"Night Birds" is a series of artworks about the sounds and feelings of city life. The idea came from a podcast interview with my friend, Professor Jose Navarro. He described how when he arrived at UC Berkeley as an undergraduate, it was so quiet in his dorm that he couldn’t sleep - he was used to the loud noises of East Los Angeles, like helicopters, sirens, music, dogs barking, and screeching tires. This made me think of my own experience moving from a quiet border town of just 3,000 people to noisy Los Angeles. I struggled to sleep too because of the helicopters, sirens, music, and street sounds that filled the night.

This collection mixes personal memories and scenes of the city. I contrast the glamorous side of Hollywood with the reality of neighborhoods in more affordable parts of town. In my work, helicopters - what we call “Night Birds” - hover over cityscapes, clashing with the distant sparkle of premieres and neon lights. These “birds” feel both haunting and alive, symbolizing the unrest and constant activity of the city after dark.

With “Night Birds,” I invite you to think about how sound shapes our view of a place. These images explore how unfamiliar places might reflect an imagined soundscape that, in turn, allow them to slowly become a part of your life. I hope the work helps you consider what it means to find comfort - or unease - in the rising and falling hum of city nights.