Stories of 21st century America from Gen-Z

Heather McDowell, a University of Arizona junior who is double majoring in philosophy and law, found a unique way to merge her academic interests with her passion for the arts through an unlikely medium: a tapestry project.    

During her internship at CATalyst Studios, McDowell designed and fabricated a 9-feet tall by 5-feet wide tapestry titled, 'Generation-Z: Generation Unprecedented,' to tell a story of 21st century America from the Gen-Z viewpoint. 

The public unveiling of the tapestry was on Friday, Dec. 5, and the finished project is on display at the Main Library. 

Watch our video to get a closer look at the tapestry in the making and hear Heather McDowell's story.

A collective history created on canvas

Last spring semester while brainstorming ideas for art projects that could connect to public policy, McDowell was in a coffee shop scrolling through The New York Times online. She discovered a cross-reference page which allowed her to pull any front-page article by entering a date. 

“I was playing around with it, inputting things like my birthday, days I remembered like the beginning of COVID on March 13, then different elections,” said McDowell. 

“I thought it would be a really cool idea to anthologize all of these days I remembered together, and that's when the tapestry was born.” 

Realizing that she wanted the project to be a collective experience, McDowell shifted the focus away from her personal memories. She began to poll and interview her peers to choose the major events that would make it into the final project. 

“I wanted the piece to be as fair as possible, so I took input from anyone who had something to say about it and was a member of Generation-Z,” said McDowell. “As I was creating the tapestry, people would come up to me and suggest things, and all of them made it into the project.”

This process made the tapestry more than just a chronological display of news. 

"Every headline was inspired by an anecdote, or a memory, and to me that is what made this project special and important," said McDowell. 

From idea to factory-like production

McDowell discovered CATalyst Studios in the fall of 2024, her first semester at the University of Arizona as a transfer student from a San Diego community college. 

She saw a flyer about a button making workshop and immediately fell in love with the space. She later came across the internship opportunity while combing through jobs on Handshake, the free career hub for students at the University of Arizona.

“There is something for everyone at CATalyst,” McDowell said. “I really think it is the most welcoming place on campus. Everyone here is always so kind, and willing to lend a hand.” 

Creating the tapestry became a masterclass in utilizing the extensive resources at CATalyst Studios. According to McDowell, a factory-like production process needed to be developed to complete everything as efficiently as possible.  

Originally a music major, McDowell had no idea how to use any of the machines she needed for the project when she started. Although she only knew how to sew by hand, McDowell learned how to use equipment, specialized tools, and technologies in the makerspace. She also became skilled with software and library resources and materials available to all University of Arizona students. 

"The sewing machines, embroidery machines, and the Roland vinyl printer–I learned how to use all of them during my internship,” McDowell said. “I was lucky to be surrounded by so many amazing people who helped teach me along the way,” she added, and credited CATalyst staff and student employees for providing support throughout the project.

“Heather exemplifies our hopes for the CATalyst internship, which has now evolved into a VIP class, the Makerspace Research Collaborative, CATalyst Studios Director Jen Nichols said. “She combined her academic interest in political science and history with her passion for creative expression, and used the resources available to learn new skills, build community, and create something meaningful.”

McDowell hopes that her tapestry inspires critical conversations, or just reminds people how much they have in common. 

“This project is just a summation of history. I think that is always a captivating thing to look back on and remember how you're part of a bigger story,” McDowell said. “The fact you lived through it makes it yours.”

'Generation-Z: Generation Unprecedented' Public Unveiling 

Join us outside the Main Library, near Starbucks and the CATalyst Studios outside patio.

• Friday, Dec. 5
• 11am-1pm
• Register now

Visit the project website, which includes photos from the creation process and The New York Times news articles from each headline incorporated in the tapestry. 

Project at a glance