“GROWING UP ON A FARM NEAR THE ALABAMA RIVER, NATURE WAS MY FIRST TEACHER. LIFE WAS INTERTWINED WITH THE MAGNOLIA TREE IN OUR BACKYARD;  LONG FAMILY MEALS ENJOYED IN HER SHADE, WEDDINGS CELEBRATED, DEATHS GRIEVED. I FELT PROTECTED AND NURTURED UNDER HER ARCHING BRANCHES. THOUGH ANCIENT AND STRONG, STORMS CAME AND TOOK PARTS OF HER, BUT COME SPRING SHE ALWAYS BLOOMED AGAIN. LIKE TREES, HUMANS ARE BOTH FRAGILE AND RESILIENT. IN TIMES OF LOSS, WE SOMEHOW FIND A WAY TO NAVIGATE THE CHALLENGES BACK TOWARDS GROWTH AND NEW LIFE. AFTER THE WATERS OF HURRICANE KATRINA SUBSIDED, BOATS LANDED IN TREETOPS, GIVING LIFE TO THE IMAGINARY IMAGES IN MY ART OF BOATS FLYING THROUGH AIR AND ETHER LIKE MYTHOLOGICAL VESSELS. LIKE HURRICANES, COVID HAS FORCED PEOPLE TO REFLECT ON THE COURSE OF THEIR LIFE’S DIRECTION, AND MANY HAVE BECOME NOMADIC. MOORINGS HAVE BEEN CUT AND PEOPLE FIND THEMSELVES IN NEW AND UNEXPECTED PLACES.” – RAINE BEDSOLE