In loving dedication to my endlessly resilient mother, Lila Shapiro, 1927 - 2024.
This site-specific show highlighted specific inhabitants of the Arnold Arboretum's curated 281-acre natural museum, located in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood. What I choose to paint is often the overlooked, the forgotten, the fallen or dying, or the detritus found on my frequent explorations. To me their details reflect nature's myriad responses to change: be it remarkable survival instincts, inevitable failure to thrive or an almost stoic perseverance given the ongoing challenges of climate change. How nature goes, so go we all. Resiliency is key to endurance and longevity in the natural world and in our personal spheres.
Strength, patience, and decay are highlighted during winter’s reveal at the Arboretum. I try to capture the core that holds fast in trees and woody plants, and allude to what’s hidden below a cold surface.
Please note: All proceeds from sales of my work are donated to organizations that are dedicated to feeding communities or promoting climate change truth and proactive solutions.