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THE END OF NATURE V

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THE END OF NATURE V

Michael Whelan
Oct 10, 2024
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THE END OF NATURE V

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Set against a vibrant blue but cloudy sky, a woman wearing only a few small pieces of jewelry is framed by the V-shaped limbs of a dead tree. At first glance, it appears that her wrists are tied, but she's holding tight to the white cloth that wraps around each desiccated limb. As she leans forward with all of her weight, she stares off into the distance. The silky fabric she grips is covered in a pattern of thin gold ovals. Like her shoulder-length blonde hair, the ends of cloth are carried by the breeze. The skull of a bird hangs around her neck on a rigid chain. A similarly beaded chain wraps doubly around one calf, another an anklet on her back leg. A rust colored star hanging by a string is tangled in the thin branches above her.
THE END OF NATURE V (2000), Acrylic on Canvas - 36" x 24"

The title is meant as a double-entendre of sorts, something I enjoy doing with my personal work. It is meant to suggest that there may be more than one level of meaning in a work, whatever series it may belong to.

Additional images from THE END OF NATURE V

LEFT: Close detail from THE END OF NATURE V featuring the gnarled branches of a dead tree. Most of the bark has peeled off exposing the dry, bleached wood underneath. Set against blue sky a butterfly spreads its wings in profile hovering just above the branch. CENTER: Detail from THE END OF NATURE V of a woman wearing only a few small pieces of jewelry framed by the V-shaped limbs of a dead tree. A small owl skull hands on a necklace around her neck. A gold beaded chain wraps one calm and another anklet can barely be seen on her back foot as she leans all of her weight forward. Her arms are stretched wide as she grips white silk sashes wrapped around the dry, bleached branches where they extend outward in a V. RIGHT: Close detail from THE END OF NATURE V featuring the top of the panel where a woman with tousled blonde hair is set against blue sky and thin cloud cover. Her arms are stretched wide as she grips white silk sashes wrapped around the dead and bleached branches where they part wide in a V. Circles of gold are patterned on the cloth. A small owl skull hangs on a necklace that rests on her bare chest. A rusted metal star blown by the breeze is tangled on a long ribbon caught in the smaller branches above the sash on her left.LEFT: Close detail from THE END OF NATURE V featuring the gnarled branches of a dead tree. Most of the bark has peeled off exposing the dry, bleached wood underneath. Set against blue sky a butterfly spreads its wings in profile hovering just above the branch. CENTER: Detail from THE END OF NATURE V of a woman wearing only a few small pieces of jewelry framed by the V-shaped limbs of a dead tree. A small owl skull hands on a necklace around her neck. A gold beaded chain wraps one calm and another anklet can barely be seen on her back foot as she leans all of her weight forward. Her arms are stretched wide as she grips white silk sashes wrapped around the dry, bleached branches where they extend outward in a V. RIGHT: Close detail from THE END OF NATURE V featuring the top of the panel where a woman with tousled blonde hair is set against blue sky and thin cloud cover. Her arms are stretched wide as she grips white silk sashes wrapped around the dead and bleached branches where they part wide in a V. Circles of gold are patterned on the cloth. A small owl skull hangs on a necklace that rests on her bare chest. A rusted metal star blown by the breeze is tangled on a long ribbon caught in the smaller branches above the sash on her left.LEFT: Close detail from THE END OF NATURE V featuring the gnarled branches of a dead tree. Most of the bark has peeled off exposing the dry, bleached wood underneath. Set against blue sky a butterfly spreads its wings in profile hovering just above the branch. CENTER: Detail from THE END OF NATURE V of a woman wearing only a few small pieces of jewelry framed by the V-shaped limbs of a dead tree. A small owl skull hands on a necklace around her neck. A gold beaded chain wraps one calm and another anklet can barely be seen on her back foot as she leans all of her weight forward. Her arms are stretched wide as she grips white silk sashes wrapped around the dry, bleached branches where they extend outward in a V. RIGHT: Close detail from THE END OF NATURE V featuring the top of the panel where a woman with tousled blonde hair is set against blue sky and thin cloud cover. Her arms are stretched wide as she grips white silk sashes wrapped around the dead and bleached branches where they part wide in a V. Circles of gold are patterned on the cloth. A small owl skull hangs on a necklace that rests on her bare chest. A rusted metal star blown by the breeze is tangled on a long ribbon caught in the smaller branches above the sash on her left.
Details from THE END OF NATURE V

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THE END OF NATURE V

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Debra Sanders
Debra’s Substack
Oct 13

Absolutely stunning. So glad you have more time now for your personal work.

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Laura Lasley
Oct 10Liked by Michael Whelan

She looks like a slingshot in the V with her scarf. The butterfly is a beautiful transitory being and the hanging star is something we've seen in other personal works. And there are the jet trails. Does this mean Nature makes a comeback after this End? Or has she just come to the End of where her realm is. Curiouser and curiouser. And another stunning painting

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