How a $1 ArtPrize Challenge Changed the Way I Think About Kindness

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.

Out popped a magnet, a set of instructions, and two brightly colored affirmation stickers. My task? Place the stickers on a window or mirror somewhere in the community to encourage kindness.

(Don’t worry they’re designed to come off easily, in case you’re nervous about leaving a mark.)

The first sticker went up in the bathroom mirror at Millennium Park in Walker, one of my favorite spots to take a mental health walk. The second is still sitting in my purse while I wait for the perfect spot to brighten someone else’s day.

What struck me most was that this installation didn’t look like art in the traditional sense. No canvas, no paint, no sculpture. But it made me think in a way few pieces have. It made me wonder: how can I ripple a little kindness into someone else’s day, not just during ArtPrize, but every single day?

And maybe that’s the point.

ArtPrize runs through Saturday, October 4th, and you can find this and other pieces on their website.