Vail Pays Artist $12,500 for New History-Themed Birdhouse Sculpture

Why is Vail paying an artist $12,500 to build a birdhouse that tells the story of Colorado?

It’s not just a birdhouse. It’s a history lesson wrapped in wood and paint, and it’s arriving in town this week.

Artist Jason Middlebrook is launching a weeklong residency to create a new, site-specific sculpture. The project is funded by the town’s Art in Public Places board. The goal? To celebrate Colorado’s history from pre-colonial times to the 20th century.

The short version: Middlebrook builds it off-site. He transports it to Vail. He paints it here.

This isn’t his first time building "nests" for Vail. His previous installation, We are all building nests, has become a local landmark. It features 50 to 60 small birdhouses. Each one meets specific size requirements for native birds. But the real draw is the architecture. The birdhouses are modeled after human history’s most recognizable structures. Egyptian pyramids. The Roman Pantheon. An Arctic igloo. A Native teepee.

It’s a snapshot of humanity, shrunk down to fit a bird’s home.

The board noticed how much the community loved that piece. So they decided to try again. They courted Middlebrook for this new residency. The result will be more unique than the original. It’s a one-of-a-kind piece, tailored specifically for Vail.

Here’s the money part. The town is footing the bill. The art board will pay Middlebrook $5,000 in expenses. They’ll pay another $7,500 for the sculpture itself. That’s a total of $12,500.

Once the work is done, it goes up for sale. The board gets its $7,550 investment back. They also take 20% of the sale price if and when it sells. It’s an investment with a potential return.

Middlebrook isn’t just slapping paint on wood. He’s rooted in the handmade process. He starts with drawing and painting. He says he wants to create an immersive experience. He wants viewers to slow down. He wants them to observe the world through a new lens. He’s aiming for natural beauty and deeper engagement with the environment.

During his week here, he’ll also create two-dimensional sketches. Those will be on display and for sale in the Vail Art Studio.

Middlebrook’s work is already in major collections. The Museum of Modern Art. The Whitney. The Denver Art Museum. He’s currently working on a 164-foot mosaic for the Omaha airport. So he’s got big projects on his plate. But this week, he’s focused on Vail.

Molly Eppard, the Art in Public Places Coordinator, said the board is thrilled. She called the previous sculpture "very beloved by so many community members." That’s the kind of language officials use when they want to justify spending taxpayer money on art. And in this case, it’s backed by the fact that people actually stop and look at it.

The original We are all building nests was donated to the town in 2022 by Vicki and Kent Logan. It’s been sitting there, drawing admirers, becoming part of the streetscape. This new piece is different. It’s not a donation. It’s a commission. It’s a transaction.

Middlebrook says he strives to create pieces that reflect the communities around them. He’s building a narrative about Colorado’s past. From the first inhabitants to the 20th century. It’s all going into a structure that looks like a birdhouse.

The residency starts now. The sketches will hit the Vail Art Studio soon. The final piece will go on sale, hopefully recouping the town’s investment.

Read that again. The town pays $12,500. It gets the art back. It keeps 20% of the profit. It’s a self-sustaining loop, if the market holds up.

Middlebrook is known for site-specific installations. He builds a deep connection with the idea of art that engages and reflects. This residency is his chance to prove that connection in Vail again.

The question isn’t whether the art will be good. Middlebrook’s got the credentials. The question is whether the town will get its money back when it sells. And whether neighbors will see a historic landmark or just a fancy birdhouse on a pedestal.

Worth watching.