10/16/2025
We’re at the artist reception for “Hold Me Tender: New Artwork by Bayda Asbridge at the JMAC Pop Up Gallery, 20 Franklin St., Worcester, Massachusetts. “As an American artist with roots in the Middle East, my work explores identity, displacement, and belonging. This series of boat sculptures reflects our tumultuous life journeys, the grief of exile, and the fragile hope of sanctuary. The boats — sometimes vessels of refuge, sometimes coffins — are embraced by birch branches, whose forms evoke tender arms offering safety. Natural materials, muted colors, and woven textures root the work in both fragility and resilience.
“Suspended, fractured, or shrouded, each piece tells its own story, yet together the create an atmosphere of mourning and compassion. With the sound of rough seas and the image of shifting skies, the installation invites viewers to bear witness to loss while holding space for healing and shared humanity. Step out of your shoes and into the sand — feel the earth beneath your feet as part of the journey.”
The show remains on view through October 27. “As an American Syrian artist, I felt compelled to address the immigration crisis,” said Asbridge, who was featured in the March/April 2025 19th Anniversary Issue of Artscope Magazine. “Seamlessly integrating sculpture, mixed media, and textile techniques, Asbridge crafts an immersive and evocative experience that resonates on both an intellectual and emotional level,” wrote Claudia Fiks.
