Woman Who Runs with Wolf
The wild woman is rebirthing herself from the womb of the psyche. A transformation to the underworld, an ouroboros spinning between life and death. She is part human and part animal, a shape shifter. Robert Graves stated that “In the shamanic rites of the goddess and priestess, painted their faces with white gypsum to channel the larger collective”. Performance of a ritual speaks directly to the collective unconscious.
The killing of the wolf by hunters is justified as wildlife management. Keeping the order of animal populations in balance. Androcentric views of domination and control are violently acted out on the sacred earth mother with impunity. The image of a killed wolf carcass covering my body came to me in a dream. During that time I had been reading the influential books about goddess mythology and fairy tales. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, ‘Women Who Run with Wolves’ captured my imagination.
Estés states,“The wounding of land and creatures reaches to the dream world…and beyond it to impoverish the dreamers as well. Yet there is still time to intervene…but the time is right this instant”.
Above:
Woman Who Runs With Wolf
(Salvaged slain wolf carcass killed by hunters & body smeared in Lard)
2013
Archival pigment print
38 x 29 in.
Edition of 12
Dirty Witch
The witch is a mythological symbol of female empowerment. She’s the high priestess, a Mary Magdalene, possessing ancient healing wisdom. Her knowledge was celebrated and revered in ancient matriarchal civilisation. The collapse of goddess worship to a religious patriarchal epoch, ruptured the equilibrium between the feminine and the natural world.
The feminine was persecuted by religious patriarchal authority. The vast knowledge of ancient healing wisdom was practiced in secrecy. The goddess was now framed as witch, making her vulnerable to all kinds predatory scams; sexual advances, confiscation of property and jealously or revenge.
The Dirty Witch is a switch from the derogatory statement, “dirty bitch”.
Dirty Witch, (Bran Castle Wall, Romania)
2017-2018
Archival pigment print
10 x 8 in. contact print
Edition of 12