LIKE A BIRD BEFORE A SNAKE
Art & Activism
The Power of Adornment
The Power of Adornment & Art & Activism: we asked individuals that have been of great inspiration to us to be photographed in a piece of our jewelry that spoke to them. Over the next few months we are looking forward to sharing their stories with you.
Charlotte María Sáenz + The Raven Necklace:
“I chose the necklace with two ravens as it held an interesting space of ambiguity for me. Both ravens have their beaks open. Could they be arguing, speaking on top of each other, not listening to each other–creating dissonance and discord? Are they singing together creating beautiful cawing harmonies? Or perhaps they are simply breathing, being with each other, in a time of difficulty or sadness. These questions seem significant to me right now in our micro and macro spheres of engagement with each other and the world. Are we going to do the hard work of really listening and truly hearing each other? What is the work that we need to do in order to get to that place of common purpose and understanding that will allow us to act or ―sing” together–trusting that the other will come in when needed, support your melody or provide needed counterpoint? Perhaps it requires daily rehearsal! How do we get to this place of mutuality and dynamic co-creation? The questions prompted by these two ravens seem to me relevant to our communities and societies at this particular historical juncture. In this aftermath of U.S. national elections facing the darkness and uncertainty ahead, how will we show up for one another as colleagues, as neighbors, as strangers…as a world? Ravens are among the smartest of all birds, gaining a reputation for solving complicated problems. May we carry the skills and spirit of these fine creatures to help guide us in solving the tremendous challenges that lie ahead.”
–Charlotte María Sáenz grew up in México D.F., were she never saw raven. She now sees them regularly on her beach cliff walks in San Francisco, where she lives and teaches at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Working globally in schools, streets, universities, refugee camps, autonomous zones and traveling educational programs, she collaborates with others to produce collective knowledge and connect people to new social action. She works on building transnational solidarities through popular co-education initiatives between farmers, activist-scholars and organizers in Zapatista, Basque and Palestinian territories. She has much respect and appreciation for ravens everywhere and hopes to learn more from them.
RAVEN NECKLACE/IN A PRIVATE COLLECTION