Lost Bird Project Film Screening and Remarks with Artist Todd McGrain
Event Details
Todd McGrain, sculptor of the new Petoskey Passenger Pigeon Monument, will present his “Lost Bird Project”
Event Details
Todd McGrain, sculptor of the new Petoskey Passenger Pigeon Monument, will present his “Lost Bird Project” film and offer remarks concerning his Passenger Pigeon Monument, hosted at Crooked Tree Arts Center, 461 East Mitchell Street, Petoskey.
Lost Birds is a documentary about the stories of five birds driven to extinction in modern times and sculptor Todd McGrain’s project to memorialize them. The film follows the sculptor as he searches for the locations where the birds were last seen in the wild and negotiates for permission to install his large bronze sculptures there.
Throughout his career, McGrain has embraced art as a powerful form of public engagement—one that can shift perspectives and deepen our understanding of the world around us. Working across sculpture, painting, drawing, photography, and film, he weaves together visual art and storytelling to explore humanity’s impact on the environment and the creatures we share it with.
McGrain is widely recognized for his ongoing Lost Bird Project, through which he has created permanent public memorials honoring bird species driven to extinction, raising awareness and inspiring reflection through art.
In an effort to foster a greater love for Northern Michigan’s natural resources, local organizations are coming together this June to host a week of free, public events commemorating “The Great Petoskey Passenger Pigeon Nesting of 1878”.
The week-long series, running from June 15 through June 19, 2026, will culminate in the unveiling of a new bronze monument dedicated to the extinct bird.
The commemorative week is supported by numerous collaborating partners, including the Emmet County Historical Commission, Little Traverse History Museum, Little Traverse Conservancy, Mackinac State Historic Parks, Petoskey Regional Audubon Society, Inland Seas Education Association, Crooked Tree Arts Center, and The City of Petoskey.
In addition to the scheduled events, the Little Traverse History Museum will be open all week from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to stop by to view a taxidermy passenger pigeon and a wall mural depicting the 1800’s hunting of the birds in the Petoskey area.
