Honoring a Local Hero

Behind the Artwork

Army Spc. Eric T. Burri’s Story

Pamela with Eric Burri's parents at the Hometown Hero unveilingDo life’s challenges make heroes or reveal heroes? Army Spc. Eric Burri was killed while serving in Iraq, but his parents, John and Joanne Burri, kept his memory alive by rallying an entire Midwest community to help Iraqi children. Eric’s life and his parents’ example of how to turn overwhelming grief into an opportunity to help others inspired my ArtPrize Top 20 work called Hometown Hero:

“Dad, I’m not afraid to die.”

Eric’s picture rests between two angel figurines. Another tiny photo of Eric with a small American flag hangs from the center of the kitchen curtain rod. His dad remembers when Eric announced with a smile, “Dad, I did it. I joined.” The next day he graduated from high school.

“The military taught Eric a lot,” said his dad. “Eric started understanding that life wasn’t just about him; it was about others too.” While deployed to Iraq, Eric noticed the Iraqi children who didn’t have shoes. He wrote home, “Mom, if I could, I would give them the shoes off my feet.”

His father continued, “In May of 2005, Eric came home for a short visit and took his sweetheart shopping to look at diamond rings. He only had five more months left to serve in Iraq. A few weeks later, on Tuesday, June 7, a roadside bomb exploded in Baghdad and killed Eric.

“To honor Eric’s love for the Iraqi children, we collected thousands of shoes and sent them to Iraq,” said his dad as he wiped away a tear.

For Eric and his parents, life’s most difficult challenges revealed their heroism.

Eric’s story inspired the Hometown Hero exhibit.

Starting the Butterfly Effect

Behind the Artwork

Whitney’s Story

Pamela and WhitneyThe butterfly effect, an alternative scientific theory, challenges us to consider that every tiny action could have a large effect. The smallest deed or word–positive or negative–has the potential to change the course of an individual’s life. Whitney’s story demonstrates how to turn heartache into an opportunity for hope:

Whitney, a bullied Michigan teen, was voted onto the homecoming court—as a cruel prank. Responding to the negative butterfly effect, she said, “I feel like trash.” She even considered ending her life. But her sister convinced her to prove the other kids wrong. When local businesses heard about Whitney’s decision to go through with the homecoming, they donated a gown, shoes, and a makeover. She concluded, “I’m not the joke everyone thinks I am.” Whitney ended up transforming her community with the butterfly effect of courage.

Whitney’s story inspired the Broken Wings exhibit.

Letting Go

Behind the Artwork

Close-up of hand written Let Go statements

A Daughter’s Story

More than one hundred participants submitted “Let Go” sentences to be collaged onto my ArtPrize Nine painting. But one woman caught my attention when she wrote this statement: “Mom, I’m letting go of my expectations of what our relationship should look like. I forgive you for the pain you caused, and I release you from any responsibility to heal me.”

Her profound statement, “I release you from any responsibility to heal me,” compelled me to contact her to see if she would share more of her story. She agreed. The following vignette shows her progression from heartache to healing. The Let Go journey is always difficult but never impossible.

Mom,

You said I shouldn’t be affected by your decision to divorce my dad. What you didn’t realize was that you not only closed yourself off from Dad, but from me as well. When you shut yourself away in your room and told me not to bother you, I learned that I no longer had a mother to depend on; I had to fend for myself.

When I left for work one day, you changed the locks to prevent my dad from coming in. But you didn’t realize—you locked me out too. Over and over, you chose your “freedom” and your “own” path over me. Your choices cut a deep wound in my heart.

One day, I realized you would probably never apologize; I needed to forgive you, or my bitterness would end up consuming me. I had to accept you for being you, instead of wishing you were some other mom.

Mom, I’m letting go of my expectations of what our relationship should look like. I forgive you for the pain you caused, and I release you from any responsibility to heal me.

Love,
Your daughter

This is one of the stories that inspired the Let Go exhibit.

Note: Some details have been changed to protect identities.

Coloring with Kindness

Behind the Artwork

Teenagers tying ribbons on Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind at ArtPrize 2016

Nathan’s Story

Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind shines a spotlight on bullying. The installation is specifically tailored toward middle school students—often the most vulnerable. Sadly, some of these students suffer so intensely from bullying that they believe suicide is the only way to end it all.

Our intentional kindness has the potential to brighten someone’s world. Maybe kindness, love, and understanding could have helped those who committed suicide because of bullying. Here’s how Nathan used his limited resources to color someone’s life with kindness and inspire hope:

D’Mario used the f-word and flipped me off a few times; he was the only kid in our sixth-grade class I tried to avoid. D’Mario was angry at everyone, but I was his target.

During basketball season, D’Mario and I ended up on the same team. He threatened, “You better quit, or I’ll hurt you.” D’Mario used sports to get his anger out; he used sports to control.

One day, the holes in D’Mario’s old Nike shoes gave me an idea. I made $2.50 a day walking a dog, so I started saving up. After two months, I bought a decent pair of Adidas shoes for 60 bucks. When I gave D’Mario the basketball shoes, his eyes got big.

That moment sparked something; D’Mario realized that I wasn’t out to get him. I showed him that I cared.

Once I got the courage to reach out to D’Mario, he realized that we weren’t competitors. I felt relieved. He started giving me compliments on the court; I gave him compliments back. By taking a risk and choosing kindness, my actions brought out D’Mario’s nice side.

Nathan, age 12

Nathan’s story inspired the Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind exhibit.

Living with Autism

Behind the Artwork

Excerpts from Walker’s Story

Wings of LoveParticipatory art has a subtle power to serve as a healing catalyst. Visitors often experience new insight through connecting with the work. As the artwork begins to unlock the soul, it becomes a place of hope and healing. Walker’s autism story inspired an avalanche of hope, with more than twenty thousand ArtPrize visitors writing prayers for other children, like Walker, at Wing and a Prayer.

I have autism! I’m afraid that others will look at me differently. But, if they could see what is in my heart, they would see a real human being. Not an outcast or a kid to dislike.

One of my teachers said I would never learn how to read or do math, but she didn’t understand my determination. In high school and college, I played hockey, got good grades, and achieved pretty well socially, too.

I can’t get my autism to go away no matter how hard I try. But I’m living proof that people can’t tell me how far I can go. That is up to me!

Walker, age 19

Walker’s story inspired the Wing and a Prayer exhibit.

Broken Wings Continues to Bring Healing

Behind the Artwork

Broken Wings Courthouse project

Wow! It’s been an exciting year! Following ArtPrize, I had the privilege to work with incarcerated teens and their probation officers with the 17th Circuit Court in Kent County, Michigan. Throughout December, I guided this special group through a hands-on project where the girls created a 3×3 foot Broken Wings butterfly made of almost 600 Plexiglas tiles. While painting the tiles, the girls and I discussed the word “trust“ and how to treat each other with kindness. The finished work is proudly displayed in the Kent County Courthouse.

Broken Wings Holland Home project

From February through May, Holland Home of Grand Rapids, Michigan invited me to work with seniors across all levels of care. Around 400 seniors helped make six hands-on pieces. It was a real honor to work with this vibrant group of older adults. They probably taught me more about life than I taught them about art. Our discussions about World War II, resiliency, and leaving a legacy made a healing impact.

Broken Wings Art Mysteries

Students from schools in Virginia, Colorado, and Michigan enjoyed the creative discovery process with my Art Mystery projects. It was fascinating to see their enthusiasm and delight as they solved the Art Mysteries.

The healing art also traveled to schools in Kenya and Uganda with two different volunteer teams. I couldn’t wait to see the finished work when the teams returned back home (shown below).

Broken Wings in Africa

Thank you so much for your generous donations. Your investment has made a HUGE difference in the lives of so many individuals from ArtPrize to Africa. My next project tackles the serious issues of pornography, rape, and sex trafficking. Again, thanks a MILLION for your kind support!

Celebrating Summer 2019

General

Starbuck's sandwich board art

Photo: Starbuck’s sandwich board art

Time for a rhythm reset as we move into summer! I can’t wait to reveal some exciting interactive and collaborative art opportunities next September. Meanwhile, it’s time to enjoy family, summer campfires, and a few amazing creative adventures. Until then…

A recent interactive healing art project with school children

Interactive healing art with school children

Interactive healing art with school children

Interactive healing art with school children