While on a cross-country flight, I took along some children’s butterfly books to prepare for my next exhibit, Broken Wings. As the flight was landing, a fellow passenger tapped my arm and asked, “Are you a teacher?” She had been watching me underlining important phrases in my children’s books that were sprawled across my tiny airline desk.
I told her that I was an artist and that I was preparing for my next installation about butterflies, bullying, and school shooting. With that, the look on her face changed. Perhaps she was imagining that I was this sweet kindergarten teacher. But instead, she discovered that I was an artist creating an exhibit about butterflies and school gun violence.
I explained that the butterflies represent the beauty and fragility of childhood. If a child, or our culture for that matter, is healthy, then the scales on butterfly’s wings refract light—producing gorgeous shimmering colors. But when the wings are broken, light can’t reflect. So, the colors grey or disappear.
Bullying and school gun violence reflects a broken culture and destroys children. To help each child emerge from cocoons with beautiful wings, the transformational process will require everyone. If each of us starts a Butterfly Effect of kindness and compassion, then the next generation of beautiful, delicate butterflies will begin to thrive and flourish—and restore the balance of our cultural habitat.
How can you help nurture or show kindness to one specific child?
Broken Wings
Grand Rapids Public Museum
272 Pearl Street NW (west of the river)
September 19 to October 7, 2018
Vote #66688
In light of the recent tragic school shootings across America, find out how you can create positive change from national bullying specialist Jeff Veley.
Share your story #BrokenWings
