SNAKE HANDLER: A Story About Craft, Legacy, and Racial Consciousness
In this episode, I share a collection of stories behind SNAKE HANDLER, a large banner I made featuring a writhing white snake. It’s really a three-part story about wrestling, specifically wrestling with identity, privilege, and role in the struggle for racial justice. I share personal reflections on understanding and confronting my privilege, recommending reading suggestions, sharing two strategies I use to address biases and hurtful statements, and encouraging us to take active roles in addressing racial inequality.
WHY LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE?
This episode takes listeners on a profound journey through Zak's personal reflections and life experiences, offering a unique perspective on confronting and reconciling with one's past and societal constructs. It is a compelling listen for anyone interested in the intersections of art, personal history, and social consciousness.
REFLECTION PROMPTS:
The dream about the snake and Zak's great-great-grandfather offers a metaphor for dealing with inherited legacies and making choices in the present. Think about a legacy or tradition in your family or community that feels like a "snake" – something challenging or problematic that you feel responsible for handling.
Zak's artistic process in creating SNAKE HANDLER is a form of wrestling with his desires for justice and his acknowledgment of personal privilege. Reflect on a time when you had to confront your privileges and consider how they impact your actions towards creating a fairer world.
The episode concludes with thoughts on "handling the snake" of societal issues, particularly around race and privilege. Consider the ways in which you can actively engage in "seeing the snake" in your own life and community, learning its ways, and working towards taming it.
CONVERSATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
00:38 Part 1: The Church
02:07 Concept of Time and History
03:13 Part 2: The Dream
04:36 The Responsibility of the Living
04:54 Snake Handling and Faith
06:02 Part 3: The Banner
10:38 Handling the Snake: Addressing Racism
HELPFUL LINKS
→ Join the QUILTY NOOK https://nook.zakfoster.com/
→ Weekly Email Goodies from me https://nook.zakfoster.com/newsletter/
→ Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zakfoster.quilts
→ Email me zak@zakfoster.com