Serpents of Stardust and the Second (Snake)skin

Everyone has a deep and intimate relationship with textiles, whether we’re aware of it or not. We choose which textiles to wear every day, we sleep wrapped in them at night, resting our bodies on sofas and drying our hands on towels.

They're a kind of second skin. We discard them when we outgrow them, or their fibres disintegrate from use. Or maybe we just get bored of the look of them and need something fresh. 

So are the cycles of our lives, where we outgrow situations and people- and no matter how hard we try, we can’t return. Painful as it can be, we’re forced into the next skin.

Snakes practise this process on a regular basis, discarding their history on the forest floor, sliding to the next phase. Because of this, serpents were seen as a symbol of rebirth, renewal & healing in various cultures and religions.

The Minoan snake goddesses of Crete were regarded this way, and as guardians of the home. I’m particularly interested in these goddesses because my middle name, Mezara, derives from the Messara valley in Crete. Well actually my brother suggested my parents name me this word Mesara that he just made up, and when the internet was invented I googled it and the Messara valley came up. That's the truth of it. 

Mezari comes from Mesara; I always preferred it to my given name, Stephanie.

Anyway.

One day I'll visit that place.

For now, I will share some work inspired by the serpent that I had the opportunity to show at a new arts centre in Ancona Italy. 

Much thanks to the curator Alessandro Mangiarotti for your incredible support and the team at Magazzino Muse for your hospitality and a very well attended vernissage!