An exhibit featuring April Dawes, Shannon Dunn and Alanna Peters
Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Each element represents a fundamental aspect of nature and combines to form all physical matter and life. With this artwork, I illustrate the actual and symbolic qualities of the elements within the universe and humanity. Through this artistic pursuit, I have gained a deeper understanding of what it means to be human.
All the life elements on earth are of celestial origin. Through the explosive expansion of space itself, searing energy and light filled the void. In one rushing outward breath, the emptiness was filled with fire and the first whispers of matter emerged. Stars lived, died and cast their dust across the cosmos, seeding the expanse with newborn planets. The earth is a drama of stardust transfigured to stone; fiery volcanoes breathing air into atmosphere; and waters raining down oceans. The earth, a child of the stars, became a stage set for the story of life.
The same cycles that are carried out within the natural order of the external landscape are reflected within the internal landscape of the human mind. We learn the expansion and contraction of consciousness from space; the destructive yet refining power of fire; the cleansing and refreshing breath of air; movement and renewal in the flow of water; and growth in the regeneration of earth. These qualities of the human experience are taught by the greatest teacher, nature herself. It is our task as humans to listen, observe, and apply the wisdom that is modeled through the living world. Humans are a part of nature, not apart from it.
– Shannon Dunn
My work explores the interplay between the abstract qualities of the environment and the detailed realism of the figure. Guided by the idea of impermanence, I seek to capture fleeting moments—offering stillness within the constant change and noise of life. Each piece is an invitation to pause, to be fully present, and to discover a quiet sense of peace amid the chaos.
At its core, my work is a meditation on the figure and the shared beauty of our humanity. Each painting seeks to reveal the delicate threads of connection—between people, between body and environment, between the fleeting and the eternal.
– April Dawes
This exhibition explores the foundations of life- fire, water, air, earth and space. Each of these elements is widely accepted as the fundamentals of creation. As I began to ponder the elements, their unique characteristics and relationships to one another and us, it became for me a reflection on God’s active presence in my life and an exploration of the Elements through the lens of my Catholic faith.
In the Catholic tradition, our world is not merely composed of the visible and material, but also consists of the equally real invisible and spiritual. It is through both the visible and invisible that God reveals himself, reflects his love and invites us into personal participation in the Divine Truth.
Each work invites the viewer to contemplate the mysterious and invisible as well as the material aspects of the elements and rediscover creation. This body of work aims to unite the physical elements with a spiritual meaning through this dialog between artist and Creator.
This exhibition offers a delicate exploration of whimsy and light, where nature’s elements are gently woven into luminous, poetic reflections of the world around us. Each piece invites a quiet sense of wonder, evoking peace and a renewed connection to the natural rhythms that shape our lives.
– Alanna Peters
