Braun MultiMix 5 Hand Mixer - HM5130

2020, Hard plastic, metal, rubber, h: 8.3”

How might a kitchen instrument convey the bittersweet passing of time? 

When I first started “helping” my mum in the kitchen when I was young, I started with a wooden spoon. When I was a bit older, she let me upgrade to using a hand mixer, but never let me go to “turbo” speed until I was a teenager. For my twenty-first birthday, she gifted me a Braun MultiMix 5 to assist me in my kitchen at university. The modern mixer has matte black finishing and a futuristic speed dial; it is a great departure from the aged tools I am used to at home. Yet, when I use it, I cannot help but be reminded of the flavorful adventures my mum and I went on together. I no longer need her steadfast guidance in the kitchen. Owning my own hand mixer is a sign of my independence, and a sign of my personal growth as a cook. Nevertheless, no matter how skilled I become at cooking, I am sure I will always need to call mum and ask for the one-hundredth time how to properly prepare a vegetable. – Safia J. 

Mr. Coffee Machine

2017, Plastic, metal, and glass, h: 12.5”

It is a hard thing to leave my birthplace in search of an education. It is a harder task to feel grounded to my roots when my feet are not sunk in the warm sand or when I cannot hear the rhythmic chant of the ocean. The coffee I drink every morning is the Puerto Rican fuel of my life. My Mr. Coffee machine, despite its simplicity, provides a gateway into my culture. Its shape embodies the melting pot that is our race, a combination of native islanders, Africans, and Europeans. As the coffee pours into its big cylindrical glass container, energy, color, and rhythm revitalize my body. With each drop that falls, I taste home. I picture the morning dew on the red and pink hibiscus flowers and expect to hear the chant of the coquis, the diminutive tree frogs that lull me to sleep every night. Its lacquered white surface helps me reflect on the day ahead and how to best seize it. I approach my day as a blank canvas that I will tackle using creativity, color, and ingenuity. Miles away from my island, Mr. Coffee and his offerings remind me who I am. – Bella P.

Old Fashioned Glass 

Luxuglass, Houston, Texas, United States, circa 2018, h: 3.5” 

This Old Fashioned glass gets its name from its original purpose in life: to serve the ‘Old Fashioned,’ a cocktail consisting of water, whiskey, sugar, and an orange slice. 

I bought this glass when I was eighteen years old. In August, I will be twenty-two. I have passed the legal age to drink, yet I have never once used my Old Fashioned glass for cocktails as it has originally, and historically, been used for... 

... Well, I have mostly used it to drink Coca-Cola. 

I do not drink cocktails, but I do admit there is something “cool” and masculine about the appearance of drinking one. I have seen this depiction of masculinity all throughout my life in movies and countless commercials, but when I was old enough to try it, I did not like it. I rejected it. It made me wonder, does that make me less of a man? Is cola “less” than cocktails? 

I did not know the answer to that question. 

Until I saw myself in the reflection of this glass and realized that this is not an Old Fashioned glass ... 

...this is my glass.

And I am free to drink whatever I want. Perhaps that is what makes me a man. – Tuan T.

Disposable Face Mask

LEHACO, Vietnam, circa 2020, Synthetic polymer fibers, non-woven fabric, and elastic, h: 3.5”

Meanings of objects change over time due to the events that revolve around them. You may find one of these crumpled up in your pocket, discarded on the streets of a city, or stocked on the shelves of supermarkets. Ever since the outbreak of COVID-19, face masks like the LEHACO Disposable Face Mask are hard to avoid. Once used by doctors and nurses, millions now wear this ordinary surgical face mask to prevent the virus from spreading. At first, we saw the mask as an unfamiliar object because we were not used to covering our faces. The feelings of discomfort emerge when we first put it on, but as the days go by, we adjust to how we use them in our environments. We familiarize ourselves with wearing masks to the point where our faces feel bare without them. As mask restrictions begin to lift, some wonder if they should continue to use them or not. Once the pandemic settles down, how will we ever see face masks the same way? – Fiona T.

