The Wildflowers Of Wisconsin
Flamingo Swirl Mural
Madison Flower Flash, 2021
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Mural Installation View. Photo @madisonpublicartprojct
Installed 9.7.2024- On View through August 2025
McKee Farms Park (Located at the tennis court fence)
2930 Chapel Valley Rd. Fitchburg WI 53711
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
Artist Biography
Kiersten Darling is a neuro-divergent spoonie who lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her husband and beloved pit-bull, Darlin. As an early age artist, she began learning sewing in elementary school and started dabbling in many other arts from a very young age. By her teenage years she was receiving formal training at a high school for the arts, and then went on to receive her formal fine arts education. She’s been knitting since 2011, took up crochet a year later, and also enjoys sewing and spinning yarn. Kiersten, who also has social work background, finds creative inspiration from the world around her and makes unique and unexpected fiber arts that bring joy and laughter to the world. In addition to running an Etsy shop, Kiersten’s finishing service called Weave In My Ends at www.weaveinmyends.com
Mural Opening. Special Thank you to City of Fitchburg for hosting this installation.
Mural Opening. Sapphira Afifi, Crochet Workshop Teaching Artist.
Artist Statement:
Anyone and everyone can be creative and make art! It is up to the viewer to interpret, inspect, feel, and judge however they want. Sapphira remembers using Crayola crayons to enjoy her first coloring book at five years old. Ever since she has been improving her skills in mediums such as watercolor, metals, acrylics, and more. When Sapphira finds free time in her busy life for project inspiration, she will not set it down until perfection is achieved. Sapphira is happiest when her family and friends find joy in her art.
Art Jigsaw Puzzles!
Brand New Jigsaw Puzzle! Gift with donation.
🧩 This is a wonderful gift for any puzzle lover. Made of high-quality wood and UV printed with rich photo details and brilliant color. The 500 pieces puzzle measures 15 inches x20.4 inches. Shipping with a $50 donation.
🧩 Limited quantity. Printed in vivid color. Wonderful photo keepsake for all ages. Pieces have a mesh bag. Mural photo guide included in the box. Perfect holiday gifts! 🎁 Great for art collectors and art lovers. Puzzles help relieve stress and can improve memory function. This is a visually stunning, fun, and engaging way to continue to appreciate this mural from home. Don’t miss your chance to collect this gorgeous flora Jigsaw Puzzle inspired by the Wildflowers of Wisconsin fiber mural.
Proceeds go to the non-profit reserve fund for support funding future art projects in the community.
Photo Credit: Madison Public Art Project
#puzzlelover #puzzlelovers #artmural #artpuzzle #artpuzzles #artandcommunity
Please use the donate link below and send an email to info@madisonpublicartproject.org with your shipping address.
Donate & Get Your Puzzle!
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 many community members who joined our initiative!
Recent Press Features:
Listen to our Wisconsin State Journal, Tactile Mural Feature State Wildflowers Story from September, 2024.
Explore the Arts Feature
Fitchburg Chamber Visitor & Business Bureau
Watch our WMTV 15 News feature.
November 12, 2024
Crochet art installation on display at McKee Farms Park in Fitchburg.
All Photos ⓒ Madison Public Art Project