Flying Armada 

Melissa Hefferlin invites us into a domestic dreamscape in her oil painting, "Flying Armada." Here, a winged creature perches atop a vessel, a playful nod to the iconography of angels, messengers between worlds. The fairy, with its delicate wings and commanding presence, is reminiscent of ancient depictions of psychopomps guiding souls. The vessel upon which it stands is, in itself, a symbol of transformation, a container for alchemical processes, turning base metals into gold. The juxtaposition of the fantastical fairy and the humble copper vessel is a powerful force, hinting at hidden realms within the everyday. It’s a reminder that even in the still life, in the quiet corners of our lives, magic can be found and meaning transformed. This iconography is not new; it is a repetition and continuation of mankind's enduring quest to understand our place in the universe.