In 2016, my small family had the privilege of traveling to the mountains of Michoacan, MX to visit the site of the Monarch migration. We rode horseback up ruddy trails to the forest, where the tree branches were heavy with giant clusters of butterflies and the air was filled with fluttering wings all around us. It felt magical and profound, and I left with a sense of deep connection to my world. Some of those Monarchs may have traveled from my own property, and some might yet visit me here.
In Mexico, it is believed that these butterflies are spirits of ancestors, returning to visit. The beginning of the migration coincides with Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, and you will find imagery of Monarchs all over Mexico as a symbol of those who have passed.
During a pandemic, this symbol seems more poignant than ever.
My friend and colleague, Carrie Ziegler, has been facilitating an ambitious community project this year through the Thurston Climate Action Team, called The Chrysalis Project. She describes how the process taking place inside of the chrysalis is ugly and murky, much like 2020 has felt for many people. But it is part of the process of transformation. We, as a culture, are re-examining many of our preconceptions and values, doing the hard work that will determine how we move forward, and if all goes well, we will emerge better for it.
I was already thinking of these ideas and I made three mosaic butterflies, plus a papercut for The Chrysalis Project, since spring. And then, John Brooks, one of the caretakers at Monarch Sculpture Park, posted on Instagram that he is creating ceramic butterflies for walls around the new giant butterfly-shaped maze, and he invited other ceramic artists to contribute.
I’m coming back to this post in April 2023. Some folks sent butterflies for this project, and John did create a ceramic butterfly addition to the park, but the pandemic and some other factors forced some switcheroos. In January 2023, I pivoted and proposed a large butterfly-themed mosaic for a wall in downtown Olympia. Now it’s fully happening. We have a wall, support from the City of Olympia and even a fiscal sponsor so any donations are tax deductible.: https://app.thefield.org/home/donation/crowd/preview/185/Community-Mural-Seed-Fund
Funds will support materials, community engagement events and workshops, and all of the nitty-gritty like permits and admin and promotion. I’m so very excited about this project and I hope it is a huge success because I am shifting more of my energy toward community art projects as I grow older, cultivating human connection through creative pursuits and bridging societal gaps by inviting disparate groups to work together.
