Galatians 5:22-23
OIL ON WOOD
36" x 72"
2024
SOLD
Halcyon is a deeply personal and symbolic painting commissioned by Lindsay Hadley. Inspired by her spiritual journey through a faith crisis and toward healing, it is set within the lush embrace of a Hawaiian forest. It depicts a serene, multi-generational scene rich in spiritual and emotional significance.
At the heart of the painting is a Grandmother Figure pouring water from a shell over a Mother Figure into reflecting pools below—an image drawn from the maternity statue at the Laie Hawaii Temple. This gesture represents the nurturing love passed from one generation to the next. The Mother Figure symbolizes Lindsay herself, while her three sons—Milo, Mason, and Liam—are portrayed as the children in the statue, emphasizing themes of familial connection and enduring love.
The central banyan tree, an iconic presence that in reality is located behind the Laie Temple, serves as a living altar—symbolizing life, longevity, and the sacred link between generations. Water flows from the Tree of Life, filling the reflecting pools below, echoing the continuity of humanity, from our first mother, Eve, and ultimately the idea of a Heavenly Mother.
Three Halcyon birds, from which the painting takes its name, soar through the tranquil scene, embodying peace, healing, and the serenity Lindsay discovered during her journey. Surrounding them are vibrant Snowbush plants in hues of green, pink, and magenta, symbolizing harmony and restoration. The Hawaiian forest, alive with natural beauty, wraps the composition in a spirit of divine creation and renewal.
This setting reflects Lindsay’s transformative walks to the Laie Temple, where she found solace, faith, and a strengthened bond with her family. The painting also draws inspiration from pivotal elements of her healing journey: Jackson MacKenzie’s book Whole Again, which helped Lindsay recover from emotional trauma, and the song Halcyon by The Paper Kites. The lyrics—“And the birds will sing our song in Halcyon” and “We can love, we can love”—mirror the painting’s themes of freedom, love, and restoration, weaving layers of emotional resonance into the artwork.
The scriptural subtitle, Galatians 5:22-23, encapsulates the piece's essence with its message: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.” These spiritual fruits are brought to life in the serene, nurturing imagery that permeates the painting.
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The artist, Amberlea Erekson, immersed herself in Lindsay’s story and vision, spending time understanding her experiences and the symbolic elements that shaped her journey. While painting, Amberlea listened repeatedly to Halcyon and Whole Again and Lindsay’s podcast and TEDx talks. This process became a spiritual collaboration, allowing Amberlea to channel her emotional and healing journey into the artwork. In creating Halcyon, she told Lindsay’s story and forged a bond of sisterhood and shared resilience, embodying the painting’s themes of love and renewal.
Sketch
Underpainting
