In 2023-2024, "Dawn Chorus" by Jean Rooney - Sinéad Ní Ruanaidh was commissioned by the Province of New Brunswick for Hanwell Park Academy as part of the Public Art Policy for New Brunswick.

"Dawn Chorus" is an artwork designed to teach students about local songbirds in the Hanwell area and consists of 6 acrylic hand-painted birch wood panels. Each panel shows a facet of the Hanwell landscape, using intense, playful colours to depict trees and wildlife, such as foxes and coyotes. Hidden within the landscape are a total of 32 local species of songbirds. 

Students and visitors can birdwatch by investigating the works up close (view the songbird information attached) or using binoculars from a distance, building curiosity and familiarity with bird species' shapes, colours, markings, and silhouettes.

According to the artist, "Songbirds herald the dawn together with their singing as humans prepare for communal rituals, like waking up and going to school". 

Click the links below to view each panel, and see how many songbird species YOU can name!

Panel #1, Title: Do the Grackle Walk. Dimensions: 40 inches in diameter.

Panel #2, Title: Blue Jay. Dimensions: 28 inches in diameter.

Panel #3, Title: Forest Bubbles. Dimensions: 60 inches in diameter.

Panel #4, Title: Howlin' at the Moon. Dimensions: 40 inches in diameter.

Panel #5, Title: Fox Den. Dimensions: 44 inches in diameter.

Panel #6, Title: Wishes in Ditches. Dimensions: 24 inches in diameter.