Last week, my son and I made a trip downtown to check out ArtPrize. We wandered past some incredible installations, but one in particular has stayed with me: a giant, brightly colored vending machine parked outside of DeVos Hall.
At first glance,I wasn’t entirely sure if it was actually a piece of art or a creative way for someone to make a buck off of me selling snacks. (Either way, I was game to give them some money.)
Instead of finding a candy bar, I found The Kindness Challenge by Ange Zelenak.
According to its description, the piece is inspired by the Butterfly Effect: when a butterfly flaps its wings in Texas, it can set off a hurricane in Japan. The idea is that one small action can ripple outward in ways we can’t always predict. Kindness, in the same way, can set off waves that change a community.
Naturally, I had to try it. I tapped my card, spent a dollar, and chose a medium challenge…