Tell us about yourself: where you’re from, how long you’ve lived in Hawai‘i, and where you work? 
I grew up in Delaware, moved to the Big Island in 1996 after graduate school, moved to Oahu in 2001, and have been working at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for over 10 years.
 
What are some of the major challenges faced by Hawai‘i’s native forest bird species? Hawaii’s forest birds face many of the same challenges, regardless of which island they are on.  These include predation by non-native mammals, habitat loss and degradation, and mosquito-borne disease.  Further, most people don’t get to see these birds because they occur in remote places.  Because of this, many people aren’t familiar with them, or don’t relate to them like they might to, say, a mynah bird which isn’t native, but people see every day.  Public awareness about these species is necessary for their conservation, and this is one of the reasons I’m so enamored with the Forest Bird Symphony Project.  Children are learning about the birds in the classroom, but will also get to encounter them through a sensory experience, which provides the opportunity to relate to them at an emotional level.  

What role does the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service play in local forest bird conservation efforts?  
The Service works with a number of partners in a variety of ways to conserve Hawaii's forest birds. In addition to national wildlife refuges like Hakalau Forest that provide some of the last, best habitat for forest birds in Hawaii, we are engaged in a number of field projects with DOFAW, the San Diego Zoo, and others to restore habitat, provide support for captive breeding efforts for bird's like Kauai's ‘akikiki, combat invasive species like mosquitoes that spread avian pox and malaria, and find solutions to threats like rapid ‘ōhi‘a death. We are also responsible for developing recovery plans and identifying the actions that are needed to improve the status of the species. 
 
What are some of the important takeaway messages you would like to communicate through this performance?  I would most like the audience to leave with an appreciation of the uniqueness and beauty of Hawaii’s forest birds. ​

How did you first hear about the Hawaiian Forest Bird Symphony Project, and how did you become involved as a collaborator?
 
I became involved in the Hawaiian Forest Bird Symphony Project after Laura Margulies approached me in November.  I was shocked that she wanted me to be one of the artists since I have never animated.  She felt strongly that my style would translate well into an animation and believed we could make it work.   This project was one of those moments when you say YES to something that is completely out of your comfort zone, but you believe in the mission of the project.  I wanted to acknowledge my two co-animators - Kaylan Young (editor) and Elyse Chai whom I would not have been able to complete this project without their help and dedication. 
 
Your paintings have been praised for their vibrant and contemporary depictions of Hawaiian flora. What is your creative process for visualizing subjects in the natural world?
 
Why thank you!  I tend to think of work as taking specific subjects from the natural world, combining them with the language of painting/mark-making and creating an imagined environment where all of the elements align.  The foundation of my practice lies within combining my daily life and the process of using paint as a means of articulation.  Painting for me is a tool to understand the world and to find personal balance. The diaristic approach fueled by curiosity, interactions, research, and observation becomes a play between knowledge and expression.  Everyday encounters and objects merge between the figurative and the literal.  Whether it is a specific location, a conversation, a particular plant, or piece of literature, each contributes to the complexity of the piece.  The history within the layers of painting and drawing is a dialogue about time, growth, and life; exposing an environment that takes on meaning within and beyond plant or ocean matter. My life’s purpose is to continually re-define beauty and to reveal elements overlooked.  I create in order for these environments to thrive. 

For more of Jamie Allen's artwork, visit http://www.jamierallen.com/