The Wildflowers Of Wisconsin
Flamingo Swirl Mural
Madison Flower Flash, 2021
Describe your image.
Mural Installation View. Photo @madisonpublicartprojct
9.7.2024
Fitchburg, WI
McKee Farms Park
Tennis court fence
The Wildflowers of Wisconsin is a fiber art installation comprised of oversized crocheted flora native to Wisconsin on exhibition in McKee Farms Park in Fitchburg. The Madison Public Art Project (MPAP) commissioned Kiersten Darling, a neurodivergent "spoonie," as the lead fiber artist. Sapphira Afifi led monthly crochet workshops, assisted by Karen Jahns, where we invited the community into the art-making process to create individual petals that were incorporated into the final installation. This public art project raises awareness about climate change, and encourages greater stewardship of the land. The mural inspires individuals to rethink their own consumption habits and look at reducing, reusing, recycling, upcycling, foraging, composting, and encouraging pollinator friendly gardening spaces. It is our hope that individuals who participate in this project will feel inspired to act after coming together to create this dynamic installation.
Thank you Sponsors! This project is commissioned by the Madison Public Art Project, Inc. with major funding from the American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact, and Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation. Supported by Dane County Arts and Cultural Affairs with additional funds from the Endres Mfg. Company Foundation, The Evjue Foundation, Inc., charitable arm of The Capital Times, the W. Jerome Frautschi Foundation. Supported by a grant from the Fitchburg Chamber Visitor + Business Bureau. Thank you to our generous Premier Sponsor: WPS Health Solutions and Gold Sponsors: MG&E Foundation, The Evjue Foundation, and Promega. Additional funding made possible by our Silver Project Sponsors: Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care, and Quivey’s Grove. Thank you to our Bronze Sponsors: Kwik Trip, the PBJ Fund as a component fund at Madison Community Foundation, Joseph & Susan Boucher, and the generosity of private donors.
Thank you to our In-kind Sponsors: Noodles & Company, Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, BR Diamond Suite, Thirsty Goat, and Benvenuto’s for the raffle prize donation for the community opening.
Download the Art Activities Guide here! As a complement to the Public Art mural we created this educational guide with coloring book pages, art activities, recycling tips, and more!
Join The MPAP Secret Recipe Club!
Interested in Foraging & Cooking?
Enter your email to download recipes created from our Foraging workshops during the Wildflowers of Wisconsin project. Click here for the delicious Edible Weed Pesto recipe!
Opening Day Artist Talk moderated by Jillian Talarczyk with artists Kiersten Darling, Karen Jahns, and Sapphira Afifi
Photo & Video courtesy of Craig Wilson, Kite Aerial Photography
Watch a short video of the mural captured by kite photography!
Mural Opening Art Walk. Photo courtesy of Sustain Dane
Kiersten Darling, Lead Fiber Artist @endswoven
Mural Opening. Special Thank you to City of Fitchburg for hosting this installation.
Mural Opening. Sapphira Afifi, Crochet Workshop Teaching Artist.
Lead Fiber Artist Kiersten Darling.
Thank you to our art fabrication team including Kiersten Darling, Sapphira Afifi, Karen Jahns, Amy Soderman, and Heather Popelka, and the community members who joined our initiative!
All Photos ⓒ Madison Public Art Project