Medusa, 2019, $9200. Vintage wheelchair, FossShape, and repurposed textiles. 68.5" x 32" x 55". Photo by Heidi Marie Photography.

The Gorgon Medusa is an emblem of betrayal, fear, and power. She was a maiden who was raped by the god Poseidon while she worshipped in Athena's temple. Instead of fighting with the god, Athena turned Medusa into a gorgon who could turn men to stone. Medusa's origins are much older than Grecian myth and she is believed to be a goddess from earlier cultures.

Disability is demonized and taken advantage of in our culture. It is seen as a weakness, a tragedy, and something to be feared. Medusa shows us that what seems monstrous can stem from human betrayal and injustice. In my sculpture, Medusa becomes a queen at home with her snakes. She represents the overwhelming number of disabled women who are raped and sexually assaulted but rarely believed.