Margaret Schnebly Hodge

Artist Statement

Primarily a large scale painter though not confined to painting, my work tends to mirror the pulse of life. The spirit of my work is driven by energy, our human existence and condition, our humanity.

The story behind the moth: The concept came shortly after the February 14, 2018, mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The sounds of gunfire and students screaming on the real time videos captured by the student victims echoed in my mind daily. The angry and courageous response by the young adults who were determined to make a difference following the event pierced my consciousness. That same week a large white moth attached itself to a wall of my back porch. Its stillness cloaked me in calmness. That moment was so striking that I seemed to know how to artistically respond. I researched the symbolism of moths and discovered that white moths generally reflect faith, intuition, vulnerability, concealment, and determination. In some cultures it represents death to perfect transition.

Processing the moth: The 4’ x 12’ raw canvas symbolized the promise of youth. It was first folded in the shape of an American flag. I intentionally chose the American flag folded shape as (1) it referred to our debate over the 2nd amendment and (2) the depth of the folded form more readily shows the damage that 180 bullets from an AR-15 inflicts on a human body. I enlisted an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle owner to participate in the artwork. During this relationship we started a dialogue on gun violence which was healthy. Some of the “wounds” in the moth remain stable and others are deteriorating just as the emotional and physical impacts to the victims, survivors of the event, and their families are today. Following the shooting of the fabric I spent many hours evaluating and practicing origami fold options to create the moth. Ultimately, I unfolded the flag shape and refolded it in an “accordion” method so it would drape freely into the moth form. It is held on the wall at three points. I enlist the two forces of tension and gravity to assist me in the final form. Bullet casings strewn on the public gallery floor below the moth suggest a mass shooting that the art viewer may have just missed.