H L Birdsong
@smidgeonpress.bsky.social
Artist, etc. in Portland, OR
(she/her/they/them)
https://heatherleebirdsong.com/news
Dec 2025: Russo Lee Gallery, PDX (group)
Mar 2026: Russo Lee Gallery, PDX (solo)
(she/her/they/them)
https://heatherleebirdsong.com/news
Dec 2025: Russo Lee Gallery, PDX (group)
Mar 2026: Russo Lee Gallery, PDX (solo)
Just called a company’s customer service number and an actual human answered—no phone tree, no uncanny “service voice” robot, no pre-recorded message. It was so nice and easy. I feel like I fell into an alternative (better) universe for a minute.
November 16, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Just called a company’s customer service number and an actual human answered—no phone tree, no uncanny “service voice” robot, no pre-recorded message. It was so nice and easy. I feel like I fell into an alternative (better) universe for a minute.
Went to spend some time with the Ursula K. Le Guin exhibition at @oregoncontemporary.bsky.social today. Some random things, idiosyncratically chosen (I only took pictures relevant to a conversation I was having with a friend):
November 15, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Went to spend some time with the Ursula K. Le Guin exhibition at @oregoncontemporary.bsky.social today. Some random things, idiosyncratically chosen (I only took pictures relevant to a conversation I was having with a friend):
Reposted by H L Birdsong
One-third of museums in the United States have lost federal funding under Donald Trump’s presidency, according to a survey released by the American Alliance of Museums.
One-Third of US Museums Feel the Pain of Trump’s Grant Cuts
Two-thirds of affected institutions have not been able to find alternative sources of funding, says a survey by the American Alliance of Museums.
hyperallergic.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:19 PM
One-third of museums in the United States have lost federal funding under Donald Trump’s presidency, according to a survey released by the American Alliance of Museums.
Today’s message from the random universe. Do you know where your towel is?
November 11, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Today’s message from the random universe. Do you know where your towel is?
Absolutely fuck LACMA leadership for refusing to voluntarily recognize their workers’ union.
Staffers at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art have announced their intention to unionize under the auspices of AFSCME Cultural Workers United District Council 36, a branch of the union representing museum workers across the country. www.artforum.com/news/lacma-p...
As LACMA Prepares to Unveil $720 Million Building, Employees Unionize
Staffers at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art on October 29 announced their intention to unionize under the auspices of AFSCME Cultural Workers United District Council 36.
www.artforum.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Absolutely fuck LACMA leadership for refusing to voluntarily recognize their workers’ union.
I am gleefully cackling. I have a mean streak a mile wide for anyone who fucks over workers and fails to value FOH labor.
It’s gross that the museum spent $250k on an unnecessary rebrand after reneging on longevity pay for their workers. Not that that’s why they canned her—but it should be.
It’s gross that the museum spent $250k on an unnecessary rebrand after reneging on longevity pay for their workers. Not that that’s why they canned her—but it should be.
After an emergency board meeting at the Philadelphia Art Museum, Director and CEO Sasha Suda was ousted via email, three years into her five-year contract with the museum and less than a month into the institution’s controversial rebrand.
Why Was the Philadelphia Art Museum Director Sacked?
After an emergency board meeting at the Philadelphia Art Museum (PhAM), Director and CEO Sasha Suda was dismissed from her post yesterday, November 4.
hyperallergic.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:02 PM
I am gleefully cackling. I have a mean streak a mile wide for anyone who fucks over workers and fails to value FOH labor.
It’s gross that the museum spent $250k on an unnecessary rebrand after reneging on longevity pay for their workers. Not that that’s why they canned her—but it should be.
It’s gross that the museum spent $250k on an unnecessary rebrand after reneging on longevity pay for their workers. Not that that’s why they canned her—but it should be.
This is a favorite archival letter from
recent history.
recent history.
Thanks to this morning's Bluesky discourse I'm suddenly thinking about this 1971 letter from artist Nancy Spero to critic Lucy Lippard www.si.edu/object/nancy...
November 6, 2025 at 8:27 PM
This is a favorite archival letter from
recent history.
recent history.
