Why Don’t They Fly Away?

This artwork explores the paradox of how a person can be held captive without a literal restraint.  Victims of human trafficking are in plain sight, typically not “chained up” and yet, they are unable to free themselves from their traffickers.  It is my hope that this artwork serves as a catalyst for dialogue, compassion, and action, prompting viewers to advocate for the rights and dignity of trafficking survivors and to work towards eradicating this pervasive form of modern-day slavery.

Made from the book, Stolen: The True Story of a Sex Trafficking Survivor, hundreds of butterflies are captive, though there is no lid on the container.