All the photos were taken and provided by The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art

Community Tree of Life | Night/Shift at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

For Night/Shift at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, I designed and facilitated a collaborative paper art experience inspired by the traditional Mexican Árboles de la Vida (Trees of Life). Visitors of all ages were invited to create hand-crafted paper figurines representing their passions, interests, memories, and the people or things that bring them joy.

The Tree of Life served as a symbol of community, illustrating how each person's passions and the things they love contribute to the strength, beauty, and growth of the whole—just as every branch, leaf, and fruit is essential to a thriving tree. Using paper-cutting and layering techniques, participants added their individual creations to a large-scale paper installation. As the evening unfolded, the tree gradually filled with hundreds of unique contributions, transforming into a vibrant visual celebration of the community and the diverse stories that connected its participants.

The activity encouraged creativity, conversation, and shared making, providing an accessible introduction to paper art while highlighting the cultural significance of the Mexican Tree of Life tradition. Inspired by the syncretism of Indigenous and Spanish colonial influences, the installation served as a contemporary interpretation of a centuries-old art form—one that celebrates identity, belonging, and collective creativity.