Sometimes I use little paper maquettes to work out the polygon figures for my paintings. Mostly I use an old desktop copy of Sketchup Make on an ancient laptop, but sometimes I need to play with something physical to figure it out. (I also need more gray card stock, which shows lighting better.)
November 1, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Sometimes I use little paper maquettes to work out the polygon figures for my paintings. Mostly I use an old desktop copy of Sketchup Make on an ancient laptop, but sometimes I need to play with something physical to figure it out. (I also need more gray card stock, which shows lighting better.)
“This art writing doesn’t pass my Turing test. It plummets with a wet, creepy thud into the uncanny valley.”
Shudderingly excellent description—something LLMs can’t make. They’re just auto-complete on steroids, producing averaged words from huge data sets (which were made through mass theft).
Shudderingly excellent description—something LLMs can’t make. They’re just auto-complete on steroids, producing averaged words from huge data sets (which were made through mass theft).
October 31, 2025 at 11:03 PM
“This art writing doesn’t pass my Turing test. It plummets with a wet, creepy thud into the uncanny valley.”
Shudderingly excellent description—something LLMs can’t make. They’re just auto-complete on steroids, producing averaged words from huge data sets (which were made through mass theft).
Shudderingly excellent description—something LLMs can’t make. They’re just auto-complete on steroids, producing averaged words from huge data sets (which were made through mass theft).
I remain somewhat aghast that Halloween is not a national holiday, despite its cultural importance.
October 31, 2025 at 8:21 PM
I remain somewhat aghast that Halloween is not a national holiday, despite its cultural importance.
Reposted by H L Birdsong
cultureedit.com/collections/...
48 hours left to bid - I have 5 works in this auction, check it out. 😘
48 hours left to bid - I have 5 works in this auction, check it out. 😘
October 31, 2025 at 7:15 PM
cultureedit.com/collections/...
48 hours left to bid - I have 5 works in this auction, check it out. 😘
48 hours left to bid - I have 5 works in this auction, check it out. 😘
The tragedy of a theft like this is that the objects will most likely be destroyed. Petty opportunists don’t fence collectibles—they melt them down, break whatever they can into salable parts, and toss the rest. Even though what they wind up with is a fraction of the market value of what they stole.
Four days before the Louvre heist catapulted museum security to the global stage, thieves in California snatched more than 1,000 items, including Native American artifacts, from a Bay Area museum.
Thieves Rob 1,000 Collection Items From California Museum
Native American artifacts and jewelry were among the objects taken from the Oakland Museum of California’s off-site facility.
hyperallergic.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:36 PM
The tragedy of a theft like this is that the objects will most likely be destroyed. Petty opportunists don’t fence collectibles—they melt them down, break whatever they can into salable parts, and toss the rest. Even though what they wind up with is a fraction of the market value of what they stole.
Reposted by H L Birdsong
New Sticker! ryanbubnis.bigcartel.com/products
Doom scrolling getting you down?
You picked up your phone to check the weather, but now you’ve been zombie scrolling for 20 mins
Screenprinted, 2-color red & black ink on white vinyl, uv resitant.
Doom scrolling getting you down?
You picked up your phone to check the weather, but now you’ve been zombie scrolling for 20 mins
Screenprinted, 2-color red & black ink on white vinyl, uv resitant.
October 29, 2025 at 11:21 PM
New Sticker! ryanbubnis.bigcartel.com/products
Doom scrolling getting you down?
You picked up your phone to check the weather, but now you’ve been zombie scrolling for 20 mins
Screenprinted, 2-color red & black ink on white vinyl, uv resitant.
Doom scrolling getting you down?
You picked up your phone to check the weather, but now you’ve been zombie scrolling for 20 mins
Screenprinted, 2-color red & black ink on white vinyl, uv resitant.
Reposted by H L Birdsong
"Rainey-Smith is a xylographer – she makes woodcuts. She doesn’t make images that look like woodcuts, she doesn’t use computers, she doesn’t use AI, she actually carves wood the old-fashioned way, which is a tradition that goes back at least two thousand years."
www.orartswatch.org/liv-rainey-s...
www.orartswatch.org/liv-rainey-s...
