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Photo credit: Spike Mafford
Inspired by the marsh landscape that provided solace during her youth, IN THE VAIL reflects Chapek's enduring connection to the natural world as a place of observation, transformation, and self-discovery. The call of the red-winged blackbird, bending grasses, muddy banks, and expansive skies merge with the suggestion of a figure, creating a landscape that feels both physical and deeply emotional.
Underlying the work is the artist's lifelong awareness of life's fragility, shaped in part by her sister's congenital heart condition and decades-long journey of defying medical expectations. For Chapek, nature is not an escape from uncertainty but a way of living alongside it. IN THE VAIL reflects that perspective, offering a meditation on resilience, acceptance, and the extraordinary experience of being alive.