The project was made possible by Witter Art Gallery; Valentina's Market and project donors who helped make this public art possible. The City of Storm Lake was proud to play a role in supporting the project.
A dedication ceremony was held in September for the 20-foot-long mural, which celebrates the community’s diversity. The art features 63 butterflies - the number of nationalities estimated to currently reside in Storm Lake. The monarchs also unite the two societies - they migrate to Storm Lake in spring and fall, and winter in the artists' region in Mexico.
Four artists traveled 1,800 miles to Storm Lake to assemble the mural made of tiny fragments of crushed tile. Locals, including Spanish students from Buena Vista University, had an opportunity to assist. The dedication was a joyous event, with children sharing music and dance.
A plaque at the mural or Erie Street notes that monarch butterflies are migrating "emissaries of joy and spirituality." Like the art work, Storm Lake is growing as a mosaic of histories and cultures represented in its people, it says - "a tapestry of opportunities and success for all."
Mary Carmen earlier led teams that created mosaic murals for the Witter Gallery and St. Mary's Parish. Another mural is in the planning stages for next spring for the Buena Vista University campus. Witter Gallery is hoping to continue the projects into the future.