As a Middle Eastern Syrian Jew, my community plays a crucial role in influencing my outlook on life and world views. Our past molds us into who we are today by providing us with a value system and moral compass. Ties to our roots nurture individuality and foster exchange of culture within the melting pot of NYC. As a first-generation American, I decided to preserve my Syrian Jewish culture instead of shifting away from it to fit in. I felt that noticing the crossover of one\u2019s past and future is crucial in forging a distinct identity. Inspired by my heritage, I created a symbolic chandelier highlighting the importance and weight history has on shaping our future. This chain-suspended light fixture is made up of an 11-sided wooden polygon with a hinged top door, bottom light socket and adorned with raw branch pieces throughout. The suspended branches symbolize the metaphorical and literal foundation of a person, equivalent to the roots of a tree. The Arabic and Hebrew inscriptions were a result of bible lessons from my Syrian-born father.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":16365,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16362","student-work","type-student-work","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-space-materiality"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n