Patterned Hydro-Flask

2018, Black and white metallic paint on stainless steel, h: 10.5”

This water bottle tells a story of peace and chaos. Much like its owner, it has been through many new experiences over the past three years. Its dent-filled body and diverging linework complement its versatile yet fragile character and parallel its owner’s complex nature. These and many other flaws invite its bearer to imagine the various scenes of the bottle’s life, where it was not just an observer, but an active participant.

Through its varied uses, such as the bearer of cold liquids and as a companion, the bottle participates in and observes the owner’s life. This qualifies it to not only be a designed object with its own history but a designed object with significance in the owner’s historical existence as well. The bottle’s malleable body, while making it easy to incur permanent injury, also points to the gentle nature by which it should be handled. In this way, the water bottle reflects the essence of its owner, requiring delicate care while demanding respect for its many capabilities. – Hermon T. 

Overstreet Eye Glasses

Oliver Peoples Glasses, Italy, circa 2010s, acetate, stainless steel, height: 0.8”

I replaced these glasses.

What was once an iconic facet of my expression recognized by loved ones and strangers alike, now is dormant, missing in action, because of one misstep — literally. The frames of the glasses are rounded, almost perfect circles. The tortoiseshell arms complement the warm golden color of the steel that makes up the frames and the rest of the body. The joints connecting the arms to the frames bend beyond their limit due to extensive wear. The clean break was a result of my clumsiness in an attempt to relocate these glasses back to their proper place resting on the bridge of my nose.

High-level marketing schemes have seduced many into mindless consumption, including me. We are urged to replace, not repair, broken goods and subscribe to wasteful shopping practices. This attitude is not helped by the decaying half-life of trends which themselves are constantly replaced. - Barbara C.

Tetra the Flamingo

Melinera, circa 2020, metal, corrosion resistant paint, white solar LED, height: 2.6”

Tetra reminds me that shadows cannot exist without light, and bad times cannot exist without good moments. I named my flamingo lamp after a game I love, Tetris, but her name became much more important during COVID-19. It was the name of a friend. During the nights when I came home to my apartment, stressed and infuriated by the state of our society, Tetra would glow with a faint, yellow light, casting her magical Victorian patterns onto my bland and mundane walls.

Seven months into the pandemic, I accidentally knocked Tetra over. The bulb that housed the spark broke, setting the energy free until the light fizzled and died.

Despite no longer illuminating my space, Tetra still reminds me to lighten up, smile, breathe, and appreciate even the darkest days in life. Gentle thoughts and the hope of tomorrow allow us to persist, like my dear friend who is broken but still stands tall. - Kirsten S.

High School Graduation Ring

Herff Jones, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, circa 2018, ultrium and blue spinel, size: 8

There is nothing like being reminded of your amazing achievements just to realize that the reminder was ultimately a waste of money. My silver high school ring cost over $350 and commemorates me graduating high school in the top 5% of my class. I designed this ring after my father’s Catholic school ring because I was captivated by the royal blue gem that always lustered and how it contrasted brilliantly with the silver, engraved band. I personalized one of the engravings on my ring with a PlayStation 2 controller to highlight my possible career in the video game industry, but I am going to need more than my high school diploma to enter that field. Back in my father’s day, a diploma was more than enough to land a well-paying job and sustain a person for the rest of their life. However, it is barely enough to earn a livable wage nowadays. As beautiful as the ring is, what it is truly commemorating is only the first level in the endless game of education. - Victoria S.

Makala Mako Blue Ukulele

Kala, circa 2017, kauri and mahogany wood, nylon strings, height: 21”

One might look at the humble ukulele and think, “Neat, a musical instrument.” I look at the same ukulele and think, “Wow, a social instrument!”

