(Depicted here is Artemis, a reticulated python that currently resides in the Indianapolis Zoo, whom I recently met during the "naturally inspired paint out" this past April) I have always been drawn to snakes, despite being a child of a mother who was terrified of the slithering creatures. Snakes are still, calculated, intentional, and can adapt and fill the space they're in with ease - no matter how large. To me, they are an example of stillness being strength and power. To many, they are something that needs to be feared and discarded. Despite my mom's superimposed fears, I listened to myself and continued to use them as a motif in my work. Surprisingly, because of this I saw firsthand my mom becoming less afraid of snakes over time, before she passed. I can't help but see parallels to this concept to the systems in place that are set up against various minority communities, as well. Though a bit unsettling at first, snakes are wonderful and a crucial part of any ecosystem's health and survival. We need them. My hope for the viewers of this piece, is that they can identify any emotions that come up when they see snakes. Whether positive or negative, it's important to be able to name these feelings and to understand them, as this practice can be transferred to topics bigger than a reticulated python (the longest snake in the world). Or maybe a vase is just a vase. What do you think?