WP3: Pre-writing 4

Arietta II is the title of the sculpture. Arietta is a musical term that means a short aria. This is piece of music that is performed, usually, with only one voice accompanied by an orchestra. It is said to have very expressive melody, which includes a lot of movement. It is commonly referenced to be a part of an opera. Arietta II not only moves in the wind, but is about the incredible movement of Starlings.

Starlings are birds native to Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. They have been brought to North America, Hawaii, and New Zealand. The feature starlings are known for is their exquisite behavior when they are getting ready to roost. During the day they stay in small feeding groups, spreading out to feed off the surrounding land. At dusk, the bigger males act as leaders as they find the roosting spot of the night. Slowly, the smaller feeding groups combine as one large swarm. Hundreds of thousands of starlings come together in a swirling cloud-like formation. They look like black waves moving through the sky.



This movement is incredible because it can include up to one million starlings, and they never collide. Apparently to avoid collision, each starling is to keep their eye on seven other starlings. By traveling in this huge mass, it keeps them warm and safe. As they move, they maneuver into social rankings or positioning. The higher ranked males get the center of the roosting area for the night, where it is warmest and most safe. As the rankings decrease, the starlings get farther from the center. In the morning they leave in turns to feed in their smaller groups, only to return to the huge mass again at night.

Arietta II being the title reflects the focus on movement and accompaniment of the starlings in flight. The actually shape of the sculpture portrays a vortex, similar to the starling formation. The welding shows the attachment and unity of the birds in the sculpture, analogous to the cooperation and togetherness of the starlings. Catherine Ferguson found the starlings’ astonishing act and has made a representation of such movement, in a solid steel sculpture.