Serafina/Care for Me
Jordyn Julianna Ashdown
See it On Campus: Level 2
Featured in ECU On-Campus Exhibition
2023. Armature, mohair fabric, silicone, paper clay, acrylic hair. 40 in. x 60 in. x 9 in.
Serafina/Care for Me aims to counter the historical portrayal of horses in art as vehicles for violence and dominance. In contrast, Serafina/Care for Me embodies peace and calm. Sewn out of worn mohair, mirroring that of a well-loved teddy, she is stitched back together, despite the damage she has taken. At her most tender, she represents deep care and unconditional love.
Babydoll
2025. Mohair fabric, polymer clay, silk fabric, round pin button, cheesecloth. 50 in. x 15 in. x 15 in.
Babydoll’s job is to please you. A being, rendered into an object. Draped atop a tall white plinth, the piebald whitetail fawn’s limp form, devoid of energy, is on display. The fawn is adorned with a pink satin bow hanging by a single safety pin inserted into the nape of its neck.
Babydoll began as a reflection on the violence inherent in hunting and in time expanded to explore themes of perfectionism, performativity, and the construction of human and non-human bodies as sites of consumption and display.
Female Without Defect
2024. Oil paint, acrylic paint, muslin, cheesecloth, vintage chalice. 20 in. x 63 in.
Through liminal space and religious symbolism, Female Without Defect evokes a strong sense of looming. It invites reflection on the ways in which we perceive and interact with non-human animals within our religions and cultures.
What do we truly hold as “sacred”?
Princess
2024. Muslin, cheesecloth, vintage ribbon, straw. 14 in. x 18 in. x 10 in.
What can we learn about grieving from our inner child? Constructed of ivory coloured muslin and cheesecloth, Princess draws from a childhood memory of witnessing both the birth and sudden loss of a lamb. Its simple yet angeliferous form invites the viewer into a space of quiet reflection.
