by Nicolette Vanderschaaf
Exhibit Dates: May 1 – June 21
Opening Reception: Thursday, May 7 at 7:00 PM
Join us for the opening reception Thursday, May 7 at 7:00pm! Meet the artist, learn more about her work and enjoy some light refreshments.
Artist Statement
I am fortunate to be able to devote some of my time witnessing brief moments in the lives of birds. I know when one wants to be captured in a photograph and potentially realized in a watercolour painting. Some simply do not. Maybe they find me unworthy or are waiting for an artist or photographer with more skill, creativity, or that paints in oil. But these birds have all chosen to be here. They wanted to be seen, and remembered.
I remember where I met each one, when we connected and made an unspoken agreement. I would capture and portray at least some of their magnificence and they, in turn, would teach me to be present, patient, and deeply grateful.
Artist Bio
Nicolette is an immersive of prairie landscapes, rarely travelling without her bulky camera to capture the diminishing winged fauna hidden in the last pockets of untrammelled native ecosystems. Birds of Prayer is her latest series, based on the images she’s captured, incorporating elements of classic iconography to impart the sacred and ephemeral nature of the holy and natural world.
The symbolism of the saintly, the prerequisite of miracle, and the veneration of holy works elevate the overlooked and implore respect and reverence for these threatened species.
Exhibit Description
In ancient times, the sun was considered the bestower of all life. The Egyptian sun god Ra, often depicted as a falcon with a golden sun disc, embodied the life-giving power of the sun. This golden halo was a fixture in ancient Egyptian art and was later used extensively as a symbol of the divine in Christian art as early as the 4th century AD.
This Birds of Prayer watercolour collection, featuring prairie birds adorned with golden halos, draws inspiration from the sacred birds I’ve encountered in my photography and this ancient symbolism. This series invites the viewer to see the sanctity of the sun in all living things.
To see godliness in all creatures is to bless them regardless of who or what they are, just as the sun gives of itself without bias.
Artist Information
Nicolette Vanderschaaf
Birds of Prairie
Website: www.birdsofprairie.com
Email: info@birdsofprairie.com