The Power of a Napkin at 30,000 ft.

After September 11, 2001 tension was high everywhere, especially in the sky. I recently discovered an amazing story of one flight attendant whose simple idea created an unique outlet for travelers on her flights to release traveling anxieties and create a sense of connectivity with fellow passengers in the months that followed 9/11. 


Delta flight attendant Jewel Van Valin got the idea when Delta made the switch from using linens tray table covers to the inevitable (my favorite) paper. Jewel began passing out crayons to each passenger on board her flights and told them to simply, draw. She found that there was a significant change in passenger’s moods as they began to relax and draw anything that came to mind while gliding 30,000 ft in the sky. After passengers finished drawing she would hang the pictures up for fellow passengers to see.

                                    Photograph by: Ricky Mia

For the past 6 years Jewel has collected over 32,000 napkins from her flights that followed one of our nations greatest tragedies. The artwork called "Plane Art" was on display at the Palm Springs Air Museum in 2009. The air museums Director Sharon Maguire commented on Van Valin's idea stating it proved that "one resourceful, caring person can connect people, start conversations and build relationships."

 

                          Photograph by: (left) Ricky Mia, (right) "Plane Art"

Jewel found a way to use a simple napkin as a tool to ease her customers minds during the most tense time in airline history. What ideas could you come up with if you sat back and relaxed on one of Jewel's flights? 

More Plane Art:

Photographs from: The Daily Planet