VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - More than 800 paper butterflies are decorating the inside of the Virginia Beach Art Center. It's part of a new exhibit to shine a light on human trafficking.
The exhibit is called Aware '23: Set Them Free. It debuted Friday, November 3, with a welcome reception and a testimonial from human trafficking survivor, Victoria Pendragon.
Human trafficking is defined by the Department of Homeland Security's Blue Campaign as “the use of force, fraud, or coercion in exchange for labor, services, or a commercial sex act. The crime of human trafficking hinges on the exploitation of another person.”
The exhibit will be up at the Art Center on Virginia Beach Boulevard in the city's ViBe District until Sunday, November 12.
“When you walk around the exhibit you see every artist that did any of the artwork, it’s all different and every butterfly is different," say Ann Kay Walters with the Woman's Club of Tidewater, the organization leading the exhibit.
In addition to the butterfly display, visitors will also find art featuring the symbols of human trafficking and art therapy pieces by survivors.
A panel discussion by Regent University's Safe House and Center for Global Justice is scheduled for Wednesday, November 8 at 2 p.m.
Aware is an exhibit hosted annually at the Virginia Beach Art Center. Last year's theme was centered on Native American boarding schools and reported child abuse at the facilities.
Executive Director Margaret Foltz says Aware '24 will focus on the LGBTQ+ community.
