Elbows Up raised $50,000 for Charity

Elbows Up isn’t just a painting of a goose scrapping with an eagle, it’s a full-on allegory with feathers flying. Rooted in a real encounter that made headlines, this bold canvas captures the moment a Canada Goose went wing-to-wing with a Bald Eagle and, against all odds, waddled out the winner. Take that, food chain.

The setting is Waterton Lakes National Park, straddling the Canada–U.S. border. But this isn’t just a picturesque backdrop; the fractured ground tells a deeper story. On the Canadian side, cracks hint at outside pressures, annexation talk, trade disputes, the sort of “friendly neighbour” drama no one asked for.

On the U.S. side, the split runs jagged and wide, echoing the fractures within its own borders. In the middle? A goose standing firm, wings spread, elbows up, reminding us that resilience sometimes honks louder than bluster.

At its core, Elbows Up is a love letter to sovereignty, grit, and that uniquely Canadian way of standing one’s ground with quiet humour and unshakable pride. Because really, if a goose can stare down an eagle, what can’t we face?

This work marks the first in a developing series by Shauna Madsen, where real-life animal encounters become allegories of culture, politics, and identity. Think of it as storytelling in feathers and fur, where the creatures say what the politicians can’t (or won’t).

About the Artwork

Title: Elbows Up
Medium: Giclée on Canvas
Edition Size: 158 Limited Edition Canvas Giclée Prints
Release Date: Summer, 2025
Price: $495
Includes: Signed & Numbered Certificate of Authenticity, and Story Card
Dimensions: 16” X 20”
Available through: Forever in Art & Shauna Madsen