'A Caregiver's Butterfly Garden' exhibit to honor seniors, care workers in Ishpeming

ISHPEMING, Mich. (WBUP/WJMN) – A statewide traveling art and advocacy exhibit honoring direct care workers and caregivers is coming to the Upper Peninsula: A Caregiver’s Butterfly Garden.

Produced by the IMPART Alliance and funded by a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) grant, the installation of hand-crafted butterflies shares the stories of the essential workforce that supports seniors, people with disabilities, and families across the state.

“This fourth installation represents meaningful statewide growth and brings the Upper Peninsula into a larger narrative of dignity and appreciation,” said Rochelle Berry, project manager of A Caregiver’s Butterfly Garden. “Caregiving touches every family at some point. Through art, we are making that invisible labor visible and honoring the people who quietly hold our communities together.”

A butterfly with a note reading, “This job gives me purpose. I love my work, caring for others.” (Photo courtesy of IMPART Alliance)

IMPART says the Ishpeming exhibit will serve as a flagship site for regional engagement. The group plans to announce six “satellite gardens” across the U.P. in March.

IMPART Alliance Artist-in-Residence Zahrah Resh describes the exhibit as both reflective and celebratory.

“These butterflies represent stories that are often unseen,” said Zahrah Resh. “Each one carries gratitude, resilience, and recognition. When displayed together, they create a powerful visual reminder of the essential role caregivers play in our daily lives.”

The Ishpeming installation uniquely centers seniors as active participants in the exhibit’s creation.

“A caregiving culture runs deep in the Upper Peninsula,” said Ashley Roberts, executive director of the Greater Ishpeming Commission on Aging. “Our seniors have lived these experiences — as caregivers, as recipients of care, and as community leaders. Hosting this exhibit allows us to reflect on that legacy and celebrate it in a very visible way.”

(Photo courtesy of IMPART Alliance)

Visitors will experience hundreds of hand-crafted butterflies displayed in an immersive installation designed to spark conversation about aging, caregiving, workforce needs, and community responsibility. The exhibit is free and open to the public during regular business hours. Additional community activities supporting this project will be held throughout the coming year.

The exhibit opens Thursday, Feb. 19 at the Ishpeming Multi-Purpose Senior Center at 121 Greenwood St. It’s free to view Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through January 2027.

IMPART Alliance is seeking host sites for 2026 exhibits, donors, painting workshop volunteers, community outreach partners, and Direct Care Workers who wish to order butterfly-making kits and join the virtual garden.

Learn more or get involved at DCWgardens.com.