Conference of the Birds
The Mabin School 2025

MAMC partnered with The Mabin School’s Grade 2 students and their grandparents to explore how our choices—how we listen, act, and respond—shape the harmony of a community. Drawing inspiration from The Conference of the Birds, we adapted the ancient Sufi tale into a journey about noticing one another’s needs and finding the courage to speak up when something is out of balance.

The studio was filled with focused, joyful collaboration as children and grandparents created side by side, discovering themselves as equal partners in a community of makers. The completed birds roosted above the classroom as quiet witnesses to the group’s growing awareness and care. 

Each session introduced a new bird who had forgotten how to be part of the flock. Together, children and grandparents named the problem, imagined solutions, and practised resolving differences with empathy and fairness. These conversations became acts of truth-telling—gentle, brave, and collective.

Each week, new insights were placed in a shared nest, allowing our understanding to “hatch” alongside the artwork

By the project’s end, Hoopoe revealed that the place the flock sought was already within the birds, just like the Mabin Community members have agency to be Welcoming, Kind, Joyful, Gentle, Fair, and Truthful.

This intergenerational journey became a celebration of creativity, connection, and the power of many voices working together to build a just and caring community.

WORK & PROCESS

Making Art Making Change is a non-profit charity committed to giving voice to individuals in a group setting within communities through the use of visual arts.

Our experienced artist educators are committed to creating a safe space and engaging projects where participants can explore artistic expression while developing self-awareness, collaboration skills and original creative thinking. Our focus is to facilitate dialogue and collaboration, thereby strengthening community bonds and reducing isolation.

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