purse made from dried SCOBY created through the process of fermenting kombucha process
tote bag made from ‘plarn’ plastic bags twisted or knotted into yarn
There’s something powerful about the natural world’s unpredictability that fuels my work. I find my creative interest lies in raw, organic shapes and lines found in nature. I love experimenting with new materials and textures, and learning different techniques to bring my ideas to life, especially when it means taking what’s considered waste and turning it into something functional and beautiful.
Sewing and upcycling aren’t just hobbies; they’re my passion. I taught myself to sew through YouTube and hands-on experimentation, embracing the trial-and-error process. I believe there’s always a way to reimagine or repurpose objects, even if it means creating something out of unconventional materials or rethinking the object entirely.
Coming from a family of artists, I have grown to appreciate and notice the details of everything around me from the art of everything to the beauty of an imperfect world. Experimentation and exposure to the world around me helps keep my creativity flowing, centering my focus on the intricacies of my surrounding environment. The beauty of the unconventional opens up a galaxy of imagination, creating meaning through our powerful connection to the material world.
This project utilizes recycled materials sourced from grocery items and paper waste collected from around campus. Each frame showcases a different water-intensive crop grown in California: avocados, almonds, pasture grasses, pistachios, and lemons. They illustrate a visual narrative of water scarcity–depicting the plants thriving at the top, gradually transitioning to a state of resource deprivation towards the bottom–emphasizing the importance of resource efficiency, drought, and packaging waste.
