Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacy Fortier
Hi Stacy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I was three, my parents bought a house in the country, where there was enough land for my dad to build his business. Living there was challenging at first: there were no children my age nearby. But without kids to play with, my eyes were opened to nature. I gained an understanding of my environment and a deep connection to the creatures around me. I was especially fond of birds, collecting feathers and bird’s nests.
Both of my parents were constantly making, restoring and repurposing things. From my dad, I learned metal work; from my mom, I learned about fabric, sewing, interior design and cooking. And love of art was always a constant. So when the time came to go to college, I decided on graphic design as a major and photography as a minor.
After college, I moved to Minneapolis to work in advertising as a freelance photo stylist — a vocation that utilized a variety of my skills and offered teamwork with other creatives. Photographer Paul Nelson (whom I would eventually marry) and I were working on some of the same jobs and hitting it off, so we began to collaborate on some personal projects. We found that we had an almost uncannily similar vision!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In March of 2020, Paul and I were working on a new line of products and scarf designs for a large trade show that would have been the following month. Then we got the news about COVID-19. Everything came to a screeching halt — except mask production! There was a major mask shortage early on, so I started cutting up our cotton bandannas and producing masks for sale until we ran out of bandannas!
During the isolation of lockdown, we decided it was time to do the book that we wanted to do years before. Suddenly we had more time on our hands, and the book project was a great way to use it. It was also really helpful in dispersing anxiety and integrating the dramatic changes that we were experiencing.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In 2008, Paul and I started Wild Birds Flying — photos of birds in flight, captured against a pure white background. I have a passion for textiles so I began experimenting with printing Paul’s bird images on textiles and making pillows first and then scarves.
Finding the right substrate is an important part of printing these finely detailed images on fabric, and I found that silk is my favorite. The fluid movement is perfect for birds and gives them a whole different life. The smooth surface is great for the detail of the image, and the translucency of the silk gives the birds an even more ethereal quality. Yes, it can be tricky to print highly detailed color photography on fabric, but when you get it right — it’s gorgeous!
I’ve been very Inspired by the concept of Biophilia (“the passionate love and life and all that is alive”) in Interior Design. It brought my awareness to the importance of expanding the imagery in our business. Paul and I are working on a new website, using macro photography to add botanicals and insects to our collection. After a long period in the office working on our new coffee table book, we are having fun being back in the studio together!
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
One of the beautiful things that came out of the COVID crisis was a deeper awareness of how significant the need for nature is in all of our lives, how necessary it is for our mental and physical health.
I remember how many people in our neighborhood were walking every day and socializing outside. We live very close to the Minneapolis airport, so airplane traffic has been part of our lives for 25 years. When planes were grounded for a time, I was astounded at how much more bird song I could hear.
In the 1980s, the Japanese government recognized that a remedy was needed for the rising stress levels caused by urbanization. They introduced shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) to the Japanese people. They even designed forest trails and built a tourist industry around it!
In the US, programs and studies resembling those of Japan seem to have become more mainstream since the COVID years. I find that very hopeful!
Nature is resilient and transformative, and when we connect with it — whether “forest bathing” or appreciating the extraordinary beauty of birds in flight — we learn how to increase this potential in ourselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wildbirdsflying.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildbirdsflying/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildbirdsflying/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wildbirdsflying2517
