“New Yorkers’’ (oil on canvas on panel), by Purdy Eaton, in her show of paintings and photos called “Mad to Live,’’ at Standard Space, Weston, Conn., through Aug. 25.
The gallery says that Ms. Purdy, with a background in biology and epidemiology, is inspired by the natural world, particularly animals. “Her paintings feature detailed animals against abstract backgrounds, creating a surreal atmosphere in each piece. Contributing to this are the expressions of each animal: unreadable yet evocative, at turns indifferent and ominous. Each work of art invites the viewer to look ever closer, urging them to examine both the canvas before them and their own impressions of nature. ‘‘
