Each year by mid-November, American crows flock to Bloomington by the thousands. They roost together in the evenings, indicating the shift to cooler temperatures and a turn of seasons in the southern-central Indiana uplands. Enamored by them, Jerome and I began to celebrate Roosting Day in 2021, making this year the fifth celebration. The Roost, as a symbol, demonstrates community and resilience. Crows are vastly intelligent beings; they roost to strengthen social bonds, sharing knowledge and the warmth of their collective bodies.

This inaugural Roosting Day Community Exhibition celebrates the Roost, the crow, other shoaling birds at dusk, and the transition into colder seasons. Other interpretations of the theme “community” were also accepted. I am thrilled by the variety of thoughtful works we received in response to this first call. If you missed the submission deadline this year, keep an eye out for the next call in September/October of ‘26!

Cheers,

Allyn

(Long live the Roost)