“Murmuration” by Rebecca Lefebvre, now occupying the Broomfield Library and Auditorium lobby, uses nature as a neutral ground for conversations about community, teamwork and the value of diversity.

Starlings, a diverse group of birds found all over the world, including Colorado, are known for gathering in murmurations — swarms of the birds that move in dramatic, often erratic directions with no discernible leader.

Lefebvre’s new art display, named after the phenomenon, seeks to capture it as a metaphor for unity and interconnection.

“I wanted to use the way starlings fly in murmuration as a good example of how we’re all individuals, but we all have to work together,” Lefebvre said. “Especially in the climate we’re living in and the conversations we’re having about immigration and changes in our society … murmuration seemed like a really beautiful way for me to visually convey that we all need to be working together.”

After putting out a call to local artists, Lefebvre’s “Murmuration” was selected by Broomfield’s Arts and History Department last year as one of three rotating exhibits to be displayed in the library lobby for four months each. “Murmuration,” which went up May 1, will be on display until August, and is the second of the library’s rotating art installations, which began with “Forming Light” by Sophia Dixon Dillo in January. To close out the year, the final exhibit on display will be “Kaleidoscope Community” by Amelia Furman and Heather Rubald, which is slated to fill the lobby in September.

“Murmuration” consists of about 120 bird sculptures hanging from the ceiling, made primarily of paper mache, recycled books and spray paint, that took Lefebvre three months to complete. The birds are each painted in a way that reveals different colors depending on what angle they are viewed from, giving them the dynamic feeling of watching real starlings in a murmuration.

Lefebvre said after training and working in the health care and social work fields, switching to creating art in 2022 was her way of expressing herself — her work comes from a place of play, with no rules or restrictions.

She said that her background in health care is what ultimately inspired the piece.

“I’ve seen so many people struggle with really critical moments in their lives that none of us have the skills, tools or knowledge necessary to handle independently,” she said.

“Murmuration” is Lefebvre’s way of highlighting how individuals can work together in positive ways, and nature turned out to be the perfect vehicle for that message.

“I often use nature as a metaphor in my work — it offers neutral ground where people can connect and find meaning without judgment,” she said. “I’ve also found it encourages a more reverent, reciprocal dialogue, allowing for more reflective, respectful conversations.”

Lefebvre lives in Broomfield with her family.

To spark conversation about the value of diversity, the work of art comes with a comment box in the lobby for visitors to engage in dialogue. Additionally, the library, at 3 Community Park Road, is hosting an open house where visitors can meet Lefebvre and talk with her about the piece from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday.

Lefebvre will also host two workshops at the library on June 18, where attendees can build and paint their own bird sculpture. For more information and for registration, visit compass.broomfield.org/events.

“Watching the piece come to life and seeing people interact with it has been wonderful,” Lefebvre said. “I hope visitors will take their time with the installation — walking around, looking up and noticing the unique color palette of each bird. From every angle, it offers something new.”