Was uncertain what to expect from the May session of Contemporray Elders. The email from the Focal Point Gallery, with details disappeared somewhere in the depths of my computer and all I could recall that it was going to be something about “grotesques” and the session was to be led by my fellow Contemporary Elder, Janet Philips. I did “google’ grotesques to remind myslef what they looked like and just in case we were going to be making such figures.
Janet actually introduced us to the fascinationg world of “Sheelas”. A sheela na gig is a medieval figure of a female with long arms positioned to reveal her vulva and primarily from the 11th through 16th centuries. These architectural grotesques are found on castles, cathedrals, and parish churches throughout Europe, particularly in Ireland, the UK, France, and Spain. The word ‘sheelah’ originates from the Irish word for ‘hag or crone’ and ‘gig’ is a Northern English term for genitalia.
No-one is quite certain of the purpose of the sheelah. It might have been as a protection from evil, with the exposed vulva scaring off demons and evil spirits. Or it could have been a moral warning against the sin of lust. Or perhaps it was a fertility symbol representing fertility, birth and the cycles of life. More may be found here
After Janet’s talk and our discussion we were free to create our own ‘sheelas’ either from self-hardening clay or the assortment of materials provided. Most of us chose clay. There is something very therapeutic about pounding clay until it is soft and malleable then working it into the desired shape. And the great thing about a ‘sheelah’ is that she does not need to be anatomically correct – she is being created acording to the maker’s image. I thoroughly enjoyed working the clay to form my ‘sheelah’ and I went home feeling that this had been one of the best Contemporary Elder sessions that I had been to.

Follow