Maggie Denk-Leigh
Birth Date- March 11, 1974
Education
Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, Master of Fine Arts, Printmaking, 1999
Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, Bachelor of Arts, Printmaking / Graphic Design, Business 1996
Professional Experience

1999- present Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, Ohio (CIA)
2012 - presentAssociate Professor, Printmaking Department Chair

Artist Bio
Maggie Denk-Leigh is an Associate Professor and Printmaking Department Chair at the Cleveland Institute of Art. She serves as the President of the Board at the Morgan Conservatory, a hand papermaking and book arts center in Cleveland, Ohio. She received her BA from Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, and MFA in Printmaking from Clemson University, South Carolina.
Denk-Leigh’s work has recently been exhibited at the Museum of Natural History and Culture, Knoxville, Tennessee; the Shaker Historical Museum, Shaker, Ohio; and was a selected as participant for the exhibitions Confluence: Twelve Collaborations between Paper and Print Artists, at the Morgan Conservatory, and Things That Fly, at Heights Arts Gallery, Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Maggie Denk-Leigh

Text for XAFA Workshop
10/22/17

Statement:
Observation of bird species and investigation into their migratory patterns from local sanctuaries prompted this series of prints. As an extension of the body of work, Critical Condition, this work can be directly associated to the Great Backyard Bird Count, a Citizen Science program supported through the US National Science Foundation encouraging citizens to participate in data collection for ongoing scientific research. The GBBC encourages volunteers to participate by plotting their location and submitting to a national database for species identification, change to migration patterns and disruption to populations. A broader look at the data can reveal effects of climate alterations or consequences from disease. Many other Citizen Science projects have been initiated to respond to the questions, “What can I do to help?” or “Can one person make a difference?”

Bird migration is accomplished in long nonstop flights between key stopover points. Migration suggests movement and at the same time offers reference of location and place. My interest lies in the tension between the two themes as descriptions of species offer parallel relationships to man. It is hard to ignore the interconnected topics pervasive in the current social and political climate.

Cedar Waxwings are extremely social and rarely seen alone. They migrate in flocks and share food in passing as they flutter between themselves. The Common Finch, native to the Southwest US, is a recent arrival in the East. It is known New York pet shop owners who had been selling the finches illegally, released their birds in 1940 to escape prosecution. The finches survived, and began to colonize. 50 years later they advanced halfway across the continent, becoming one of the mostly widely populated species. The Sanderling is mostly identified as a coastal bird, is an inland regular of the Great Lakes region. Turning a rust color when breeding, they are considered in serious decline as they rely heavily on a few staging areas in migration, and are vulnerable to destruction of those sites. The Cardinal, a permanent resident throughout this range, is stable in number and is steadily expanding its territory as a non-migratory species.

The source images in this work were generated from my encounters within the Cuyahoga Valley National Park region. Using photographs and contour maps the CVNP offered direct access