The Burdens & Blessings
of Nostalgia

My desire for this piece is to emphasize the connection that exists between human memory and physical form. Objects recall long-forgotten memories; they invoke feelings of nostalgia. But what is nostalgia? It involves both current emotions and past happenings. Sometimes those memories are a blessing, and sometimes they are a burden; nostalgia is a bittersweet feeling at heart.

This work was an outpouring of my thoughts as I began to wrap my mind around the appreciation I have for my childhood and the mourning for those whose pasts were filled with trauma. The idea for this work stemmed from a conversation with some coworkers about our favorite childhood sippy cups. As we began to search for images of them, story after story of our childhoods was told. It allowed us to know each other more fully.

However, a week later, I found myself in Mexico helping in children’s homes. Those kids had experienced more trauma than I may ever see. I may see my past as something to cherish, but I realize now that not all people are privileged in that way.

The physical project began with a Google form. My friends and family sent me pictures of their favorite sippy cups, the memories they associated with them, and their own definitions of nostalgia.

Terracotta (2023)