Anna has sent these reflections on the experience, and her feelings and thoughts since then:
Medusa
When Mary asked us to create something from the materials she'd
provided, I found myself very drawn to the mass of coloured wools. I
began to pick out the colours that appealed - blues, greens, greys and
turquoise - sea colours. The images of seaweed, sea serpents and then
snakes followed in quick succession, then the image of Medusa, with
serpents for hair.
This image resonated deeply with me as one of the issues I'd brought to
the workshop was getting in touch with my creativity. Medusa seems to
me to be a negative and destructive feminine archetype - she turns all
who look on her to stone. Consequently, she is isolated and shunned.
She is out of touch with with the free-flowing, creative energy, the
generative quality which is also part of the feminine birthright. She
represents the sterility of being cut off from that creative impulse.
Medusa's physical form came together very quickly for me once I'd
identified her. Her face was inspired by the masks worn by the chorus
in traditional Greek theatre and I felt pleased when another
participant said 'oh, it's a Greek mask', when I held up my finished
work. Her expression is a mournful one and also hints at resentment and
bitterness. She is both feared and vilified by others, a creature who
knows only how to destroy. She is frozen at her core and unable to
grow.
I feel enormously fond of Medusa although she represents such a
negative image and it is richly ironic that I have connected more
deeply with my creative potential in making her. She is what we could
all become if we lose touch with our creative energy. I keep her near
my desk, where I can see her gloomy countenance every day and she makes
me smile. She is a reminder to me to stay in touch with my playful,
spontaneous, creative instincts, as I don't wish to become her!!
(3 June 2007)
