Madeline Kettlewell's Project

Mirrors and Metaphors
The task of this portfolio, as I came to understand it, is to display or create a symbol, which defines my identity at its essence. The symbol I chose that distills myself to its very essence would be that of a Hatchetman woven in to a Triquetra. I feel that these two symbols are a strong representation of who I am, as they both relate to my faith and what I believe in. I chose to show these symbols in a painting to further represent what I think best describes me. When faced with the challenge of creating this portfolio piece, I began with thinking of what different images may best describe my identity and eventually came to the conclusion that I could not use just one. As my project developed, my interpretation of a symbol describing my identity transitioned in to a description of my identity through my beliefs. I hold my beliefs very close to my heart and feel that, in some sense, they directly correlate to my constantly evolving personality.
The ‘hatchetman’ symbol is something commonly related to the “underground” musical group the Insane Clown Posse and their avid listeners. These fans have created a cult following to ICP’s music and record label, and consider themselves to be a non-conventional family. Ideally, this family dynamic takes pride in the acceptance of others regardless of social status, race, or any other defining factor that may affect one’s ability to “fit in” by normal standards. I consider myself to be one of these avid listeners and actually wear this symbol as a charm on my necklace (something which I have only taken off once in the four years of me owning it). To me, the hatchetman is a representation of the three phases of myself: the person I was, the person I am today, and the person I shall become. In short, it represents the evolution of my identity, which I don’t think could have happened without the help of my ‘family’.
The symbol that can be seen wrapped around the hatchetman is that of a triquetra. The triquetra is often referred to as a Celtic knot and has many meanings, depending upon the person and cultural backgrounds. For me, the triquetra is a symbol of my religious beliefs. This knot is often recognized to be symbolic of the holy trinity in Christianity. Interestingly enough, predating Christianity it has been symbolic of Pagan beliefs, specifically Wicca. This is how the symbol defined me. I have been a practicing Wiccan for many years now and still spend the majority of my free time studying my faith and meditating on my beliefs. Within Wicca, the triquetra is symbolic of the three phases of the Goddess: the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone. Just as I found the hatchetman to be symbolic of the three phases of myself, the triquetra is symbolic of what I believe to be the three phases of the Earth and Cosmos.
When it came to the actual painting, I used color as a somewhat superficial representation of who I am, as I am obsessed with color. Whether it is my interest in obscure hair dyes and their possible color combinations, or just my interest in color and its composition, I think there is something to be said about my enthusiasm about color and form. I used my feelings about color to connect these symbols in to one, unified painting. My intention was to show an emotional sense of exuberance and energy with this. Whether or not it was successful is solely up to the viewer. Ultimately, I feel that this painting is representative of how I see my identity at its essence.