ST. LOUIS — There is no need to be a bird watcher to appreciate a flock down in south St Louis. These birds have wings meant to motivate, not to fly.
You can find them on near the intersection of Delor Street and Wherry Avenue, they’re not too far from the three-way stop. The birds are meant as an escape from the present-day chaos in our world.
“The last year and a half the world got turned upside down,” said Carolyn Lewis.
Lewis turned an ordinary wooden fence into a work of art.
“Wanted to use the fence as a space to bring joy and happiness to the community,” she said.
Lewis painted seven colorful birds onto the wood.
“Wanted them to dance up and down and some be in the air and some be way down to the ground. And I think that is just a reflection of life,” Lewis said of her work.
It took her one week to paint her “empowerment birds” for the neighborhood to see.
“The only way for me to move through this world is to create art,” she said.
Each bird is wearing a pair of Lewis’ signature red shows.
“Kind of like a reminder to put one foot in front of the other. I wear red shoes on days where I need a little extra confidence,” explained Lewis.
These birds inspire confidence with words and phrases that are written on their wings.
“Each of these birds strikes a nerve and strikes a memory and brings up a good feeling,” she said.
Some of the messages have a hidden and special meaning.
“One of the little birds is about rescue dogs,” she said.
The birds have not gone unnoticed.
“Little kids were driving by, they would say they wanted to come see the tweet-tweet,” she said.
Lewis encourages everyone to come see the birds and read the words. They may just empower you.
“That is the power of art. Somebody may take a message away that resonates with them,” Lewis said.