Dedication planned for butterfly mural

(From the City of Joplin)

The final activity of the Joplin Proud, 5th anniversary events will be a lasting one. Thursday, August 11th at 2:00 p.m. the committee, along with representatives from State Farm Insurance and Walmart, will dedicate a tile mural in the new Mercy Park. Known as, The Butterfly Mural this 10-feet tall by 20-feet wide tile mural will feature the colorful stretched-out wings of a butterfly.

The Butterfly Mural is interactive in that a person can stand in the center and assume the wings are their own. The hope is, the message someone takes away from the artwork is personal and meaningful. The butterfly has been a represented healing and hope for many over the past 5 years.

The artwork is the creation of A.J. and Jordan Wood of Mythic Art & Mural, and the tile mural was manufactured and installed by Whitehill Enterprises, LLC. According to Paul Whitehill, “At this time, this is the World's largest tile mural featuring the art form know as Tangle Patterns.”
Funding for the mural was provided through State Farm Insurance on behalf of Joplin regional agents. Per Jim Camoriano, Regional Spokesperson for State Farm Insurance, “Our mission at State Farm is to help people recover from the unexpected and to realize their dreams. Art is a part of making that happen, and the Joplin Butterfly Mural is a wonderful tribute and symbol of the spirit of recovery, hope, and protection that hovers over this community. State Farm is glad to be part of the restoration, working with the Joplin community, and sharing their many achievements during the past five years.”

The support wall for the mural was made possible through a grant from Walmart. “Walmart is proud to provide funding support for the Butterfly Mural and to contribute to the advancement of public art in Joplin,” said Lee Autrey, Walmart market manager in Joplin. “The mural is a touching memorial to those lost in the devastation of the 2011 tornado and an inspiring depiction of the enduring spirit of the Joplin community.”

Additional funding for lighting and site preparation was provided the Joplin Proud Committee.