US20060196875A1

The COVID-19 pandemic gave me and my loved ones a lot of free time. This time was filled with anxiety and worry about local and world events. Early on, the news around us was overwhelming and I searched for relief in the most reliable way possible for me, through art. For many years I have collected pull tabs, not knowing what I was going to do with them. Up to now, I lacked the time to experiment with this

material. Early in the pandemic I finally had the time needed to experiment and create something at a larger scale.

The process of creation resulted in many dead ends before this concept came into focus and I realized that I could

include family and friends in the process. This was advantageous since I wasn’t the only one in need of a distraction. I asked friends and family to collect pull tabs to not only help with the process but to include my community in the piece. This was poignant since the pandemic has taken so many means of socialization away from us. This project enabled me and my loved ones to safely connect with others and hopefully bring some joy into this anxious period.

The overall form of the project came from a heightened need to improve my interior surroundings. Many of us around the world, including me, had to stay inside for most of the year. It didn’t take long for me to realize that my room needed something unique. This led me to the idea of a chandelier. By hanging the material I was able to accentuate the flow of the pull tabs. This played in contrast to the normally solid nature of metal. In the end, the piece became a symbol of this unique time in history and reminds me of all the positives that come even in the darkest times.