Happenings and Things

August Payton is a Missoula-based painter, writer, photographer, and lover of all creatures— especially birds. He sees birds as messengers, a perception that has only further solidified during a recent period of immense loss. Time after time, during periods of uncertainty or anxiety, a bird (or sixteen pelicans, in one case) has appeared at the perfect moment, bringing with it a reminder that, in the great web of life and death, we are all connected. A passed loved one peers out through the eyes of Great Blue Heron. A beloved childhood pet sings from the mouth of a sparrow. A community gathers in a flurry of crow feathers to mourn their dead and to celebrate the life that remains.

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August’s art captures these moments of deep connection with the natural world, encouraging the viewer to pay closer attention to the patterns and signs in their own lives. The more he gets his work in front of new eyes, the more people come to him with stories of their own— moments when they, too, felt that a bird might have been more than just a bird. August’s work is for nature enthusiasts, mourners, birders, ghost-hunters, and everyone in between.

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If August’s work speaks to you, he wants you to have it. Reach out to XX to inquire about payment plans (or to tell a bird story!).

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You can follow along with August’s latest endeavors on Instagram @augibirds