Medusa

The sorry story of Medusa Female beauty is not always a blessing as the tale of Medusa shows. Poor Medusa was beautiful, with silken hair and any man who looked upon her was overcome with desire. There are variations on the theme, which basically pivot on lust and a cruel punishment. It is said the woman was so beautiful, she instilled lust in every man who saw her and therefore was envied and wanted in equal measure. There are many stories; all pertaining to a sexual nature of varying degrees, from rape to consummation of desire and all evoking the Goddess Athena to curse the woman. Often depicted as screaming, I am left unsure whether it is to attract the attention of the unwary to look, or if it is her screaming in horror as she knows what's to come next. Her fate to be that anyone who looks at her is turned to stone.

After making a couple of sketches the first was chosen as a template for this piece.

Made using professional black grogged clay, fired to stoneware. It is hoped a series of these clay sculptures will be placed in a garden and so need to be weatherproof.