This exhibit showcases The Backyard Bird Chronicles, a series of drawings by Amy Tan that contributed to her New York Times bestselling book of the same name. Over the course of five years, Tan filled a dozen sketchbooks and nine journals with pictures she made of the birds in her own backyard. “I meditated on the life of each bird I drew,” she said. “I did not have to be an expert on birds or art. I could be naive, open, letting the curiosity I had as a child take me deeper into the world of birds and imagination.” The resulting whimsical pictures capture the birds’ quirks, their personalities, their humor, and their dramas.

This exhibit is free and open to the public. Learn more about the exhibit. Hours may vary — please refer to The Bancroft Library Gallery hours for the most up-to-date information.