Was it Something I did?, 2025
Cotton embroidery on found towels, 30” x 60”

​

Like many other perfectly good items I have gathered during beach cleans, I have found lovely large bath towels abandoned at the shore. Although glad they aren’t beach towels, I can’t help but wonder why these luxurious items are taken to and then forgotten on the beach. Beyond developing empathy for the plush textiles, I I can’t help but think about the astonishing number of resources - particularly water – needed to produce a single cotton garment or object. This intensive consumption places a heavy strain on freshwater supplies, especially in regions already facing water scarcity. As global water shortages intensify, the environmental impact of ‘new’ aesthetics, mass consumerism, and a disposable culture becomes increasingly urgent to address.