The first few visitors interactive at Broken Wings
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
Visitors start to engage with the work while we were still setting up
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
Broken Wings engages the viewer through art and invites growth. It’s a twofold process. First, just like a butterfly changes within the cocoon, individuals are invited into a transformative experience. A personal opportunity for growth. As visitors interact, the work begins the process of changing, transforming, and emerging.
Secondly, the work connects the artist and the viewers through collaboration. One smiling woman said, “This work makes me feel so connected to others. My kindness promise is linked to another’s promise. So, in a way, this work links us all together.”
This woman experienced hope through engaging art. She experienced the power of healing within an interactive creative experience. Her contribution, as well as everyone else’s, has the potential to bring about collective change. Eventually, after visitors had written their promises and the work was ready to emerge, like the butterfly, the kindness-promises took flight.
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
It was an honor for Broken Wings to be featured at the @grmuseum for #ArtPrize10.
Cyberbullying provides the unique opportunity for bullies to viciously and anonymously hurt others through the use of electronic devices. Tragically, some of the victims end up being so overwhelmed by effects of cyberbullying that they suicide.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people, resulting in about 4,400 deaths per year, according to the Center for Disease Control. For every suicide among young people, there are at least 100 suicide attempts. Over 14 percent of high school students have considered suicide, and almost 7 percent have attempted it.
To help promote safety and healing for vulnerable students struggling against social aggression, Broken Wings has teamed up with Jeff Veley, a national bullying specialist. Jeff has over a decade of experience with equipping parents and educators to help students navigate social challenges. Visit Jeff’s website for more helpful information on empowering students to cope with the unique threats and dangers of cyberbullying.
What is one thing you can do to counteract cyberbullying? How can you encourage others through your social media posts?
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
Children are precious and beautiful like the butterflies. Each child is unique like each butterfly. But children are fragile, too, like the butterflies. So, they need to be nurtured. Cared for.
During my middle school years when my parents were separated, a family new to our community invited me over for dinner—to encourage me. This family treated me with kindness throughout one simple evening. But decades later, I still remember their kindness. I still remember their love. I still remember thinking this is what a healthy family looks like.
My Broken Wings art exhibit is about reaching kids in need. The art challenges viewers to get involved and start a Butterfly Effect—where one positive choice impacts another positive choice. By living a life of compassion and treating others with kindness, we can help strengthen children. If everyone tries to live by the kindness code, consider the impact this could have across the world.
We can make a difference—through kindness. We can make a difference in the life of a child. Decades ago, one simple meal made a generative impact on me—and eventually my broken butterfly wings took flight.
How can you invest in one child in need and make a difference through kindness and encouragement?
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
It’s an honor for Broken Wings to collaborate with national bullying specialist, Jeff Veley. Jeff has been helping students for over decade deal with bullying issues. Through a variety of free materials online, Jeff helps students make friends and manage enemies. His online videos give tips on how to navigate cyberbullying as well.
Cyberbullying presents unique challenges with anonymity and an endless cyber reach. Younger and younger children are gaining access to online exposure through their devices, such as cell phones, laptops, and iPads. Bullies and other dangerous predators can potentially influence or communicate with your children or students through these devices.
To counteract this possible risk or danger, Jeff has compiled free resources on various topics. He also keeps parents and educators up to date with rapid ever-changing apps and technology. Visit Jeff’s website to learn more on how to protect your kids.
What is one thing you can do to help keep the children safe on their devices?
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
As I work in schools across the country, I had a special opportunity to make monarch butterflies with preschool children and talk about the butterfly’s unique characteristics and what it needs to survive. The paint-stained fingers led the children into experiencing the joy of discovery. Even though everyone had the same two colors of orange and black, each child’s painted butterfly emerged as unique.
Before we started painting, I asked the children, “Did you know that the butterfly can’t see details?” Interestingly, the butterfly can see colors that we can’t see. Then I asked, “Did you know that some butterflies’ tongues are almost as long as their bodies?” To help the children imagine the butterfly’s long tongues, I bought juice boxes to drink the sweet nectar juice through the long tongue-like accordion straw. Finally, I asked, “Did you know that a butterfly can’t fly when it’s cold?” The children and I pretended to be butterflies waking up as the sun energized our wings. I even wore elegant butterfly wings made of painted sheer fabric to illustrate the flight of a butterfly.
During our time together, we discovered more about the delicate butterfly’s unique characteristics. We learned about the importance of clustering together to help these cold-blooded insects to survive. We celebrated each preschool artist and the beauty and fragility of their butterfly. We ended by discussing the importance of showing kindness, unity, and love to help all the butterflies to be healthy and safe in the garden.
What is one way you can use creativity to teach children about bullying prevention and safe schools?
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