Speaking with HagRoot
Colette Copeland
April 2024
Be Courageous, mixed media collage, 4″ x 6″
I first saw HagRoot’s art in the gift shop of a gallery in Lake Granbury, Texas. That was 3 years ago and I’ve collected a number of her works since then, as has my daughter. HagRoot’s website/online store is filled with art, objects and herbal remedies, all inbued with mysticism and magic. I am currently taking a class with Aaron Gach called Maximum Magic through The Alternative Art School. The course engages magical arts in relation to diverse creative art practices embracing both historical and current cultural practices. As part of my course research, I approached HagRoot to ask if she was interested in an interview about her own practice.
Colette Copeland: Let’s start with the solar eclipse this week. In spite of all the hype and commercialism surrounding the event, I was unprepared for how powerful it was. I’ve been reading about the transformational power and energy that will be with us all month and wondering how that might manifest not only in my everyday life, but also within my art practice. What did you do to celebrate the solar eclipse and how is its transformational energy manifesting in your life?
HagRoot: Witnessing the eclipse was a profound experience that I hold with immense gratitude. The invitation to join others in a communal experience was there but it didn’t resonate with me. Being immersed in a crowd of people during such a potent event was not what I wanted. My husband and I live in nature and chose to observe the eclipse together from the comfort of our home. It was a time of quiet reflection and soul connection.
Since the end of March, I’ve gained a lot of clarity on my contribution to the world, my spiritual journey and on the life that I desire to live. Whether the eclipse is the catalyst for this clarity and transformation or if it’s just a part of my evolution is beyond my knowing.
CC: I recall seeing an Instagram post where you opened up about your background and what led you to this life or soul purpose to heal, inspire and help others with creativity and change in their own lives. How has your journey evolved into your current practice?
HagRoot: My journey to where I am now has been about finding my place in the world and helping others find theirs. This journey has been about stripping away the layers of who I thought I should be and who I’ve been told to be so I could awaken to who I truly am. It’s in this space where I’ve found true freedom.
CC: How do your healing and magical practices inform your art work?
HagRoot: My art reflects my inner journey. It’s an exploration of the subconscious and is about allowing what’s within me and what wants to come through me to be created in its most authentic, primal, and raw form.
Each piece of art is a ritual in and of itself. My art is not just something that I do. It’s a part of who I am. My creations are born from a place of introspection, spiritual guidance and a desire to connect with the world on a deeper level.
CC: One of the aspects of your art that I am most drawn to is how the collages simultaneously reference both interior and exterior worlds. I think about the text as my inner voice speaking wisdom to me–the voice I should listen to, but sometimes ignore. The texts are also calls to action, specifically to liberate women from the confines of patriarchy and oppression. What is your process for making the collages?
HagRoot: I collect text, found images and fragments that resonate with me and I piece them together with my own marks, words and images to create a balance of light and dark.
CC: I read on your website that you purchased a cabin in Granbury that will be a future home for Shamana Sanctuary? Please tell us about your plans for that space.
HagRoot: The seed of Shamana Sanctuary was planted years ago when I had a calling and a vision to create a sacred space for women’s circles, art workshops and energy healing. Shamana Sanctuary is a small cabin nestled in nature that overlooks a waterfall. It’s a sacred and nurturing space where women from all walks of life can gather in a conscious, judgement free community to be seen and heard. This transformative space allows you to explore the depths of your creativity while tapping into the divinity within you. Shamana Sanctuary promotes inner peace, communal healing, intuition and self-discovery. There will be creative workshops that encourage self-expression and liberation, women’s circles that celebrate the new and full moons, solstice gatherings, sacred dance ceremonies and energy healing.
In Flesh and Bone, mixed media collage, 4″ x 6″
Colette Copeland is an interdisciplinary visual artist, arts educator, social activist and cultural critic/writer whose work examines issues surrounding gender, death and contemporary culture. Sourcing personal narratives and popular media, she utilizes video, photography, performance and sculptural installation to question societal roles and the pervasive influence of media, and technology on our communal enculturation.
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