Butterfly Pathway

Only when we fly to the same height as butterflies, we get to understand how self-righteous human beings are to disrupt butterflies’ migration route. This is what happened in Taiwan. Butterfly ecology was sacrificed for transport infrastructure. In order to remediate the situation, a freeway in Taiwan is closed for a specific period of time every year for the migration. I pray for the ecological incident with needlework and hope butterflies are blessed and flying high!

Taiwan used to be a butterfly kingdom. However, due to economic development, butterfly habitats at intermediate altitude were destroyed. Taiwan’s purple crow butterflies migrate 3 times a year in spring, summer and autumn. Between mid-March and early April, they fly northward along the two sides of Taiwan’s Central Mountain Range to their northern habitats to mate and lay eggs. In May and June, the newborn butterflies fly to different destinations, mainly in mountain areas at high altitude. Then, in autumn, they fly to the south of the Tropic of Cancer to winter. They migrate at high densities every year. Unfortunately, there is a freeway blocking their migration route. It is a natural tragedy. How sad it is to sacrifice butterflies for transport facilities.

I spent lots of time thinking about the work and pay much attention on sewing the beautiful Central Mountain Range. However, when I started to arrange the butterflies, I found myself in a dilemma. The beautiful mountains would be covered by the large number of butterflies. I find it very challenging. Anyway, butterflies are my main characters. I would like to dedicate this work to butterflies and pray for them!

Thank you, Martha, for the 100-year-old Butterfly Guide. It inspires me and enriches my knowledge of butterflies. Thank you Betty and Sue for the unique original fabrics you gave to me during the 2016 Taiwan International Quilt Exhibition. The fabrics are the highlights of my work. I am honored to make this work as a memento of the wonderful memories we shared this spring in Taiwan! Best wishes to you all.

Materials: self-dyed fabrics, original design fabrics from Betty Busby and Sue Dennis, commercial cottons, Romanian thread, metallic thread

Techniques: hand pieced, hand appliquéd, hand quilted

Size: 18” x 36”