The way the book was damaged suggested the approach. Rotating the corner provided
an opening, such as the book provides. The fence represents barriers and obstacles;
butterflies, the transformation which takes place as a young person becomes who they are.
The butterflies are different to represent different gifts and talents. Japanese papers
represent the chrysalis from which the butterfly emerges; the trees, the strength needed to
overcome prejudice. The old houses represent the idea of the Old Town, the mind-set
from which the kids sometimes need to escape, so that they can truly be themselves. One
of the corners, cut off and later carefully tucked into the book by staff, was from the
dedication page. This suggested to me the “return” segment of the piece. The Phalanopsis
orchid is commonly called the butterfly orchid. I deliberately left the cut corner as it was.
At first, the flowers which come from the dedication are of all kinds, but eventually they
become butterfly orchids, one of the most beautiful forms of that plant. As I worked on the
piece, it would have been impossible for me to not think of the kids for whom the book
was meant. I wish them well.
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