Repurposing plastic film – meditating on a simple knot

I have been developing Anxiety since 2022, and am drawn to the project as a way to transform ecological anxiety into a material, shared experience. The project includes public art installations, wall hangings, wearable tapestries, and mixed media works.

By utilizing discarded plastic, Anxiety engages directly with the materials contributing to the environmental crises it addresses. These materials are reclaimed through slow, labor-intensive craft processes. The resulting fiber-art installations are immersive and tactilely seductive, inviting viewers to encounter environmental crises not as an abstract issue, but as a physical and emotional experience. At the core of the project is an ongoing inquiry into how fiber-art can function as a transformative tool — prompting reflection on consumerism, environmental responsibility, and our relationship to the natural world.

Anxiety Tower

2024, 7.8′ x 3.3′ x 3.3′ Fiber-art Installation

Materials: recycled plastic film, steel, concrete

Video of installing in progress and the installation

Made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Funding was also provided by Foundation for Contemporary Arts (Emergency Grant,) and Finlandia Foundation National.

Anxiety Flag

2025, 7′ x 1.5′ x 4″ Fiber-art Installation, Materials: recycled plastic film, cloth

Photos by Korean Community Media Broadcasting-TV (KCMB-TV) More photos by NYC DOT Art

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Anxiety

2025, AHL Foundation Gallery & Thomas Cole National Historic Site, NY

Anxiety portraits

2024, 12″ x 8″ Mixed Media

A photo series of participants in the project wearing the tapestries

Anxiety River

2023, 10′ x 4′ Fiber Art

Small and large weaves from communal workshops are sewed together to make a large blanket.

Anxiety #2

2024, 2.8′ x 4.7′ Fiber Art

Anxiety Swimming Exercises

2024, 18:00 Interdisciplinary Dance

Disruption

2023, Mixed media

A photo series examining tapestries made of recycled plastic in natural landscapes. The series highlight the problems of single-use plastics and their burden on the environment.

Communal knotting

Portfolio

In workshops I teach participants of varied ages a simple knotting technique. Small and large weaves from these workshops are sewed together to make a larger tapestry. Participants are invited to bring recycled materials, i.e. plastic film and poly-fibers to the workshop. The photos are from workshops at Bearnstow Artist Retreat, ME, New York Finnish Lutheran Church, NY and ArtsWestchester, NY “Earth Day Celebration,” a teen workshop.

“I liked the focus and patience it took to make and create art”

“[I liked] the peace and being able to do your own thing”

“I liked helping to use pieces of plastic for beautiful artwork and how colorful it was”

The tapestries in the “Anxiety” project have been developed with a Support for Artists grant from the New York State Council on the Arts through a fiscal sponsorship by the Korea Art Forum. Additional funding has been provided by Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant and Finlandia Foundation National.

The tapestries have been developed in artist residencies at Bethany Arts Community, NY; Catwalk Institute, NY; Xenia Creative Retreat, England and Zero Foot Hills, CT. They have been developed through social engagement in workshops at ArtsWestchester, King Manor Museum, New York Finnish Lutheran Church, Salon at Recess Art organized by NYC Arts in Education Roundtable and at Bearnstow Artist Retreat, ME, and with NYC Summer Streets and Shared Dialogue, Shared Space (SDSS,) NY.