Ruyle presented to the public a slideshow of her research and activism since 1995, creating a visual world of icons and sacred images from many cultures around the world that on this occasion included goddesses from MesoAmerican cultures. A new fabric banner that Lydia created and brought to Costa Rica was inspired by the contribution that she received from Puerto Rico some months ago, which is that of the goddess Taina, Atabey.

 

During her visit, Ruyle visited the Gold Museum in San  José, observing and highlighting what she saw in terms of the presence of women in indigenous cultures in the country, as shown in the female clay figurines in the different ethic groups. She also visited the National Cathedral in the city of Cartago – the former capital of Costa Rica - where she saw the Shrine to “ La Negrita” (Virgen de Los Ángeles, Patron of Costa Rica). After both visits, Ruyle made a commitment to Wings of the Butterfly that she would include one indigenous goddess and La Negrita in her future exhibitions by making banners for them.

Her banners have been exhibited in conferences, universities, museums, schools and ancient ruins across the globe in Great Britain, Turkey, France, Germany, Greece, Italy,  Malta, Chec Republic, Russia, México, Perú, The Himalayas, Hawaii, USA, and now for the first time in Central America

In the conference, Ruyle noted that in the ancient past women had an honored place in pre--patriarchal societies and that this is so evident in the art that it is hard to challenge. She claims that the place of honor can be reclaimed and needs not remain unearthed. “Evidence of this is shown in the hundreds of expressions of the Goddess," she said as she proceeded to show a power point presentation – "this is the oldest figurine of a human being found so far. It is more than 200,000 years old and she is a female.” Ruyle also presented the oldest figurine of a human being sitting on a throne and noted,. “She is also female.”

 

This perspective is what links Ruyle to the philosophy and objectives of Wings of the Butterfly, a project presented to the public that night. The presentation included its web page at www.alasemariposa.net by Yarman Jiménez as its administrator and Julia River as designer. The English web and pholography is administered by Margaret Thompson.

Co-Coordinator Maria Suarez Toro presented the Wings project objectives which include research and publications rendering visibility to women’s contributions throughout history that have hardly been acknowledged; training in “resonance” with the women portrayed in its productions; a theatre show in Costa Rica, of which one sample was already presented at the Women Inc. Festival in The Netherlnds in 2007 but which will be presented in its entirety in November, 2008 about the  women in the book Women, metamorphosis of the Butterfly Effect and other components of the project to be multiplied and internationalized as a contribution to building the women’s movement worldwide.

Wings Advisory Group member, feminist historian and health activist, Anna Arroba added that research regarding women in history has as a characteristic that it cannot be separated in fragmented disciplines and that is the reason why art is so critical. She added that the study of symbolism is also crucial  to a different understanding of past cultures. “That symbolism is still present in us as archetypes and dreams, and that is why these issues are not only about the past, but very much about now,” said Arroba.

For more information, write to: info@alasdemariposa.org