For thousands of years, the innate drive for self-preservation has motivated artists and craftspeople to create objects imbued with protective qualities — especially during times of turbulence when long-held protections feel precarious. In addition to physical threats, our survival mode reacts to social, emotional, and spiritual hazards. The intensity of dangers is often a complex intersection of identities, external situations, and internal perceptions.

Protective objects and rituals — such as amulets, ex-votos, deity figures, armor, masked dances and vocal chants — function in many ways: as physical barriers, connections to culture, channels to the supernatural, or amplifiers of strength. The materials composing these objects are often considered precious: valued for their rarity, cultural significance, or inherent qualities like shininess, strength, and medicinal effect. Sometimes the very process of crafting these items enhances their perceived power and preciousness.

As we find ways to shield ourselves and our communities from potential threats, we also must consider how we protect ourselves without harming others. How do we navigate our own and others’ boundaries while handling potential conflicts?  

In response to this time of uncertainty, we call upon artists to examine the human need for protection, and explore what makes protections precious through both their physical qualities and the act of crafting them.

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