ARTIST STATEMENT

My first experience with Witches was when I was five years old. My aunt had sewn me a black cape, lined with bright orange fabric and secret candy pockets, which I wore out trick-or-treating complete with green skin, pumpkin earrings, and a pointy black hat. A few years later, my sister and I would binge-watch the movies Hocus Pocus and The Witches (before Netflix streaming and high speed internet were even a thing). Our VCR had them playing on repeat, with Matilda adding a little sparkle to the mix every now and again. By the time I was eight I had my nose buried in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix; I was so fascinated by the ‘magical learning’ plotline that I would play ‘boarding school’ by myself, on this one particular bench in my garden outside, jotting down in a spiral bound notebook everything from DIY spells to my school ‘lessons’ and annual uniform updates. Reruns of Sabrina the Teenage Witch were on TV after school, and I would also get small doses of her magic & charm in the pages of my collection of Archie Digests. In autumn I would run around the yard with a rake between my legs, cackling to the wind and casting spells on my mum and dad with a knobby twig. At fifteen I became enamored with the symbolic properties of flowers. At sixteen, I attempted to blend my own glitter-infused essential oils… a sparkling failure. At nineteen I read some books on the Salem Witch Trials. At twenty-one, I paid $5 for my first palm reading, and bought the cheapest pack of tarot cards I could find. Without really realizing it, Witchcraft had become a significant part of my childhood, teenage years, and now, adulthood. Through this exhibit I want to promote the knowledge and acceptance of Witchcraft in all its forms, so other kids can have the freedom to experience this magic(k), too.

 

Like most other teens I found my way to Witchcraft through movies, books & TV. But you see, the media got something wrong: it portrays Witches as magical, but I have come to understand that real life Witches are in fact magickal. The difference is small in writing, but significant in practice: magic is visual and immediate – trickery or slight of hand – while magick is the harnessing of internal and external energies to enact change, which may or may not result in visible effect. Magic can be useful for engaging audiences on screen, but magick is the real stuff of Witchcraft. It is focused, personal, and powerful. It might not allow you to *click your fingers* to change your clothes... but it does allow you to harness a better understanding of yourself and your potential.

 

I think that is why Witchcraft appealed to me, because it is innately feminine, and it is powerful. Witchcraft has always involved powerful women: the persecution of Witches in the 17th century Salem trials was, essentially, due to man’s fear of independent women. To this day, female Witches are seen as ‘crazy’ or ‘evil’ by other religious or secular groups, who just don’t quite understand what Witchcraft is all about.

 

So let me break it down for you. By simple definition, Witchcraft is exactly what it sounds like – a craft practiced by Witches. But what defines a Witch? Well, the Witch does. Witchcraft is incredibly individualistic, and takes on different properties with each practitioner. The number and variety of types of Witchcraft is astounding, enough so that these practices have confounded people for centuries. I never felt comfortable labeling myself a Witch, because I didn’t fit the media-defined image of what I thought a witch looked like, but I wasn’t aware of all of my options. While researching for this project I came across some words that really resonated with me:

 

“You’re a Witch the moment you decide to be; you can stop being a Witch whenever you want. It isn’t a contract, and if it stops making you happy, don’t feel pressured to continue with it.”
Nicole, 20, Witch On Campus

 

So, I am a Witch. I can say that with certainty. I have the freedom to practice however I choose. There are no rules, there are no regulations, there are no laws or limits. Witchcraft is freedom, empowerment, and liberation. My craft is mine, and it is mine alone.

And if you want, you can have yours, too.

​

Katherine Zawadzki