Upcycling has traditionally been recognized as a powerful tool for sustainability, allowing us to convert waste materials into new and useful products. However, Upcycling can also help us to process grief in a positive way. We can create a sense of purpose and accomplishment by transforming items associated with loss into something new. This can be therapeutic, as it can provide a sense of purpose and achievement during a difficult time, especially for those who are struggling to come to terms with their grief and may be feeling lost.
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Book
Life After Death: A call for Upcycling — The New Reincarnation explores Upcycling as a healing technology for grief. The book itself is an upcycling kit printed on fabric with an instructional zine on how to repurpose it. The kit comes with sewing supplies, and the base of the book is a cutting mat. The packaging of the kit is an upcycled bag made from plastic scraps.
Capstone: Garmented Vol. 1
I started my essay by speaking about my grandmother Clara’s shirt. Her passing, along with that of my other grandmother Yael, left me with a sense of loss and a profound shift in my identity. In an attempt to work through my own grief, I channeled my emotions into my Upcycling practice and created conceptual art and design pieces.
Communications Designers are translators. Through our visual language, research, and critical thinking, we are able to tell stories that help guide the audience. Knowing that there is a profound impact our work can have on individuals and society as a whole, my goal is to raise awareness that in addition to its sustainability impact, Upcycling is also a healing technology at a deeper, emotional level.
My artworks were showcased at my Capstone show: Garmented Volume #1, an event that took place on Friday, November 18th, at The Living Gallery in Brooklyn. Designer Dusti Diener’s creations were also exhibited. Our art depicted the connection between emotional healing, grief, and trauma/scars through garments and related artifacts.
Capstone Website:
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