Elbows Up

About the Artwork

Title: Elbows Up
Medium: Giclée on Canvas
Edition Size: 158 Limited Edition Prints
Release Date: July 1, 2025
Price: $199, $499, $899
Includes: Signed & Numbered Certificate of Authenticity, Story Card
Dimensions: 14” X 11”, 20” X 16”, 24” X 18”
Available through: foreverinart.ca

Artist Statement

Elbows Up is a bold allegorical painting rooted in a true and extraordinary encounter: a Canada Goose engaged in a dramatic battle with a Bald Eagle—and emerging victorious. Set against the striking backdrop of Waterton Lakes National Park, along the border between Canada and the United States, this work reflects more than just a clash of birds—it is a symbolic confrontation of values, identity, and political tension.

The fractured ground beneath them marks a deepening divide. On the Canadian side, it hints at the geopolitical strain brought on by threats of annexation and aggressive trade tariffs. On the American side, a jagged split represents the growing internal rifts among U.S. citizens, driven by divisive federal decisions.

Through metaphor and landscape, Elbows Up invites viewers to reflect on sovereignty, resilience, and the quiet strength of a nation that, when challenged, stands its ground—with wings wide and elbows up.

This work is the first in a developing series by Shauna Madsen, exploring allegorical animal narratives as reflections of cultural and political identity. Future pieces will continue to draw on real-life encounters and symbolic landscapes to speak to resilience, belonging, and national character.