Firstly, its small size makes it portable. Mine has been everywhere from beaches and campfires, to sleepovers and Halloween parties, to attics and basements. Its smooth contours allow it to fit comfortably in the crook of the arm and pressed against the chest. Its simple four strings make it easy to learn and welcoming to even non-musicians. My uke has passed from my hands to the hands of friends, classmates, co-workers, and strangers. Some were musicians eager to strum a song of their own for me, while others were curious novices to whom I taught a few easy chords, causing a smile to illuminate their faces as they realized they could play the ukulele. I had once attributed this social power to some magic that was beyond me. I still do, but now I see that it is also a byproduct of the uke’s design. - Mike G.

Testosterone Cypionate Vial with Syringe

Westward Brand, 2021, metal, glass, plastic, rubber, vial height: 2.16,” syringe length: 5.59”

Do you keep track of what you do every Tuesday and how it has changed you over time? This has been my experience with my testosterone as a trans man. Obtaining the small smooth glass vial and the plastic syringe paired with it was my goal early on in my transition and the unexpectedly rocky changes that came with it. Every Tuesday, I wake up, inject my testosterone, dispose of the syringe, and move on with my day, while the testosterone works its magical changes. The funny thing about change is you never notice it until one day you wake up and see a face that you, let alone others, barely recognize. My Tuesday companions stay the same, but the world around me changes. How people treat you and the way they exist around you changes. The language used around you changes. The person inside was always the same like the manufactured consistency of my testosterone and its vial. I have always been a man, like how testosterone will always be that, but it was the change housed in a small glass vial with its temporary friend, the syringe, that made everyone see who I am. - Ezra I.

Engraved Necklace

Walter E. Hayward Company, United States, circa 2020, gold-filled metal, length: 10”

This gold necklace is a reminder of my childhood, even though I received it as a gift for graduating high school. The words “LOVE / ALWAYS, / DAD” engraved on the back recall a time when I lived at the top of a hill in a rural valley. I never sat still, always outside with my dad in the woods behind our house, building snowmen, or taking the four-wheeler down the road with our dogs chasing after us. It has been a long time since I have lived that life. I remember it every time I feel this necklace’s little pendant resting on my collar. Now I find myself in Philadelphia, starting a new chapter of life as a college student and trying to hold on to the memories of my youth. I know that I will likely never again experience that life. - Kim J.

Burt’s Bees Chapstick

Burt’s Bees, Durham, North Carolina, United States, 2018, beeswax, plastic, paper, height: 2.75”

Maturing is an uncomfortable process. I used to think it was about puberty, but that is not entirely true. It is about experience. Junior year of high school, I stole this Burt’s Bees chapstick. It lasted me through the rest of that year… and senior year… and my first year of college. Since then, it has gone through quite a bit. The plastic label is splitting at the edges and grime has accumulated along the sides so the sticker no longer adheres to the surface. As the wax inside wanes down, it will never return. Each use slowly causes the lip balm to lose another layer, each use from a day full of new experiences. Like growing up, it is an irreversible process. The chapstick is a snapshot of life, from its first use to its last, and one day, this memento of maturity will be empty. Then, I will throw it away and get a new chapstick. - Dane L.

Drop Carina

James T., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, circa 2019, acrylic, plastic, aluminum, PBT, polyester, and copper, length: 11.4”

Mechanical keyboards are more than just input devices for computers. They often remind the user of their own specific needs. This keyboard contains a spectacular warm to cool fade as your eyes look across it. When it is time for you to use this keyboard, on the very first press you can feel the resistance of the tactile switch, which boasts a 67-gram actuation force needed to press down the key. This allows the keyboard to really question you if you want to press that key. This means a lot to me because I often like to rest my hands on my keyboard and on most I often end up pressing a key when I did not mean to. Building this keyboard allowed me to understand the beauty of mechanical keyboards. It showed me that building them is all about personal preferences. The best keyboard is one that the user will appreciate from the looks to the feel of typing on it. – James T.

