inheritance
Influenced by the ebb and flow of the ocean and grounded in faith, I am infatuated by the divine parallels between marriage and man’s relationship with God.
Marriage is a covenant, a spiritual metaphor between God and humanity.
In this perfect metaphor there are glimpses into how husband and wife not only view marriage but also their Maker.
These painted musings represent my observations of the marriages within my own family and, consequently, my perceptions of how those husbands and wives see God.
My observations of these marriages are uniquely my own, shaped by the lessons passed down from my parents and grandparents, and informed by my role as a daughter and granddaughter.
Studied with love and to the best of my knowledge, these pieces reflect inherited traits and an understanding nurtured through stories and teachings passed down from generation to generation.
current original series
Oil Paintings by
Mac Meckley
SoCal native Mac Meckley is a painter and writer. Her current series is comprised of original oil painted Hands, Fish and Diamond Rings.
I use the symbolism of game fish and wedding rings to explore the connection between generations, marriage, and faith.
Each piece tells a unique story of my family's legacy. The series explores our collective consciousness rooted in symbolism and theology.
Power is might. It’s a heavy burden. The marlin extends off the canvas in scale and is cradled by proportionately small yet robust hands. This composition is dedicated to my grandparents. My grandfather feared God — an overpowering, weighty, almighty force. His reverence for God was much like the subject of the painting — dominant, leaving little room for the feminine. To my grandfather, God was an almighty power to be feared, and there wasn't space for a personal relationship with his Maker. This canvas echoes the imposing nature of both the masculine and the Divine as seen through my grandfather's lens. A contradiction, perhaps, mirroring the scale of the fish and the provision such a catch could bring — much like my grandfather, a feared presence who provided abundantly.
Generation I
Power
Presence changes things. The entire tuna fits on the canvas. Hands are larger and stronger than before. My father was baptized and left his religion to meet God. He transformed our family’s legacy of God-fearing men into God-knowing men. His faith was redemptive and personal. My hands painted, like my mother’s, supporting my father in real time, steadfast through spiritual transformation.
Generation II
Presence
My generation. The hands begin to consume as much space as the fish. A salmon evolved with two eyes, seeing more than before. The scales woven and pieced together like our marriage’s season. My husband, migrating from fresh water to salt, is balanced in ways I am not. He values my femininity. My God made me to collaborate with Him, that my living and doing might glorify Him. We know, in fact, that God works all things together for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose [Romans 8:28].
