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Public Art Project Unveiling
June 7 @ 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Downtown Racine to Transform into a Butterfly Wonderland: The 23rd Annual Public Art Project
DOWNTOWN RACINE – This summer, Downtown Racine will blossom into a vibrant gallery under the open sky, as the Downtown Racine Corporation unveils its 23rd annual public art project. From June through mid-September, the streets will be adorned with enchanting butterfly wings, offering an immersive and interactive art experience like no other. The official unveiling of all 26 butterflies will be on June 7, during Downtown Racine’s First Friday.
In addition to marveling at the butterflies, visitors can engage in an interactive scavenger hunt designed to be enjoyable and accessible for all ages. As you wander and admire the artwork, the scavenger hunt invites you to answer questions about each exhibit. Upon completion and submission of the scavenger hunt, participants will be rewarded with a $5 downtown gift card, redeemable at over 100 local businesses. Scavenger hunt forms are available at the DRC office (425 Main St.), at each butterfly display location, and online at racinedowntown.com.
“We are thrilled to celebrate over two decades of continuous public art displays, a feat that places us among the elite communities nationwide,” expressed Kelly Kruse, Executive Director of the Downtown Racine Corporation. “This year’s focus on butterfly wings isn’t just about enhancing the aesthetic appeal of our downtown. It’s about creating interactive art that invites selfies, sparks joy, and ultimately, transforms into cherished garden art pieces once auctioned.”
Enhancing the local connection of this year’s project, the Downtown Racine Corporation is proudly collaborating with Green Metal Werks for the wing designs, and partnering with Professor Kyle Worzala and his Gateway students’ welding class to create all the bases. These local ties add a unique and special dimension to the project, further rooting it in the community spirit of Racine.
“We believe in giving our students the ability to utilize their education in a real-world setting and to give back to the community. The sense of professionalism and pride they will gain from this opportunity will be beneficial to their post-college careers. We hope this inspires not only our current students, but potential students who may want to enroll with our program.” Stated Gateway welding Professor Worzala.
2024 Butterfly Artists:
“Good Morning” | Samira Gdisis | Sponsored By Joey’s Yardarm
“Wings of Hopes and Dreams” | Tara Schmidt | Sponsored By Baird Wealth Private Management
“All a Flutter” |The Prairie School | Sponsored By Plumb Gold
“Painting the Globe Gold” | Anita Lopez | Sponsored By Realty ONE Group Boardwalk – Sabina Lopez
“Perpetual Bloom” | Jamie Jones | Sponsored By Realty One Boardwalk – Darryl Heyden
“Reefpoint Butterfly” | Nancy Barthuly | Sponsored By Reefpoint Marina and Reefpoint Brew House
“Mosaic Monarch” | Makayla Nelson & Ambrea Pinkowski | Sponsored By Design Partners
“Le Papillon a Fleur” | Emma Jarrett | Sponsored By Lang Family Foundation
“Fourth of July Butterfly” | Paul Muckler | Sponsored by Dimple’s Fine Imports
“Wisconsin Butterfly Garden” | Rebecca Stern | Sponsored By Green Hills Metal Werks
“Mystery Butterfly” | Timothy Carls | Sponsored By Twin Disc, Inc.
“Downtown Racine Mosaic” | Andrea Mickelson | Sponsored By Racine Art Museum
“The Watchers Within” | Joyce Williamson | Sponsored by Johnson Outdoors
“Flora Flutter” | Sarah Ratliff | Sponsored By Johnson Financial Group
“I Love You More Than a Billion Sunsets” | Mindi Silich | Sponsored By Johnson Financial Group
“Keep Going” | Jason Seyferth | Sponsored By Red Onion Cafe
“Groovy Garden” | Kelly Witte | Sponsored By Festival Park
“Through Stained Glass City Streets” | Andrea Rodriguez | Sponsored By Lakeview Pharmacy of Racine
“You Give Me Butterflies” | Delise Evans | Sponsored By S.C. Johnson
“Collaboration” | Alex Gonzalez | Sponsored By Racine County
“Solar Sprite” | Rachael Kerr | Sponsored By Culver’s of 21st Street
“A Shift of Perspective” | Faille Schmitz | ZMac Transportation Solutions
“Moonlit Medley” | Elsa Milaeger | Sponsored By Milaeger’s
“Epicenter of Creative Empowerment” | Sean Bishop | Sponsored By Sean Bishop Design
“Mexican Butterfly” | Janet Arriaga | Sponsored By S.C. Johnson
“What Time Is It” | Samantha McDonald | Sponsored By Horizontal Retail Construction
DOWNTOWN RACINE CORPORATION: Downtown Racine Corporation, a non-profit whose mission is to foster economic, social, and cultural diversity by stimulating business development, programming events, and marketing downtown to the community, developers, and tourists.
