Some birds don’t just mark a season. They announce it.
When Jenna Zimmerman stepped into the Michigan Birds series, she already knew her bird — the Red-winged Blackbird.
A herald of spring.
A sound that lives in the background of our walks.
A call that says: We’ve made it through winter.
And when Jenna moved through the golden light at sunset, it felt like something was arriving.
How We Met
Jenna and I met at a recent Hobby Hop — where 80 people came together to explore new creative practices.
She made a bandana at my station, drawn in by color, curiosity, and the invitation to play. We talked about the portrait series, about expression, about what it means to step into something new.
And then I got to see her finished piece — splashed with teals, purples, and yellows — and I knew.
She had a bird in her.
Who She Is
Jenna is a mother, a creator, a caretaker, and a deeply intuitive human.
She works at Kleen Office Environments, moving through quiet spaces, often alone — dancing and vibing her way through luxury environments, bringing her own rhythm into places that might otherwise feel still.
As an autistic woman, she has learned how to build a life that works with her, not against her. She gives herself grace. And in doing so, she gives that same grace to her children. She has created a home where her kids — also neurodivergent — are allowed to be fully themselves. Where timing is flexible. Where expression is welcomed. Where care looks like understanding, not control.
Jenna has lived many lives within this one. Raised in Chesaning, she grew up navigating complexity early — learning to care for others, to take responsibility, and to keep going. And now… She chooses joy. Not as a surface-level idea — but as a daily practice.
Why the Red-Winged Blackbird
The Red-winged Blackbird is one of the most recognizable signs of spring in Michigan. It’s chirp — that sharp, unmistakable conk-la-ree! — cuts through the landscape, even when you’re not looking for it.
It’s a bird that:
- claims space
- uses its voice
- shows up boldly against the backdrop
The male’s black body is punctuated by a flash of red and yellow on the wings — like fire held at the edges.
Jenna connected to this immediately. She spoke about how the bird’s call is everywhere — woven into the background of our lives — and yet often unnoticed. That felt like her. Someone who sees deeply, who recognizes herself in others, and who can call out to fellow neurodivergent people and create a connection.
The Look
Jenna’s look came together in layered movement and contrast:
- Black wide-leg stretch denim
- Golden yellow rayon bandana top
- Scarlet red rayon kerchief
- Rayon wrap styled as a shrug
- Black rayon shawl for movement
The silhouette shifted as she moved — creating wing-like shapes, soft edges, and moments of expansion.
The black grounded the look. The yellow lit it from within. And her red hair became the perfect bridge — completing the black, red, yellow story of the bird. She looked like the spark of a fire. And she brought that energy with her.
The Session
We met at Lookout Park, parking at Belknap and walking past the pickleball courts — the sound of play echoing behind us as we made our way up the hill. It was that perfect hour — just before sunset — when everything turns gold.
The light softened. The air was cold. But Jenna… Was warm. She caught the light and held it. She moved through the space with freedom — smiling, dancing, playing — completely unbothered by the temperature, completely present in the moment.
There was something expansive about her. Open. Bright. Uncontained.
Color Connection
The Red-winged Blackbird palette is simple — but powerful:
- Black holds depth.
- Red calls attention.
- Yellow brings light.
Together, they create:
- contrast
- visibility
- activation
This is a palette of being seen and being heard. Jenna doesn’t just wear these colors. She lives them.
A Life Lived Fully
Jenna said something that stayed with me:
Life ends before you know it. You have to make the most of the time while you’re here.
And you can feel that in her.
In the way she laughs. In the way she dresses. In the way she gathers with her friends — a group that understands her, gives her space, and celebrates her fully. She is raising her children not just with care… But with permission. Permission to be. To explore. To exist as they are.
Find Your Bird
Some birds are loud.
Some are hidden.
Some are woven so deeply into the landscape you almost miss them.
Until one day…
You hear it.
And realize it’s been there all along.
If you’re ready to explore your own voice, your own color, your own expression —
Let’s find your bird.
