The Bird Girl statue, also known as the Bird Girl of Bonaventure, is a famous statue that was originally located in Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia. The statue was made in 1938 by sculptor Sylvia Shaw Judson and was featured prominently on the cover of the 1994 novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt. Since then, the statue has become an iconic symbol of Savannah and has gone through some changes in ownership and location over the years.
Original Location in Bonaventure Cemetery
The Bird Girl statue was originally placed in Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia in 1938. Bonaventure is a historic cemetery located just outside the downtown area of Savannah. Sylvia Shaw Judson created the statue for a contest by the Trosdal family, who owned a plot in Bonaventure and commissioned her to design something unique for the space. Judson’s Bird Girl statue won the contest and was installed in the cemetery as the Trosdal family monument.
The statue depicts a young girl wearing a plain dress and bowing her head with her hands crossed over her chest. She is surrounded by three small birds perched on her shoulders and the circular base of the statue. The girl almost appears to be transforming into a bird herself. The statue is cast in bronze and sits atop a marble base. For over 50 years, the Bird Girl statue stood quietly in Bonaventure Cemetery, serving as a picturesque memorial for the Trosdal family.
Featured on Cover of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
In 1994, the Bird Girl statue gained national attention when it was featured on the cover of the bestselling novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt. The novel is a true crime story set in Savannah mainly during the 1980s. For the cover, the publisher chose an evocative photo of the Bird Girl statue taken by Jack Leigh. The stark, mysterious image of the statue helped the book become a major commercial success. Almost overnight, the Bird Girl went from a little-known cemetery statue to a famous icon of Savannah.
Suddenly, Bonaventure Cemetery was besieged by tourists wanting to see the Bird Girl statue up close. Hundreds of people visited each day, overwhelming the small historic cemetery. Some tourists even tried to touch or climb onto the statue, despite signs asking them not to disturb it. The commotion highlighted the need to find a new home for the statue where it could be properly cared for and displayed.
Relocated to a Museum in Savannah
In 1997, Bird Girl was carefully removed from Bonaventure Cemetery and relocated to Telfair Museums in downtown Savannah. Telfair Museums is an art and history museum located in the historic district of the city. The relocation was orchestrated by the author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt. He helped fund the purchase and reinstallation of the statue at Telfair to preserve it for future generations.
At the Jepson Center, which is part of the Telfair Museums campus, the Bird Girl statue was displayed in a special exhibition called “Bird Girl Exposed.” The exhibition placed the statue in a clear glass case and provided background information about its history and cultural significance. Visitors could once again view the iconic statue up close in a more controlled museum environment.
Sold to New Owner in 2014
In 2014, Telfair Museums made the controversial decision to sell the original Bird Girl statue to a private collector for $4 million. As part of the sale agreement, Telfair had a new bronze replica made by the artist Sylvia Shaw Judson’s family. This replica statue was placed on display at the Jepson Center so that visitors can still see Bird Girl in Savannah.
The identity of the private collector who purchased the original statue has not been revealed. However, it is known that the owner lives somewhere outside of Savannah and that the statue remains in a private collection. Many people were upset that this important piece of Savannah’s cultural heritage was sold to an anonymous buyer. But Telfair Museums stands by their decision, insisting Bird Girl belongs to the museum and that the sale provides essential funds.
Impact on Savannah’s Tourism and Identity
Despite some backlash over its sale, there is no denying the major impact the Bird Girl statue has had on Savannah’s tourism industry and cultural identity. The image of Bird Girl became synonymous with Savannah following the success of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Savannah’s Visitors Bureau estimates that between 1997 and 2014 over 50 million people visited Savannah and were motivated, at least in part, by the desire to see the statue from the famous book cover.
Some estimates indicate Bird Girl drew almost 1 million visitors per year during her time on display at Telfair Museums. Tourists continue to flock to Savannah hoping to capture some of the mysterious, gothic ambience portrayed so powerfully in that original statue photo. Reproductions and iconography related to the statue can be found in gift shops all around the city.
More than just a financial boost, Bird Girl seems to have captured the public imagination in a way that resonates deeply with Savannah’s unique aura. The statue’s presence in Bonaventure Cemetery, a location central to the intrigue in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, cemented the connection between the art object and the city’s eccentric, atmospheric character.
Significance as a Work of Funerary Art
Beyond its fame and cultural associations, the Bird Girl statue holds significance as an exemplary work of funerary art. The piece was originally designed by Sylvia Shaw Judson as a memorial for the Trosdal family grave site. Judson was an acclaimed artist known for her bird imagery and other figurative works. She designed several pieces for Bonaventure Cemetery prior to her death in 1978.
As a funerary statue, Bird Girl reflects some classic motifs and conceptual themes associated with cemetery art. The young girl evokes common representations of innocence, childhood, and loss of life at a young age. The cluster of small birds perched on the girl seems to represent the soul or spirit leaving the earthly body, a common visual metaphor in memorial art and architecture. The somber, contemplative posture of the girl reinforces the sober mood.
While cemetery art often features more overt religious imagery and direct references to death, Bird Girl’s enigmatic, subtle grace lends the statue an ethereal, haunting aura. The raw emotional power and careful artistry of the original statue contributed greatly to its ability to capture the public imagination. It remains one of the most acclaimed and recognizable examples of contemporary funerary sculpture.
Conclusion
The Bird Girl statue has lived several lives since its humble beginnings in a Savannah cemetery in 1938. From its long tenure gracing a family plot in Bonaventure, to its catapult into fame as the face of a bestselling book, to its preservation in an art museum and controversial sale to a private collector, the statue has become an unlikely cultural phenomenon. While the original statue remains in an anonymous private collection, visitors continue to flock to Savannah to see reproductions and soak in the city’s Gothic vibe. Bird Girl helped put Savannah on the map and made a lasting impact on its tourism industry. More than just a financial boon, the statue seems to capture something mysterious yet compelling about Savannah’s spirit. Both as a memorial artwork and a cultural icon, Bird Girl remains a powerful and evocative symbol of Savannah’s unique mystique.