Siddur  

Koren Publishers, Jerusalem, Israel, 2012, height: 6.5”  

דע לפני מי אתה עומד (Know before Whom you stand) are the first words I encounter before opening my siddur. It takes a moment of concentration, a moment of kavana, to decipher the linearly interlocking ancient Hebrew gold text. This kavana follows me into the ensuing introspective moments. Although I do not pray consistently, I carry this contemplative prayer book everywhere. My siddur is a humble artifact of my ever-changing, always-evolving religious life. It sits modestly on my shelf, waits patiently to be picked up, always ready. Its beauty is revealed when it is opened—the ancient text traverses centuries to my current contemplative moment in the year 5782. Every page displays evidence of human connection according to each prayer and their accompanying gestures. The Amidah’s pages are marked with makeup and tears; they have more of a human imprint due to the close nature in which the siddur is held. Sometimes my siddur stays closed longer than it is open, yet I hold it physically close even when I feel spiritually distant. - Shara S.

The Raw and The Cooked

Fine Young Cannibals, 1988, plastic and paper, height: 5”

As hard as it is to accept that a good thing cannot last forever, it is harder to not look back. On the cover, singer Roland Gift looks away from his bandmates, as if he sees something they cannot. Gift’s vocals tell me to not let the past get me down, but I am already down on the ground wishing I was the man I used to be. I am addicted to the love others give me, and I am never satisfied. I ask myself, have I ever fallen in love with someone? Or was I simply in love with the attention they gave me? It drives me crazy trying to find the right words to express how I feel. The album’s cover reminds me of this struggle. In a sea of distorted grey letters, the giant pink letters F-Y-C rise above. The music and album art show me the importance of being independent. The more I listen, the more I realize that being alone is not a bad thing. I often look to others to tell me what to do. While that support is nice, I must learn to better support myself. - Daniel W.

Emily, The American Girl Doll

American Girl Doll, New York City, New York, United States, circa 2010, vinyl, plastic, mod-acrylic fiber, and cotton, height: 16”

When a young girl is dressing up an American Girl Doll, could the doll also be “dressing” up the girl in the way society expects her to? Toys can influence the way that children act and shift their expectations of who they are supposed to be. Dolls like Emily can also shape how one may perceive their own roles in society by enforcing traditional ideas of gender. If the doll breaks or gets damaged, the “mother” can take them to a “hospital” inside one of the doll stores, taking care of their “child” like a parent would. The dolls have life-like proportions and moveable limbs that make them appear real. In addition, young girls are able to pick dolls that look just like them, which can make them feel a need to be more protective. When looking back on my time playing with Emily, I wonder if the doll influenced my career as an interior designer and other life choices more than I ever thought possible. - Emma V.

Stuffed Toy

Oli’s Place Peluches, Buenos Aires, Argentina, circa 2007, cloth, length: 5”

A souvenir from my first visit to Argentina at seven years old became a gift to my new bulldog puppy, “Cashew,” two years later. She quickly fell in love and, over 12 years, somehow never managed to destroy it.

A quick description from a stranger’s first glance would most likely read: “A stuffed, brown barrel with the word ‘Bariloche’ written on the front,” or “An old toy that has seen better days.”

They would not notice the deformations shaped by the fangs and claws of a pup at play. They would not notice the dried slobber that built up its rough and patchy texture. They would not notice the strands of white and tan dog hair that are now a part of the plush itself.

Its appearance not only records its history but also signifies who Cashew once was. It is a precious reminder of a loved one who has passed, leaving us a barrel-full of memories. - Maura S.

7 Piece Luminous Koi Dice Set

Die Hard Dice, Orem, Utah, United States, circa 2020, transparent resin, standard 0.6” size

We all have something in our lives that has greater value than what we paid for it. I would argue that it is not beauty, versatility, or utility that gives things value; it is pure sentimentality. The Luminous Koi dice set was there for me when no one else was. It was the first set I bought. I got them in the middle of the pandemic, when I would go weeks at a time without seeing anyone outside my household. The one good thing I gleaned from this difficult time was a love for the game “Dungeons and Dragons,” which I started playing with friends online every week. After playing for a while, I went online in search of the most beautiful dice I could find that did not break the bank. The clear, sparkly resin with pink and blue wisps and gold, shimmery paint immediately made me think of magic and fairies. Even though this dice set was cheap, it helped me find joy, fun, and community during a hard time. - Kate W.

