Since childhood, Andy Goldsworthy's work has inspired me, and for years, I've made leaf chains from the fallen autumn foliage of New England. I would sit under a maple tree, and once I finished creating a chain from the leaves it provided, I would gift the leaves back to the tree, hanging the chain from its branches to flutter in the wind. This practice was deeply personal—a quiet time to appreciate the vibrant colors of the leaves and soak in the warmth of the sun and fresh air. 

However, this fall (2024), my ongoing project took on an entirely new life. In the past, I worked with trees that grew off the beaten path, so the leaf chains remained hidden from others. But this fall, I created leaf chains on Prez Lawn, the main green space on Tufts University's Medford campus. Knowing people would likely notice them as they walked by, my goal was simply to inspire wonder and encourage others to pause and appreciate the beauty of the fall foliage. As I made more and more chains, people began to ask how I was doing it. With each inquiry, I shared the simple process and invited others to join in if they wished. 

This sparked a movement I never could have anticipated. Leaf chains I hadn’t made began appearing on trees, and people started posting photos of them on social media. Students would stop as they passed, expressing how much they loved the leaf chains, and those who had learned from me would teach their friends and sit together, making their own. I met so many people I never would have connected with if I hadn’t started the leaf chain project. I felt the power of how a simple act of beauty can bring people together and strengthen a community.