No Fear of Flying

The frigate bird flies huge distances across oceans, but is unable to land on water. Right now, frigate birds from all over the world are converging on Te Papa Museum of New Zealand, where artist Sean Kerr's 'Binney Project' is installed. Kerr lifted a bird from a work by New Zealand painter Don Binney and gave it a virtual lease on life. By using cell phones or logging onto the web site, people from all over the world can launch and fly frigate birds across a series of screens in the museum. According to simple keystrokes, birds fly in formation, circle and squawk. The concept is simple but fun - and when you get tired of flying, click 'quit' and see your bird fall dramatically into the ocean with a satisfying 'plop.' - Helen Varley Jamieson