Funeral (Brainard Rd.)

by Maeve Billings

A red-winged blackbird lies face-down in a lush bouquet of lilies, hydrangeas, and tulips. Its wings are outstretched, suspended in motion, while its body sinks into the flowers. The scene evokes a roadside memorial—vibrant, tender, and full of tension. Beneath the blooms, textured asphalt breaks through in mottled browns, grounded by a yellow road division line.\n\nRendered in rich oil paint, this piece captures the vivid gleam of feathers and the soft curl of petals with equal care. The bird’s death is undeniable, yet the scene is excessive in its beauty. Funeral (Brainard Rd.) blurs the line between mourning and reverence, treating death as a strange and intimate moment worth looking at closely.