Letter Opener

circa 1970s, brass, length: 9.25”

What happens after life?

We have all pondered this question. We know that our bodies decompose and we will be missed, but what will happen to our stories? One might not look at this worn, brass letter opener and find an answer but it has brought me closer to one than any religion or philosophy.

Before she died, my mother wrote letters to her loved ones. When they replied, this letter opener helped to see what they had to share. My uncle handed it to me, with a simple “this was your mother’s.” Though it is well-worn, cheaply made, and mass produced, it connects a mother and her son. When I hold this letter opener, I know my mom once held it. Even if she is gone, her letter opener remains.

And so do I.

In her letters, I found life stories, through both sorrow and joy. I know these letters carry her love, her voice. I know this letter opener played a part in this. While I can never be sure where my mom is now, I know I carry her love in me. I know I play a part in what happens after her life. - Douglas N.

Cutout of Jennifer Beals

Custom Printed, United States, 2021, ink on cardboard, height: 5’8”

This custom-printed cutout was a gift from my closest friends for my twenty-first birthday. It represents both the love that we share amongst each other and the love that we share for our individual queer identities. Jennifer Beals plays the famously lesbian character Bette Porter on the queer drama “The L Word,” a show that opened my eyes to the possibility of queer relationships many years ago. We began the show again in quarantine together and it continues to unite us as we remerge into active lives outside the home. We cherish the times we are able to reunite to watch the next episode. Beals herself actually has little significance in the object to me personally; she was selected by my friends mostly as an inside joke referring to my claim that she is the prettiest person on the show. This view has been highly debated in our group. In that sense, she is literally and figuratively chosen for objectification. But as an object, the cutout represents a group of friends and time in my life that I recall warmly and for that her striking presence in my room is one for which I am grateful. - Isabella H.

USB Computer Mouse

Insignia, Richfield, Minnesota, United States, circa 2014, plastic, rubber, and metal, height: 1.75”

This Insignia USB computer mouse may seem insignificant in a busy classroom, but it has had a great impact on my life as a student since high school. With no hard edges, it is designed to fit in a palm with a rotund shape similar to a VW Beetle. The front wire extends away from the mouse, ending with a small USB plug. It cannot be seen from the outside, but the right mouse button does not register when clicked, rendering the mouse useless after its many years of reliability.

Not until the day the mouse stopped working did I truly appreciate how faithful this chunk of plastic had been to allow me to interact with the knowledge on the internet. The careful eye can see the faded INSIGNIA logo, rubbed away by my palm, and the dark indented streaks on the metal USB plug from being plugged in many times over the years. These signs of use show how reliably the mouse functioned, leaving me to never ponder its design. - Ryan P.

Sushi Cat Collar

Whisker City, circa 2019, nylon, plastic, stainless steel, length: 10”

The most unsuspecting items can memorialize our familial ties. In my case, this tattered Sushi Cat Collar commemorates my bond with Pepper. As a four-week-old kitten, she was shoved into my arms by an unknown woman at a livestock auction. “Here, take this,” she said, before she quickly scuffled away, leaving a befuddled fifteen-year-old girl swaddling a kitten in her arms and dreading the debut to her parents. Now, seven years later, despite the accidental circumstances of our friendship, Pepper is my irreplaceable companion. The threads of the collar’s frayed edges tell the story of every pet, play session, and spontaneous “zoomies.” The distinct decorative pattern and the sound of the dangling tags have earned Pepper several affectionate nicknames in my household, including “Sushi Cat” and “Jingle Cat.” As she follows me from room to room, a light ring reminds me that she is always by my side. – Samantha S.

LunarEpic Low Flyknit Shoes

Nike, 2016, size: 8.5

How do we remember the objects that have been with us for so long? I had always thought these Nike shoes have been with me since sixth grade. Apparently, I have been wrong this entire time. Instead, they have been with me since 10th grade. Why did I think my shoes were older than they are? I know I wore Nike shoes for my sixth-grade graduation and I know I wore them throughout middle school and high school physical education. I blended one company’s product with another which brings up the interesting question of how we remember objects in the days of modern branding and commercialization. These items can be thrown out and replaced because they can be easily accessed from store fronts to online shopping. The ubiquitous marketing that invades every aspect of our lives can make us so forgetful. - Kevin P.

