’s breakout TikTok hit—to my great surprise—receiving almost half a million views. I found out after two of my dear cousins forwarded it to me, saying it popped up in their feeds. 😂 This spring, the work will travel to the stunningly beautiful Aviary at Waddesdon Manor, now a public site, where it will continue to raise awareness about how our actions impact birds—and suggest a deeper relationship to our feathered kinfolk is possible.

🎉 @jennykendler ‘Tell it to the Birds’ is the sensation that has taken the ‘Everything is Connected Season’ by storm! Extended to 12th Jan 2024 due to overwhelming popularity, this exhibition at @morethanadodo has drawn thousands from across the globe. Visitors flock to share secrets that transform into enchanting birdsong, weaving a tapestry of sound and soul that echoes through the museum. Don’t just hear about it—be a part of the symphony before it ends. Connect with the chorus of voices and let nature’s conversations inspire you. For more details into this #extraordinary event, flutter over to the link in our bio. 🦜🌿🎶 ⁠ #explore #oxfordis #whatsonoxford #exhibition #tellittothebirds #artinstallation #oxfordmuseum #freeentry #funideas #everythingisconnected #experienceoxfordshire #extraordinaryevents #opentoall #mustsee #oxford #museummagic #decemberchallenge #januaryadventures #freeexhibition #artmeetsnature #oxfordshire

🤔 Ever Wondered What Your Words Would Sound Like as Birdsong? Since its opening in October, thousands have experienced the magic of Jenny Kendler’s ‘Tell it to the Birds’ at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. 🦤 This isn’t just an exhibition; it’s a conversation with nature. Your whispered secrets are transformed into a captivating birdsong, joining a chorus that echoes through the museum. 🎶 🐦‍⬛🦜🦚🦉 If you’re yet to experience this for yourself, now’s your last chance! This unique, interactive art installation has captivated visitors with its blend of technology, nature, and creativity. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to be part of this extraordinary experience. 🌿 This magical, free exhibit ends next Sat 2nd Dec. Come and discover why so many have been enchanted by this journey of sound and emotion. For more details and to plan your visit ➡️ link in bio #explore #oxfordis #whatsonoxford #exhibition #tellittothebirds #artinstallation #oxfordmuseum #freeentry #everythingisconnected #funideas #experienceoxfordshire #extraordinaryevents #opentoall #mustsee #oxford #museummagic #freeexhibition #artmeetsnature #oxfordshire