I set out to make things by hand, one at a time. Simple designs that feel good to hold, and convey a sense of nature and quietude. My hope is for each piece to become like a familiar friend, its rustic qualities to warm the heart.
- Mihaeko
The story of Starling Brood goes back to 2010, when Mihaeko began working with singer Björk to design a series of new musical instruments for Björk's Biophilia. Mihaeko found a deep affinity with the project seeking to explore nature through art. Having designed and hand-built unique wooden harps that would tour the world, Mihaeko finally turned her attention toward more intimate explorations. She left her home in Brooklyn for a cabin in the mountains of Vermont.
Over the next several years, Mihaeko developed a quiet style of expression honoring nature and home. Inspired as much by shivering leaf and undulating fungus as quotidian simplicity, her pieces reflect the natural rhythms and austerity of New England.