Liv Rainey-Smith: Woodblock by woodblock, building toward a World Fantasy Award • Oregon ArtsWatch
The Portland artist talks about the allure of fantasy worlds, the ancient art of woodblock printing, and the long journey that has made her a finalist for a prestigious prize.
www.orartswatch.org
October 27, 2025 at 5:35 PM
"Rainey-Smith is a xylographer – she makes woodcuts. She doesn’t make images that look like woodcuts, she doesn’t use computers, she doesn’t use AI, she actually carves wood the old-fashioned way, which is a tradition that goes back at least two thousand years."
www.orartswatch.org/liv-rainey-s...
www.orartswatch.org/liv-rainey-s...
Returning to an in-progress acryla-gouache painting after a few weeks, and I’ve spent most of my day setting the stay-wet palette back in order. Some colors separated and puddled. I have no idea what any of them are anymore, in relation to the painting itself. But: no mold! So that’s good.
October 27, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Returning to an in-progress acryla-gouache painting after a few weeks, and I’ve spent most of my day setting the stay-wet palette back in order. Some colors separated and puddled. I have no idea what any of them are anymore, in relation to the painting itself. But: no mold! So that’s good.
Portland’s major reason for trying to yoink arts funding (which our artists and small arts orgs desperately need) is to move that money to Parks & Rec, so ensuring funding for this also helps us hold the line for the arts. It’s all related!
Show up for Portland’s Parks and wildlife by voting yes on the Portland Parks Levy! Without the Levy Portland Parks & Rec will lose nearly half its budget, forcing closures and eliminating programs. Let’s show how much we love our parks by voting yes! birdallianceoregon.org/take-action/...
YES on 26-260, Portlanders for Parks
Bird Alliance of Oregon urges your YES on 26-260, the Portland Parks Levy which will be in front of Portland Voters this November. The Levy will ensure that the City of Portland is able to maintain an...
birdallianceoregon.org
October 22, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Portland’s major reason for trying to yoink arts funding (which our artists and small arts orgs desperately need) is to move that money to Parks & Rec, so ensuring funding for this also helps us hold the line for the arts. It’s all related!
Reposted by H L Birdsong
Congratulations to Vajra Chandrasekera (@vajra.me), recipient of the 2025 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction for Rakesfall!
Chandrasekera's book was chosen by authors Matt Bell, Indra Das, Kelly Link, Sequoia Nagamatsu, and Rebecca Roanhorse.
Chandrasekera's book was chosen by authors Matt Bell, Indra Das, Kelly Link, Sequoia Nagamatsu, and Rebecca Roanhorse.
October 21, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Congratulations to Vajra Chandrasekera (@vajra.me), recipient of the 2025 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction for Rakesfall!
Chandrasekera's book was chosen by authors Matt Bell, Indra Das, Kelly Link, Sequoia Nagamatsu, and Rebecca Roanhorse.
Chandrasekera's book was chosen by authors Matt Bell, Indra Das, Kelly Link, Sequoia Nagamatsu, and Rebecca Roanhorse.
Saw this marvelous rose on a walk yesterday in our quiet Portland neighborhood. The rest of the rose bush was in awful shape—as if it mustered up everything it had to produce this one perfect rose. Maybe the contrast made it stand out all the more.
October 11, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Saw this marvelous rose on a walk yesterday in our quiet Portland neighborhood. The rest of the rose bush was in awful shape—as if it mustered up everything it had to produce this one perfect rose. Maybe the contrast made it stand out all the more.
Portland’s history of hounding and failing to support R2DToo is so senseless. It’s a model that works, and it benefits all of us collectively.
I think about this every time I walk past the (still!) vacant lot on Burnside they were forced out of a decade ago.
I think about this every time I walk past the (still!) vacant lot on Burnside they were forced out of a decade ago.
One of Portland’s first micro village shelters, Right 2 Dream Too, was a model for the city-sanctioned village sites existing today. After 14 years of operation, the organization says it can’t afford to continue without more help.
www.streetroots.org/news/2025/10...
www.streetroots.org/news/2025/10...
