The Caterpillar is as much a symbol of transformation as is the butterfly.  A creature of the earth, it moves slowly along, exploring each pathway, tasting every leaf, overcoming obstacles and those who seek to do it harm.  It journeys until it finds a place of rest, and it is in that stillness that it confronts self ... and then "digests" self, dissolving all but its core Being.  It is this core self that now re-imagines and re-shapes its form under the protective shelter of stillness, utilizing the good of remnants of past experiences to create a new physical expression of Self. 

Content with its new form, the Caterpillar knows its destiny is not to remain hidden but to re-emerge into the sunlight to spread a message of the Beauty that exists around us. However, it must struggle and break a casing that was self-constructed; this it must do itself otherwise its new form will be limited and never truly be.

 As the caterpillar emerges into the light, its new form is given a new name. The Butterfly, once a creature of the earth, is now a creature of the air. It spreads its wings to take flight and continue its journey; free to spread its message of Beauty, Possibility, and Hope. Transformed and Free.

The butterfly is a powerful symbol of “transformation”.  A familiar creature, a look at its journey tells a story that could be likened to our own journey as human beings towards this seemingly elusive concept of self-actualization. We at Art By Creative Design © have embraced this symbol in the fulfillment of our mission to promote Arts Education in Trinidad & Tobago. 

Education, we believe, is expected to be a positive transformative experience for the individual, which moves them from one level of personal development to the other. It is in this regard that we see Arts Education as an important part of this process, as it is through the Arts – Dance, Drama, Music and the Visual Arts – that the individual has an opportunity to gain skills that develop their physical and mental abilities, and simultaneously, brings him or her face to face with their own emotional responses and even, spiritual awareness. No other academic subject does that – no other.

The Arts allows for one to engage with their environment in an intimate way – whether to critique, highlight, or just enjoy. No other academic subject takes you on that journey in the way that the Arts do – for the Arts has a special element – it allows you to feel.

Art By Creative Design thanks you for joining us in this our “caterpillar” stage of our story.  May we work together and support each other as we develop our wings and learn to fly.