Fragile Resilience

Watercolors by Susan Wahlrab

Saturday, May 25 – Sunday, June 23, 2024
Opening reception Saturday, May 25, 5:00PM-7:00PM

Careful observation of the natural world, especially over time, reveals both creation and resiliency.

Observe seasons and cycles; watch how a seed becomes a small plant or a mighty tree. Flowers hold it
all—literally, in how they inspire our hearts—the ultimate creators.

The natural world is resilient—until it is not. We experience this in our own bodies. We have been given an intricate and complicated vessel that makes all that we do possible. It has the ability to heal itself, by rest and nourishment, until it cannot—when it has been pushed too far.

Nature constantly reveals the edge of both fragility and strength. What happens when the support needed to thrive is overstretched? It is important for us to pay attention—to not reach that point.

This exhibition is a celebration of my connection to the magic and beauty of our world—to years of looking deeply, and listening, to the uplifting force of the flower. I believe the flower embodies the vast potential of the universe. With hundreds of layers of translucent watercolor, my hope is to capture both the vulnerability and power of nature.