Angela Schütz
'Marie de la Mer of Folkestone'
Payer's Park Community Garden inspires magical creatures in me like this hybrid of the Virgin Mary and a mermaid. Old mermaid myths say, every creature on land has its equivalent in the underwater world and the mermaid was believed to be the alluring sinful side of the female. Carvings in old churches warn folks of her tantalising danger in the shadows of the glorified Virgin Mary who represents the virtues to aspire to.
'Marie de la Mer of Folkestone' is also a nod to the French Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, a place of pilgrimage for travelling folks from all over the world.
With 'Marie de la Mer of Folkestone' I wish all people of all colour and orientation, from this world or otherworldly, who have landed on this shore a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
Art made from found objects and recycled materials.
