Flight as the Freedom of the Soul

Fellowship Hall Gallery

Paintings by Louise Norton Austin

After the loss of a dear family member, Louise Norton Austin, created a set of images that invite the viewer to witness a journey that embraces both the beauty and the pain of life.

This series of six bird paintings – each representing a different aspect of an emotional journey – captures the desire for release, for flight, from the weight of sorrow. The Blue Jay, Cardinal, Owl, Tern, Hummingbird, and Blackcap Chickadee each embody unique qualities, reflecting different phases of grief, from the call for resilience to the quiet grace of acceptance.