In 2017, Caitlin Plestid (they/them) created the art installation to raise awareness for, and support those struggling with, self-harm. While in high school, Caitlin and someone close to them struggled with self-harm and both found the Butterfly Project helpful. The Butterfly Project is a coping strategy to help resist the urge to engage in self-harming behaviours. It involves drawing a butterfly on the place of self-harm and naming it after someone who cares about you. For Caitlin, the butterfly has become an important and poignant motif in their art:

“Much like the gentle hand of a loved one inking a unique butterfly on your forearm, these wire butterflies require a soft touch to create so as not to bend the wire too far or rip up the tissue paper. The colour choice calls to the warmth of this act of care, while the sharp tips of the antenna remind us of the upsetting circumstances that created the need for this interaction. This installation in a classroom was intended as a warm hug to the students fighting to get through the cold, dark winter.”

Image Credit:
Feature: Peakpx, Creative Commons
Body 1: Caitlin Plestid, used with permission
Body 2: Caitlin Plestid, used with permission
Body 3: Caitlin Plestid, used with permission