Leopard Folder

Continental Accessory Corp., circa 2009, paper, height: 11.6”

Between a leopard folder and a laptop, my pick is the high processing machine. When I purchased the folder off my fourth grade back-to-school supply list, I did not have that choice. Folders were required when assignments were pages from a workbook and printouts from the internet. Today, there is no longer a need to write notes when you can type them, to draw on paper when it can be done digitally, to store a document in a folder when it can be uploaded to the “cloud.” I was unsure of what I needed for classes in college, so I reverted to the dusty container under my bed full of excess supplies I had never used. I found the folder and brought it to Philadelphia just in case. The folder has a metallic cover with purple leopard prints on the outside. I like to think that the flashy choice expressed my enthusiasm for the new school year. I wonder how or if that same enthusiasm is shown through the silvery sheen of my MacBook. - Lauren L.

Moka Pot

Bialetti, Italy, 2016, aluminum and plastic, height: 8”

“Habit robs us of the power to see anew.”- Soetsu Yanagi, The Beauty of Everyday Things

I count on my Moka Pot. We forget about the importance and perfection of everyday objects due to their consistent success. This coffee maker uses nothing but heat, as it pressurizes water upwards creating a thick chocolatey fountain of espresso. It works like magic, all enclosed in an aluminum pot built of triangles as if it was the product of a complex mathematical equation. I used to love to watch the process of the espresso erupting out of its spout when I was younger, but now I have gotten into the habit of not opening the lid until my coffee is ready to pour. The more we get used to our objects, the more we overlook them though we reap their benefits. Admiring a simple, yet beautiful process such as the brewing of espresso can help us find satisfaction and strength, if we just take a moment to look. - Henry M.

Oilily Coin Purse

Alkmaar, North Holland, Netherlands, circa 1990s, cloth, metal, and plastic, height: 4.3”

Sometimes an object’s experience does not fit its outer appearances. Like many parents before her, my mother bought her little girl a purse for Christmas. I liked my pink gifts, colorful clothes, candy, stuffed animals, and the shiny Oilily coin purse I received. However, my favorite gift was not one marketed for girls but boys. I fell in love with the Pokémon game my brother gave me for my Nintendo DS so we could play together. I wanted to cherish this gift that would take me on so many exciting adventures, so I opened my new purse and carefully put the game in it. Years later, this purse has stored over forty DS games. I did not fit into the gender stereotypes my parents expected nor did the use of my purse fit the marketed gender standards. Instead, the reason this was a perfect gift for me was not because it was a cute coin purse, but because it gave me an opportunity to protect something that brought me closer to my sibling. - Lee Lee M.

Handcrafted Kitchen Towel

Arzu Havlu and Emsal A., Hatay, Turkey, circa 2000, cotton, height: 20”

This is not just any kitchen towel. It connects three generations of women in-between its tightly woven threads. Not only my own memories are attached to this bright, yellow towel. The beautiful colors of the embroidered flowers speak of the painstakingly detailed work done in minutes on an assembly line; the contrasting style of the vibrant pear shows my grandma’s dedication and hard work to make a gift worthy to be in her daughter’s dowry; the stainless white of the fabric hints at the tender care my mum put into the towel until she presented it to me as a parting gift. And as I run my fingers gently through the surface of the object, the rough cotton reminds me of the delicious smells of my mum’s kitchen, where a nearly identical orange towel always rests on the handle of her oven. - Lara R.

Clay Sculpture of Hanuman

New Delhi, India, circa 2010, clay and iron, height: 5.5”

What does it mean to see an object? 

Sitting on my desk is a clay sculpture of Hanuman gifted to me by my fifth-grade friend. Every morning, it watches me enter the digital world. The tiny details in the form of petals on its pedestal and the fine patterns in the jewelry withstand the passage of time. Time only gifted more textures to its surface. Still, it tends to blend with the rest of the world and stay in my peripheral vision. 

