Compartmentalizing Grief: A vessel filled with objects to explore shared family memories of loss. The apothecary cabinet has six different mementos in the drawers that are all intended to help a user reflect on their own experiences of loss and embrace the healing process. 

At the age of 19, my cousin, Preston James Hirten died suddenly in the middle of a soccer game. Being the youngest child in my family, I could not process his passing or death as a whole, as I was confused and feeling "left out". That made me feel guilty for a very long time, as I couldn't remember him as well as my other family members.

This vessel shows the story of my current journey to healing and processing of this loss, n hopes to heal myself and help others. Because I am going through the process 10 years after everyone else in my family, I have learned to grieve vicariously through my parents, aunts, and uncles' memories and mementos. When a user opens a drawer,  they will see objects, songs, books, and pictures that helped  me process loss of a loved one. In one drawer, a user will open and see a mirror. This asks them to reflect on how death shapes their identity. Overall, this vessel shows how the loss of a loved once does not have to negatively affect one, but can rather represent the beauty of life, love, and healing.