Over the past few months, I have been working on Renewal Through Heritage, a collection of sculptural vessels inspired by Mediterranean pottery traditions and constructed from reclaimed materials.

As an artist and an early childhood educator, I often find inspiration in unexpected places. One of the greatest influences on this collection has been the children I work with every day.

During free play, children rarely worry about whether something is valuable, finished, or perfect. A piece of cardboard can become a castle, a boat, or a treasure chest. A small object can become whatever their imagination needs it to be. They are willing to experiment, change direction, and start over without seeing mistakes as failures.

Watching this process has changed the way I think about materials and creativity. It has reminded me that value is not always found in what something is, but in what it can become.

That idea connects closely to Renewal Through Heritage. Using paper, cardboard, found objects, and glass jars, I transform discarded materials into contemporary vessels that explore memory, continuity, and transformation. Each piece carries traces of a previous life while taking on a new purpose.

The idea of Re-Source resonates deeply with my practice. To me, a resource is not only a material waiting to be used, but also a story, a memory, a tradition, or a way of seeing the world. Inspired by ancient vessel forms that have carried goods, stories, and culture across generations, my work explores how renewal can emerge from what already surrounds us.

This collection was recently submitted for consideration in Re-Source, a juried exhibition organized by The HeArt Box Gallery. The exhibition celebrates creative reuse, ecological mindfulness, and transformation—ideas that are central to both my artistic practice and the lessons I continue to learn from the children around me