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…
While visiting a butterfly house, a magnificent Blue Morpho Butterfly landed on my wrist like a “live” ornament bracelet. The Lepidoptera, or four-winged insect, remained on my hand for about the next thirty minutes—whether I walked or stood still. Curiously, the butterfly’s gigantic five-inch wingspan would flux in tandem with my movements. The butterfly’s wings…
Broken Wings empowers students to overcome bullying and toxic relationship by starting a Butterfly Effect of kindness. The interactive artwork also invites visitors to come up with their own creative solutions on how to diffuse negative social situations. In this video, one student offers his advice on how he has learned to personally overcome negativity…
I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, it can start a chain reaction. Rachel Joy Scott, first student killed, Columbine High School, 1999 Every person is worthy of compassion. Even people we find distasteful or crude. You know…the people that really bug us or grate…
Throughout the ArtPrize years with over 270,000 individuals personally interacting with my healing work by writing notes, signing names, hanging paper prayers, or tying ribbons, I have gained a decade of experience as the maker of participatory artwork. But I also have had to learn—how to flow—with the interactive nature of each work from some…
The creative journey brings wonderful surprises as I meet other creative soul mates along the way. When some of these relationships turn into collaborative partnerships, I am especially excited. So, may I introduce my very special friend, Marijo Heemstra? Marijo has worked behind the scenes on our healing work with Broken Wings, Let Go, Color…