Artist: Annie Poon Title: The Butterfly Medium: Pen on Paper Dimensions: 16 ¼ x 13 ¾ inches Price: NFS Artist Statement: Professor Peter Cox, a renowned British physicist, poses the question- Was there a space beyond time? Did the universe have a beginning or was it infinite? Scientists spent 20 years building the most powerful telescope in the world- the James Webb telescope. With a long exposure, they intentionally trained the mammoth lens upon what appeared to be the most insignificant cross-section of outer space. They and all the world were shocked to find that this cross section appeared to house an infinite number of galaxies. The temple quickly incorporated this breathtaking and colorful imagery into the beginning of the presentation. The James Webb telescope used infrared to peer through veils of cosmic debris and revealed what they dubbed as ‘star nurseries’- groups of faintly twinkling baby stars alive and growing in soft beds of dust. Each visitor to the show represents one dot, one baby star. I invite you to claim one. Your dot is a tiny spirit in this star nursery- one among infinite intelligences. No two visitors will claim the same dot, and as you step back you will lose yourself in the vibrating measure of Heavenly Mother’s creation. Her form emerges as ‘The Butterfly’.
