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Flight of Butterflies

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The Flight of Butterflies is a public art initiative located throughout the Chicago Parks District and along the city's Magnificent Mile. The exhibit programming debuted in April 2024 and is set to run through September 2025.[1][2] Organized by the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in collaboration with The Magnificent Mile Association and Special Service Area 76, the exhibit features 29 large butterfly sculptures designed by local artists and community groups. The six-foot-tall sculptures are crafted from steel with aluminum wings, modeled after butterfly species such as the eastern tiger swallowtail and the state-threatened regal fritillary.[3][4][5]

Flight of Butterflies aims to raise awareness about biodiversity and conservation through art. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, renowned for its Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, home to over 1,000 free-flying butterflies, draws inspiration from its commitment to conservation efforts. [6][7][8] Each sculpture serves not only as a work of art but also as a call to action, encouraging viewers to consider their own role in conservation.

This city-wide exhibit initially featured sculptures along Michigan Avenue, with plans to later rotate the works to various locations throughout Chicago, including parks such as Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, and Lincoln Park. The initiative brings together a variety of partners, including CNL Projects, the Chicago Park District, and ChiLab Studio. Financial backing from Tullman Community Ventures further enabled the execution of the project.[6][1]

Exhibit features

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The city-wide exhibit features 29 large butterfly sculptures placed in strategic locations across Chicago, including the Magnificent Mile, Jane M. Byrne Plaza, and various city parks such as Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, and Lincoln Park.[4][1]

The six-foot-tall sculptures are designed by a diverse group of local artists and community groups, who modeled them after butterfly species like the eastern tiger swallowtail and the state-threatened regal fritillary.[1][4] The sculptures are made from steel bases with cast metal bodies and aluminum wings, making them both visually striking and durable.[1]

The exhibit is supported by the augmented reality (AR) butterfly experience. By scanning QR codes placed at each butterfly sculpture, users can activate the AR experience directly on their smartphones. This feature leverages the front-facing camera to superimpose virtual butterflies into the real-world environment.[3][7]

Magnificent Mile

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The Flight of Butterflies exhibit on the Magnificent Mile features ten butterfly sculptures placed along Michigan Avenue, with specific spots including Pioneer Court, the Ritz-Carlton, and Water Tower Place. Other notable locations feature the sculptures, such as the planter bed at 625 North Michigan Avenue, where the piece "Map to Migration" by Rubén Aguirre is displayed, and Jane Byrne Park, which hosts a sculpture by the Englewood Arts Collective.[3][7]

Each of the locations also offers an augmented reality experience. By scanning QR codes at the sculpture sites, visitors can watch virtual butterflies, native to Chicago, come alive on their screens.[1][9] The QR codes also allow visitors to learn more about the artworks and their creators.[4][7]

The exhibit ran through July 2024, with sculptures migrating to Lincoln Park and various city parks on the South and West sides later in the year.[8][7]

Sculptures

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Source[5]

  • Vuelo Sobre Fronteras by Hector Duarte
  • Wanderlust by Mayumi Lake
  • Ulukububa by Nnenna Okore
  • Boundless Impact by Englewood Arts Collective
  • Adapting to an Unnatural Habitat: A Haiku by Cydney M. Lewis
  • Turnasol/Iridescence by Salvador Andrade Arévalo
  • Map to Migration by Rubén Aguirre
  • Techno Organic by Rahmaan Statik
  • Vuela Vuela by Yvette Mayorga
  • Of Migratory Paths and Milkweed by Alice Hargrave

Artists

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Full list of participating artists[8]

  1. Alice Hargrave
  2. Ariée (Aria Carter)
  3. Azadeh Hussaini
  4. Candace Hunter (chlee)
  5. Cydney Lewis
  6. Englewood Arts Collective
  7. Hector Duarte
  8. Isaac Couch
  9. James Jankowiak
  10. Jordan Martins
  11. Kahari Blackburn
  12. Leonard Suryajaya
  13. Liz Flores
  14. Luis De La Torre
  15. Maria Burundarena
  16. Marwen Lab Residency
  17. Mayumi Lake
  18. Melanie Vazquez
  19. Moises Salazar Tlatenchi
  20. Negwes White
  21. Nnenna Okore
  22. Olya Salimova
  23. Rahmaan Statik
  24. Ravi Arupa
  25. Red Line Service
  26. Rubén Aguirre
  27. Salvador Andrade Arévalo
  28. William Estrada
  29. Yvette Mayorga

Sponsors and partners

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The initiative is spearheaded by The Magnificent Mile Association,[5] in collaboration with the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and Special Service Area 76, a district that funds various public services and beautification projects.[5] CNL Projects organized the artists and ChiLab Studio designed the cast metal bodies and provided support and space for the artists to work.[1]

The Flight of Butterflies Exhibit in Chicago 2024 has garnered support from a variety of sponsors and partners dedicated to enriching the community through art and nature conservation. Key partners include Michael Dimitroff at the Chicago Park District, art consultant Cortney Lederer at CNL Projects, Ben Stagl at ChiLab Studio, who provided studio space and directed the sculptural forms fabrication for the exhibit.,[6][10] and Terry Karpowicz who handled installation. Financial support was also provided by Tullman Community Ventures, enabling the creation and execution of the exhibit[6]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Unveiling Nature's Art: The Flight of Butterflies Exhibit at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum". Artisanal Metals. July 10, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Among the Butterflies in the City". Chicago Gallery News. July 18, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "Exploring the Flight of Butterflies: Darabase's Augmented Reality Adventure on The Magnificent Mile". Darabase. May 21, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Yassine, Leen (May 21, 2024). "Butterfly Sculptures Landing Along Mag Mile, Across Chicago This Summer". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 ""Flight of Butterflies" Takes Flight on The Magnificent Mile®, Bringing Art, Nature, and Technology Together". isp.netscape.com. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Larger-than-life butterfly sculptures coming to Chicago's parks this summer". Chicago Sun-Times. April 3, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Butterfly sculptures inspire selfies, promote wildlife conservation on the Magnificent Mile". Chicago Sun-Times. May 26, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 "Flight of Butterflies". Nature Museum. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  9. ↑ Association, The Magnificent Mile (May 21, 2024). ""Flight of Butterflies" Takes Flight on The Magnificent Mile®, Bringing Art, Nature, and Technology Together". GlobeNewswire News Room (Press release). Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Unveiling Nature's Art: The Flight of Butterflies Exhibit at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum". ChiLab Studio. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
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