Browse Collection

Year Created

2023

Year Acquired

2023

Keywords

Women

Surfaces

Wood panel

Cultures

Canadian

Medium

Acrylic

Art Forms

Public art

Dawn Chorus

by: Jean Rooney


In 2023-2024, "Dawn Chorus" by Jean Rooney - Sinéad Ní Ruanaidh was commissioned by the Province of New Brunswick for Hanwell Park Academy as part of the Public Art Policy for New Brunswick.

"Dawn Chorus" is an artwork designed to teach students about local songbirds in the Hanwell area and consists of 6 acrylic hand-painted birch wood panels. Each panel shows a facet of the Hanwell landscape, using intense, playful colours to depict trees and wildlife, such as foxes and coyotes. Hidden within the landscape are a total of 32 local species of songbirds. 

Students and visitors can birdwatch by investigating the works up close (view the songbird information attached) or using binoculars from a distance, building curiosity and familiarity with bird species' shapes, colours, markings, and silhouettes.

According to the artist, "Songbirds herald the dawn together with their singing as humans prepare for communal rituals, like waking up and going to school". 

Click the links below to view each panel, and see how many songbird species YOU can name!

Panel #1, Title: Do the Grackle Walk. Dimensions: 40 inches in diameter.

Panel #2, Title: Blue Jay. Dimensions: 28 inches in diameter.

Panel #3, Title: Forest Bubbles. Dimensions: 60 inches in diameter.

Panel #4, Title: Howlin' at the Moon. Dimensions: 40 inches in diameter.

Panel #5, Title: Fox Den. Dimensions: 44 inches in diameter.

Panel #6, Title: Wishes in Ditches. Dimensions: 24 inches in diameter.


Small jean rooney Jean Rooney
Jean Rooney lives in French Lake in rural New Brunswick. She holds a degree in fine art from the National College of Art and Design, Ireland, and a master’s degree from Trinity College, University of Dublin. Rooney has fourteen years of art teaching experience. She is currently an instructor at New Brunswick College of Craft and Design.

Frequently Ask Questions

If your project is no longer taking place, it’s critical that you contact the program officer as soon as possible to notify us. Depending on the situation, we can advise you of next steps. To proceed with withdrawing the project, you will need to send a cheque for the grant amount made payable to “Minister of Finance” no later than March 1. Indicate on the cheque memo or attach a letter for what program the amount is for and mail to:

Arts and Cultural Industries Branch

Dept. of Tourism, Heritage and Culture

Attention: Janey Johnston

Marysville Place (4th floor)

P. O. Box 6000 Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1


Results will not be provided over the telephone.

Applications must be emailed to culture@gnb.ca.

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