The Family of Things

For the month of April, the Speck Gallery is exhibiting Eliza Mowery's acrylic paintings. This body of work is inspired by Mary Oliver's poetry, specifically the poem "Wild Geese" which uses observations of the natural world to express the beauty and interconnectedness of all living beings. Mowery's paintings act as a visual reflection of this poem with each painting titled after a line in the poem.

Mowery has always had a deep connection with nature, and her work, The Family of Things, reflects that. It is filled with moments from Mowery's time spent outdoors that she captured through photos and then recreated in the studio. 

The poem "Wild Geese" helped Mowery find her voice and engage with both her external and internal world in a new way. "Mary Oliver's poetry has given me language for the relationship I've had with nature for most of my life," Says Mowery. "Wild geese reminded me how I used to learn from the mysterious, intelligent, and wildly beautiful natural world around me. It reminded me that my body is a part of this. She is also mysterious, beautiful, and intelligent and deserves to be listened to with the same awe and curiosity that swells in me when I watch a lightning storm."

Creating each of the works in The Family of Things was a way for Mowery to slow down and reconnect with nature and herself. She offers viewers the same experience by inviting them into her personal experiences and to meditate on the beauty that the world has to offer. The Family of Things can be viewed for the month of April in Speck Gallery Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m, or anytime on our online gallery.