"SNUG"

Ink, collage, liquid acrylic, yarn, assemblage, repurposed wood
12 x 36 x 1 inches

Rituals of lock-down drills and constant vigilance are an unspoken burden placed on educators, parents and children. My daughter's response highlights the normalization of fear and the erosion of childhood innocence. This personal perspective is a significant element in the SNUG series, allowing for an intimate understanding of the impact on individuals. Conducting and experiencing these drills is a form of survival within a broken system. In this final piece of the series my daughter is dressed in black holding a wilting flower balancing on something made to kill, lovingly crocheted and wrapped in yarn. The colors scream like a warning. We cradle our guns, but who cradles our children? Our country protects guns more tenderly than it protects its future. (This artwork will be on display at ArtsWorcester in the winter of 2026 with its companion pieces).

Instagram: @ashley.maclure