Flight of the Butterflies
In partnership with the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Flight of Butterflies features 29 uniquely adorned butterfly sculptures installed across Chicago. Each butterfly has its own unique character, reflecting the connection between local artists and their communities. Our team designed and crafted the butterflies, providing the foundation for local Chicago artists to embellish and bring these sculptures to life. Now on display from Lakeview to South Shore to Austin, these butterflies stand as a tribute to Chicago’s past and futures to come, shaped by its artists.
Development
Each butterfly was digitally designed, creating two unique motifs of the Regal Fritillary and Black Swallowtail butterflies. These were then 3D rendered to fabricate molds for the aluminum casted bodies. This technique allowed for each butterfly to be uniform amongst the collection. Using custom CNC cut wood as the positive for the molds allowed for seamless production given the quantity of castings under the time frame.
Each casting was hand finished to a degree which allowed paint to stick, giving the artist the ability to customize each butterfly.
We collaborated with the artists, helping the butterflies become canvas’ for their vision.
Connecting with Chicago Artists
It was an honor working with local Chicago artists, further expanding communities amongst creatives in the city.
Once the butterflies were fabricated, we assisted in finding solutions to bring their design to life. Drawing from our expertise in industrial materials, we supported artists whose work hadn’t yet been prepared for the elements. Providing samples of ways to keep their ideas intact while making them suitable for an outdoor installation.