Self-governed homeless shelter Right 2 Dream Too facing financial crisis
One of Portland’s first micro village shelters, Right 2 Dream Too was a model for the city-sanctioned village sites existing today. After 14 years of operation, the organization says it can’t afford to continue without more help.
www.streetroots.org
October 7, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Portland’s history of hounding and failing to support R2DToo is so senseless. It’s a model that works, and it benefits all of us collectively.
I think about this every time I walk past the (still!) vacant lot on Burnside they were forced out of a decade ago.
I think about this every time I walk past the (still!) vacant lot on Burnside they were forced out of a decade ago.
Sometimes the worst thing about work-from-home self-employment is not having colleagues to vent to when inevitable frustrations happen.
(I’m being facetious—the total lack of security is the worst thing. I’m just feeling frustrated and wish I had someone to commiserate with me.)
(I’m being facetious—the total lack of security is the worst thing. I’m just feeling frustrated and wish I had someone to commiserate with me.)
October 7, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Sometimes the worst thing about work-from-home self-employment is not having colleagues to vent to when inevitable frustrations happen.
(I’m being facetious—the total lack of security is the worst thing. I’m just feeling frustrated and wish I had someone to commiserate with me.)
(I’m being facetious—the total lack of security is the worst thing. I’m just feeling frustrated and wish I had someone to commiserate with me.)
Reposted by H L Birdsong
#bloctober day 5, a couple of tall towers to loom over the fishing shacks this time. Wanna own this drawing? If you donate $25 or more to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, I’ll send you this drawing as a thank-you! pcrf.net to donate, new drawings all month long.
October 6, 2025 at 3:50 AM
#bloctober day 5, a couple of tall towers to loom over the fishing shacks this time. Wanna own this drawing? If you donate $25 or more to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, I’ll send you this drawing as a thank-you! pcrf.net to donate, new drawings all month long.
Dear past me, who got paint all over the edge of the jar and just put the lid on anyway: Fuck you.
Lid’s dented, hands hurt, and there are little dried paint chips all over my work surface—and a few, alas, in this (now open!) jar of paint. Probably gonna be picking them out til this jar’s empty
Lid’s dented, hands hurt, and there are little dried paint chips all over my work surface—and a few, alas, in this (now open!) jar of paint. Probably gonna be picking them out til this jar’s empty
October 6, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Dear past me, who got paint all over the edge of the jar and just put the lid on anyway: Fuck you.
Lid’s dented, hands hurt, and there are little dried paint chips all over my work surface—and a few, alas, in this (now open!) jar of paint. Probably gonna be picking them out til this jar’s empty
Lid’s dented, hands hurt, and there are little dried paint chips all over my work surface—and a few, alas, in this (now open!) jar of paint. Probably gonna be picking them out til this jar’s empty
Reposted by H L Birdsong
The entire AI debate is basically a bunch of tech bros stating, "We're going to steal your work--and even your face and voice" and artists angrily saying, "NO!"
October 5, 2025 at 3:26 PM
The entire AI debate is basically a bunch of tech bros stating, "We're going to steal your work--and even your face and voice" and artists angrily saying, "NO!"
The history of atomic testing in a nutshell, from Bikini Atoll to the Nevada Proving Grounds
#OtD 3 Oct 1952 the UK conducted its first-ever atomic bomb test on the Monte Bello Islands off the coast of Western Australia. The government later admitted they gave no thought for the health of Aboriginal people living nearby stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/1024...
October 3, 2025 at 9:47 PM
The history of atomic testing in a nutshell, from Bikini Atoll to the Nevada Proving Grounds
Turns out Gabriel Byrne wrote a memoir and reads the audiobook version. I can now (more or less) achieve my adolescent fantasy, thanks to my local library
my partner offhandedly said "i definitely had a crush on gabriel byrne as a kid" and that tracks so incredibly hard. all her friends crushing on backstreet boys and she's over in the corner wishing byrne would read to her
September 29, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Turns out Gabriel Byrne wrote a memoir and reads the audiobook version. I can now (more or less) achieve my adolescent fantasy, thanks to my local library