When Did I first Discover my Passion for Upcycling?
When Did I First Discover My Passion for Upcycling?
I’ve always been a creative person—enrolled in advanced art classes, constantly sketching or building—but I didn’t find this specific passion for upcycling until 9th grade. One day, my art teacher, Dr Mark Francisco at H.H.Dow High School, wrote about 30 different project ideas on the chalkboard and challenged us to pick one and make it our own. One of the options was labeled: “Junk Art.”
At the time, I had no idea what that meant. But something about it intrigued me. So I did a bit of research, then headed out to my dad’s garage and started tinkering with whatever scrap materials I could find—nuts, bolts, broken electronics, old tools. That first experiment lit a spark I couldn’t ignore.
Not long after that, I decided to enter “Mary on a Donkey,” that very sculpture, into a local art contest. To my surprise, I ended up winning first place. The feedback I received was incredibly encouraging—people appreciated the creativity and unique use of reclaimed materials. That moment gave me a boost of confidence and confirmed what I was starting to feel: I had found something I truly loved doing. Something that let me blend artistic expression with my love of structure, engineering, and storytelling through objects.
Looking back, that assignment changed everything. If that teacher hadn’t included “Junk Art” on that list, I’m not sure I would have ever discovered this unique medium—or realized how much I love giving discarded materials new life through sculpture.
Want to see where that first experiment led? Click here to explore my current work.
Mary on a Donkey
My first Upcycled Sculpture
