Original pen on cold pressed paper. 16x16”. 2025. 
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Slowness has become demonized in the dominant paradigm. Surely, this is because to be slow is detrimental to the system of productivity on which unrestrained capitalism depends. Within the mainstream culture, “slow” has become a bad word, equated with laziness, detachment, stupidity, and uselessness. If we are ourselves slow, we risk becoming fired, made fun of, or otherwise ostracized from our social circles.
 
The snail is an emblem of slowness. It’s a slimy creature, often perceived as grotesque, despised by gardeners, and considered a symbol of sin in Christianity. But across a multitude of world cultures, the snail carries positive associations, such as patience, presence, thoughtfulness, protection, fertility, and rebirth.
 
In the natural ecosystem, the snail has the role of recycling vegetation and even dead animals, breaking down organic matter into nutrient rich soil. In addition to fertilizing the earth, snails also serve as pollinators, aiding in the dispersal of the spores and pollens of the fungi and flora to which they’re drawn. Of course, snails are also an invaluable source of protein and calcium to other creatures, including many human populations.