Live Jurying Item #2

Platoon depicts a gathering of seagulls along the rocky shoreline. Each bird poised as though on watch. The title evokes both humour and militaristic order, suggesting the ways animals organize themselves in relation to one another and to place. The gulls appear both ordinary and monumental, echoing their dual role in Newfoundland life: ever-present scavengers and enduring symbols of the coast. The work reflects on how creatures so often dismissed as background noise are, in fact, part of the rhythms and identities of place. By arranging the birds as if in formation, the piece invites reflection on balance, survival, and community in natural systems. Platoon = highlights the overlooked and reminds viewers of the humour, resilience, and familiarity found in nature.