All Butterflies Have Been Installed as of May 16, 2019
Printable Map – .pdf 1MB
The Butterfly Effect, a public art project of the West Chicago Cultural Arts Commission, West Chicago Garden Club, People Made Visible and the America in Bloom Committee, will add 36 artist-designed butterflies to public gardens throughout the City. The display of butterflies which officially lands on May 12, 2019, will wow visitors and promote exploration of every corner of the community, as locations were chosen to include a public location in all neighborhoods. Some of the locations include schools, parks, businesses, and subdivision entries. Seven butterflies will “alight” at the Kruse House Museum in the gardens surrounding the historic home which are lovingly tended by members of the West Chicago Garden Club.
According to Rosemary Mackey, staff liaison of the Cultural Arts Commission, Garden Club members Billie Childress and Kerry Perry brought the idea of the butterfly display to the Cultural Arts Commission, and with the help of People Made Visible and the America in Bloom Committee, the idea morphed into this spectacular public art project.
“The City is grateful to the Garden Club for their inspiring concept, the Cultural Arts Commission for taking the lead on the logistics, to People Made Visible for sharing its resources and facilitating a residential component of the project, to America in Bloom for its role as a catalyst for community-building and pride, to all the decision-makers at each location who said ‘yes, we’d love a butterfly in our garden’, and of course, to the artists who shared their talents for the benefit of our community,” said Mayor Ruben Pineda.
The majority of the artists that participated in the project are West Chicago residents. Also, the creativity of students and art teachers of several schools within Community School District #33 will be represented. Designs for each of the 36 butterflies are unique and colorful, and will add whimsy and charm to each of the gardens in which they will reside through the month of October.
An interactive map accessible on Smart phones will be available soon on the City website’s map portal to assist people in finding all 36 butterflies, and to provide information about the artists who designed them. Plus, Commission member and graphic designer Uwe Gsedl, who also created a butterfly which will be located at the DuPage Airport, is working on a print map as a keepsake of the public art project which celebrates West Chicago’s vibrant arts community, rich heritage, and affinity for natural beauty. The print map will be available after May 12, 2019 at City Hall, Gallery 200 and the City Museum.
The community is encouraged to enrich the experience of The Butterfly Effect by attending the free film, The Guardians, a conservation-focused film about Monarch butterflies and their migration pattern and how it relates to the rich history of the community. The free presentation, sponsored by People Made Visible, takes place at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Gallery 200, 103 West Washington Street.
For more information about this and other public art projects, or to access the interactive map, visit www.westchicago.org.
