We think it’s a great title for our upcoming art exhibition in our gallery space at Duemosegaard. We’ll be featuring the works of fifteen artists and designers from Denmark and abroad who have been invited by Ross and myself to delicately interpret the concept of The Butterfly Effect. This idea has sprung out of our mission to spread awareness about the sterling efforts, successes and vision of The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) which Ross was instrumental in founding 30 years ago.
A Little Flutter
I’ve been working alongside some of GEN International’s movers and shakers to help to plan celebrations for this big anniversary. Jules Ellison, Henny Freitas, and Rob Wheeler have been my online planning buddies since darkest November last year, and it was Henny who suggested the title of the exhibition which we’ve run with. Ross felt it too closely associated with mathematics or meteorology; and indeed The Butterfly Effect is a theory rooted in chaos theory. It’s also suggestive that small causes can have large effects, such as the fluttering of the delicate wings of a butterfly can influence a tornado. But at its core, this effect reminds us that every action, no matter how small, carries weight. A kind word, a vote, a seed planted, or a decision made in quiet resolve can ripple outwards, influencing people, communities, and even the course of history in unexpected ways. It teaches humility, because we rarely grasp the full impact of our actions. But it also offers hope in these difficult times, because even seemingly insignificant efforts can contribute to monumental change.
Butterflies are built on change
In 1995 The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) was founded. This year marks the 30th anniversary, with events all over the world celebrating this decision to create a network to aid the metamorphosis of sustainable communities. We invite you to share the visions of artists and the vision of the founders who envisaged the possibilities of this butterfly effect which now includes more than 10,000 communities all over the world.
The Works
Ross has found some great photographs and butterfly logos from the archives, and has written a piece about the significance of the butterfly in the founding of GEN and the logo. Our exhibiting artists include Anne Lund Sørensen, Ginny Page, Jenny Vanden Panhuyzen, Erika Soeder Birch, Karen Brandt, Niels Peter Flint, Heather Gartside, Bente Elisabeth Endresen, Benedicte Toft Andersen, Sasha Gartside Knudsen, Veniera Godsvil, Anette Buus Rosholm, MeRete Bilde Toft, Mia Knudsen and Arriel Godsvil. These worthy artists, designers, photographers and activists for the natural world have created one to two pieces each and you’re cordially invited to join us in the gallery to see the results for yourself.
Wear your Wings!
The exhibition runs from the launch party on the 28th of September until mid October. The gallery is usually open Friday, Saturday and Sundays from 11:00 until 16:00 or upon request – sms 51503099 to arrange a private visit .
Duemosegaard 