Jadelynn St Dre
Protection
Salt, water
2025

Protection is an interactive salt and water piece developed in 2025. When people interact with the artwork, the installation features a circle of white salt resting on a black vinyl protective surface that creates the impression of a soft, dark space anchoring the scene. On top of the salt mound are many hand-carved bones, each with unique shapes, small nooks, ridges, and contours meant to be explored by touch. Beside the main pile, a smaller pedestal holds another mound of salt topped with more carved bones. Around the installation are three, curved, black ceramic bowls filled with water. One is on the floor in the center of the piece, and the other two are on white pedestals of different heights. Each bowl has a rippled texture along its sides and a dark brown glaze in the center, evoking the movement of water. Visitors are invited to participate gently with the piece by using a smaller bowl and scooping water to pour it tenderly over the salt bones, as though washing a small child or small animal. Alongside the piece are handwritten instructions to guide the interaction.