Broken Wings featured on Wood TV 8
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
To help solve our national problem of bullying and school shootings—from Columbine to Parkland to Santa Fe—what steps can we take to start a positive butterfly effect?
Broken Wings is an artist/citizen work. This participatory installation invites a response. The work gives individuals an opportunity to get involved. To take action.
Broken Wings visitors are invited to connect a colorful band onto the interactive panels as a commitment to start a butterfly effect—where one positive choice impacts another positive choice. With each band, we collectively make a promise to help bring an end to the suffering, chaos, and brokenness. From the broken wings across the United States—let’s make new choices for a better future. Let’s help heal our nation.
How can you get involved and help heal our nation? What can you do to help heal your family or your neighborhood?
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
Recently, we witnessed the historic youth march in D.C., remembered the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High tragedy, and learned about many young people suffering from bullying. Meanwhile, some current solutions only seem to trigger more verbal bullets and political bullying. But to help our kids break out of the cocoon—those who are hurting, isolated, bullied, or struggling with caustic emotions—we need to help cultivate an environment of safety and peace.
Broken Wings is about bullying, school shooting, and starting a Butterfly Effect—where one positive choice impacts another positive choice—to help better our broken world. For ArtPrize Ten, the installation will be located at the Grand Rapids Public Museum (the merry-go-round museum west of the river). We look forward to interacting with you again this year and hearing about more of your stories. Our healing art involves you—because you matter!
What is one positive choice you can make to help heal our broken world?
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
After being voted on the homecoming court as a cruel joke, Whitney, a Michigan teen, decided to stand up to her whole high school. But her journey wasn’t easy. Responding to the negative butterfly effect, she said, “I feel like trash.” Whitney even considered ending her life.
But with her sister’s influence, Whitney opted for a bold move: Face her bullies and go through with the homecoming event. When local business caught on, they generously responded and gave Whitney a makeover. Throughout the challenging process, Whitney’s emotional resiliency began to strengthen.
In the end, she concluded, “I’m not the joke everyone thinks I am.” Whitney’s flight towards courage influenced her community and our nation—causing a Butterfly Effect that reverberates with hope and healing. Her actions are still challenging teens to grow through their challenges by making different choices.
What’s your next bold move as you face struggles or negativity? How can you make a positive difference?
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 invites individuals on a new journey. While some of the traditional arguments over bullying and school gun violence are stalemated, why not consider new ways—different ways—on solving our national problem? How could each of us personally help to make a difference? For ArtPrize Ten, we are inviting visitors to consider starting a positive Butterfly Effect to empower children and help heal our broken nation.
The Butterfly Effect, an alternative scientific theory, challenges us to consider that every action has a reaction. Like the tiny flutter from the butterfly’s wings, the smallest deed or word has impact. Every interaction—positive or negative—has the potential to change the course of a child’s life.
We may not be able to stop all bullying and gun violence from happening. But we can all create positive change and be part of the solution.
What is one thing you can do to help bring about positive change and help heal your school, your family, or 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
Let’s connect! You are the reason we create our interactive healing art. You motivate us year after year to design the next creative work to authentically connect with you. We spend long hours trying to figure out how to communicate hope to our broken world.
We love to make art. But without you, our participatory healing work wouldn’t have any real meaning or value. So, look us up for ArtPrize Ten at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. We’d love to hear from you.
Here are four ways to make our connection happen during ArtPrize Ten:
How can we connect with you?
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
Recently, a friend challenged me to rethink my ArtPrize Ten entry by introducing me to Marcel Duchamp’s work called, Fountain (1917): a porcelain urinal turned upside down and signed with a fake name: “R. Mutt.”
While Duchamp’s contemporaries showcased their highly skilled work, which no one can remember anymore, Duchamp transformed a urinal into art. Duchamp’s defiance, or sarcasm, challenged the art world.
New York’s Society of Independent Artists refused to show his piece and stated: “The Fountain may be a very useful object in its place…and it is, by no definition, a work of art.” The public called the urinal “inappropriate, vulgar, distasteful, or even, plagiarism.” Yesterday’s avant-garde rejected this artist—and his maneuver onto thin ice—when he disobeyed the rules and offended…everyone.
But Duchamp’s rebellion leaves us with some important questions. Does art have to be beautiful to be influential? Does ugly or shocking art still play an important role? Fifty years after Duchamp transformed a urinal into art, Andy Warhol’s soup cans stacked up in museums. Then after another fifty years, cultural elites voted Duchamp’s urinal as the most important modern work.
My friend’s challenge and Duchamp’s example stirred my imagination for ArtPrize Ten. As a result, my next ArtPrize work may not be just sweet paintings. And like Duchamp, some may misinterpret my work. Because this year’s work may very well venture onto Duchamp’s ice. But it’s worth the risk because our healing message—to counteract bullying and school gun violence—is so important and timely.
Photo credit: The original Fountain – Marcel Duchamp 1917 – photographed by Alfred Stieglitz
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