Carrying a week's worth of trash with you sounds like a typical, outlandish, environmental studies assignment, but the assignment did its purpose. It made me aware of how much trash I produce and how much stuff goes to waste. I am grateful for it because when the University of Michigan kicked my roommates and I out of our dorm during the Fall 2020 semester, we stared at the stockpile of napkins we received from the dining hall and wondered how many ribs we would have to eat to use them all. But then I got an idea to use them in my work. That's how my napkin art started. From there, I found that rolling the napkins relieved the growing stress and anxiety covid brought and quickly became a way that I could gain control when the world seemed to be spiraling out of control.
“Spiraling” combines my love for the environment and sustainability with the grit of making it through difficult times through unconventional methods.