In Bloom 2025

Wood, Steel, Chicken Wire, Thrifted Fabric

In Bloom is a sculpture about an important choice I had to make during grief: the choice to grow or decay. When everything felt heavy and dark, I could have let myself rot. But I chose to find the light. This piece shows that journey and the strength it takes to keep going.

The sculpture is a lotus flower that can be taken apart and put back together. I made the lotus from steel rod, chicken wire, and thrifted fabric. The lily pad is made from plywood and more thrifted fabric. I chose the lotus because it is a symbol of rebirth. It grows from the mud and rises above the water, reaching for the sun. That idea helped me when I was struggling. It reminded me that even in pain, it is possible to rise.

When the petals are on the floor, the flower looks like it is dying. The darker fabric on the outside of each petal shows this decay. But when the petals are placed back on the lily pad, the lighter colors on the inside show. This shift in color represents life, hope, and healing. I invite the audience to take the petals from the floor and place them where they belong. By doing this, they help the flower bloom again. That mirrors how I had to pick up the pieces of myself and find ways to come back to life after loss.

The title In Bloom is inspired by the Nirvana song of the same name. That song points out how some people listen to music without really understanding it. I connect that to grief. Sometimes, people see someone who looks fine on the outside but do not see the pain underneath. My sculpture asks people to look deeper. Healing is not simple. It takes work, attention, and choice.

In Bloom is about putting yourself back together when you feel like falling apart. It is about choosing to heal. It is about finding beauty and strength in something that once felt broken.