Fledgling 

Sarah Joncas' painting presents us with a figure adorned with a singular white feather. The feather, a symbol of lightness and ascension, whispers tales of ancient deities, often associated with Ma'at, the Egyptian goddess of truth, whose feather determined the fate of souls. Consider its echo in Renaissance art, where angels' wings, feathered and divine, signified spiritual transcendence. The feather, in its purity and form, speaks to us of aspiration and the ethereal realm, its symbolism deeply rooted in our collective unconscious. Yet, here, the feather is not part of a wing, but an adornment—a poignant reminder of the distance between potential and reality. This simple accoutrement conveys a sense of yearning, engaging us on a subconscious level. The past is never truly gone; it resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings.