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
Thank you to the thousands of visitors who helped us successfully to complete our tenth year of ArtPrize. It has been an amazing journey! ArtPrize visitors wrote 65,000 promises to be kind at our interactive healing installation. We are truly grateful for all your amazing support.
Thank you to the all Broken Wings team members, Kickstarter and private donors, volunteers, collaborators, contractors, mentors, and friends. Your contribution made a difference.
A special thank you to International Arts Movement for sponsoring Broken Wings and to the Grand Rapids Public Museum for the opportunity to exhibit at a great location for ArtPrize Ten. I am also so grateful for the support from Moonlight Graphics and Bridge Street Electric. Thanks a million everyone!
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.
Each year ArtPrize visitors thank me for providing the opportunity for them to be a part of my work. The interactive nature of my work invites collaboration. Each unique installation offers an immersive art experience.
Year after year, ArtPrize visitors say that they seek out my work. Their enthusiasm to be involved in the creative process truly inspires. As a result, the art personally connects the artist and audience, unlike the traditional formal exhibits where the artist and audience rarely interface.
The nurturing quality of my art deepens relationships and facilitates healing. Visitors are drawn towards culture care, or soul care, they sense within the art. Some even call it a Divine Encounter.
How can you help facilitate soul care for yourself and others in your community?
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
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
Yesterday, WCSG aired Jeremy and Amanda’s radio interview with Pamela discussing her Broken Wings installation at ArtPrize Ten.
Listen to the interview on SoundCloud…
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
Broken Wings is about strengthening and nurturing kids. To help promote safe schools and healthy home environments, the art challenges viewers to become collaborators. Children with broken wings can undergo a transformational process—when a caring adult helps build emotional stability—and emerge from the cocoon with resilient wings.
Jeff Veley, a national bully specialist, offers some helpful tips on how to help at-risk youth and victims of trauma. This bully expert offers strategies and solutions to help children with emotional issues at school or at home. To learn more about helping children overcome social aggression, visit Jeff’s website for free training materials.
How can you empower one at-risk child to solve their own social challenges and cope with negativity?
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