This sculpture has been sitting on my desk for eleven years now. After carrying it around to eight cities across multiple countries, I am accustomed to seeing it by my side. But everything is not the same anymore, something has changed in the last seven weeks. With every assignment for this class, I spent more time thinking about this clay sculpture. I spent more time self-reflecting. 

For the first time, I introduced it to my colleagues and described every little detail about it. The process of writing this label has pushed me closer to this object than I ever was, to an extent that now I see it. 

What is on your desk? - Divyansh M.

JBL Portable Speaker

JBL by Harman, Los Angeles, California, United States, 2018, plastic, rubber, wires, lithium batteries, length: 8”

The last four years have not been easy and, just like me, my JBL speaker has some wear and tear. It was a gift from my mom for my high school graduation. Today it is a less shiny and slightly dust covered version of how it was when I lifted it from the box. This device has watched me grow from a young naive senior to a college fourth year who has experienced a lot. The speaker offered entertainment ranging from family parties when I traveled back home to just vibing in a dorm room with friends. It comforted me with tunes and soothing vibrations at my loneliest times. It was even present when I met my fiancé and love of my life. The accordion-like circle pads on the sides seemed to pulse in the same rhythm as my heart as our relationship developed. Though the speaker does not charge any more, I am going to keep it. I will never forget the many times spent listening to the music with my eyes closed while holding the sides to feel the music as I heard it. - Isaiah M.

Legendary Coffee Mug

Pendleton Woolen Mills, ceramic, height: 4.5”

My mug began its life as a gift to my mother who, in turn, gave it to me, albeit by sneaking it into my college bag without telling me. But was it ever really hers or ours to give? The legacy of our nation is evoked through the rainbow pattern that intentionally alludes to Native American visual culture on its front, not designed by someone from a culture that inspired it, but sold by an Oregon company owned by generation after generation of white men: an ironically fitting attempt to capture the spirit of America through appropriation. Much like the sticker still stuck to the vessel’s bottom, this history cannot be peeled away cleanly. Yet, somehow, my mother’s love and concern for me gives the mug a shine it would not otherwise have. - Cyrus P.

Sketchbook

CERGIO, Pocheon-si, Gyeongi-do, South Korea, 2019, paper, height: 10”

Not every book has to be opened to tell its story.

I picked up this object in Korea’s largest bookstore my senior year of high school. It resided in and out of my backpack for the next year and a half. This book would take long trips onto my desk to be stabbed by pencils for hours, only to then be jumbled around in a packed bag to and from classes, dormitories, and social events. The corners of the pages have been dulled from their crisp angles, and slivers of black graphite spill from the worn pages of the book.

The front cover is labeled with the month my 2B pencil first touched its paper and the month it left its last marks. The accompanying doodles represent not only the changing of the seasons, but also seasons of life, transitioning from a time of comfort in Korea to an independent college life here in Philadelphia. The back cover is littered with eraser shavings, reminding me of all the mistakes I have had to correct in both art and life. - Jonathan L.

Dad’s Brown Sweatshirt

Xtreme Gear, 2008, cotton/polyester, height: 26”

Sometimes items that make a home for themselves in our lives were not even ours to begin with. I stole this sweatshirt from my dad when I was in seventh grade, and it still has not quite made its way back into his possession. If you think I should feel bad about stealing it, I do not; I genuinely believe I needed it more than him. Looking back, body insecurity is something all young girls go through. I felt like I was not growing into my body like my classmates. This really took a toll on my perception of what it meant to feel feminine and become a woman. I started stealing my dad’s sweatshirt from his closet and wearing it to middle school. I found comfort in the way it covered and hid my body. The soft, fraying fabric of the sweater provided me with the security and stability that I so desperately craved at that age. - Avani Y.

Cowin E7 Pro Noise Cancelling Headphones

Cowin Audio, Guangdong, China, circa 2019, red plastic with silver components, height: 6.5”

My headphones are my world. They are my bright red aesthetic of salvation from this gloomy distraction-filled world. As humans, we are able to achieve great things if we put our minds to it. In order for some of us to put our minds to do a task, we have to be in the right headspace. These headphones allow me to do just that. When I place these headphones on my ears, I enter my own domain. They protect me when too much outside noise becomes a problem. On a day that I may be overthinking, I will blast music to get my mind off things. Other times I wear them because I do not want to be bothered by people; I wear them to suggest to others that I am busy. In new and familiar environments, my headphones give me some sense of control. I can be as present or as distant as I want to be. – Mariano G.

Reusable Wawa Bag

Wawa, Inc., Wawa, Pennsylvania, United States, 2021, non-woven Polypropylene, height: 13”

This red polypropylene bag is a remarkable facsimile of a higher quality canvas bag and a symbol of the failure of our system to combat the climate crisis. Wawa, Inc. introduced polypropylene bags after the city of Philadelphia banned the sale of single-use plastic bags. When the thin polyethylene of your standard grocery bag was outlawed on Oct. 1, 2021, Wawa began to sell the thick “reusable” plastic bags at the low price of 25 cents. Items at Wawa are often purchased spontaneously, and patrons do not always have a bag appropriate for what they have purchased. Red bags can now be seen on subway tracks and blowing in the autumn wind. I bought this bag only a few days into the plastic bag ban. Frankly, I had forgotten about the ban entirely, and had been to a bookstore earlier. Everything I bought could not fit into the canvas tote I already carry. Ever since I spent that impulsive quarter, this bag has sat in my room: too thick and sturdy to throw away but too garish, cheap, and thin to ever use. It is far from the only useless piece of plastic I own, but it feels like the most egregious. – Violet V.

Protection Ring

Garland of Letters Bookstore, Pennsylvania, United States, circa 2020, sterling silver, opal, and amethyst, Size: 8

Have you ever had an object that shields you from harm? An object that made you feel safe? I did not know that I needed an object to protect me until last November. An awful lucid dream experience changed my whole world. How could two dark clowns creep into my consciousness without my permission? At that moment, I could not tell the difference between my dreams and the real world.

I yearned for protection from my lucid dreaming. This sterling silver ring became my spiritual armor. The opal gemstone blocks any unwanted spiritual energy from entering my dreams. The amethyst crystal targets both my Third Eye and Crown chakra to defend against nightmares and night terrors.

This tiny piece of jewelry helps me tell the difference between the real world and my dream states. - Serena L.

KORKEN IKEA Glass Bottle

IKEA, KORKEN, 2012, glass, metal, plastic, rubber, height:11.5”

The way this bottle both frustrates and encourages me is beyond anything I would have ever expected from such a simple object. During an IKEA trip, as I was walking down the isles full of knickknacks and appliances, I stumbled upon it. I immediately thought “coquito.” Despite its lackluster demeanor, its absence of any direct nostalgic value, and the fact that I have not owned it long enough to have used it, this bottle’s value comes from the reason why I bought it in the first place. Coquito is a traditional sweet beverage typically made during Christmastime in Puerto Rico. Next holiday season, this clear container will offer a gateway between my culture back home and my growing independence in the United States. I will use the bottle as a vessel to share coquito’s sweet delights and my holiday traditions with college friends. - Christian S.

Star-Shaped Diya

Bangalore, India, circa 1995, brass, height: 4”

This lamp once lit our prayer room. Now, the light that emits from it offers me and my family solace while we grieve for my father. It has a purpose that extends far past its function. To me, it signifies continuity, even after death. In Hindu tradition, it is customary to light a lamp in honor of the one who has passed for thirteen days, day and night, to guide their soul to the afterlife.

Having immigrated with my mother in 1995 when she came to the United States, this lamp is encased in a decorative brass cover complete with star-shaped cutouts detailing its body. At night, the light from the lamp projects stars onto the walls of the room it is in. These stars guide not just my father’s spirit, but me as well. - Preeti S.