Monarch butterfly sculptures on Fredericton bridge send environmental message
CBC
Thirty delicately carved monarch butterflies greet walkers and cyclists who cross Fredericton's Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge, which spans the Saint John River.
Each brightly painted wooden butterfly has a wing span of about two feet, and has been handmade by artist Gary Crosby.
The butterflies are one of Fredericton's temporary public art installations. This flutter of monarchs is part of a project Crosby calls A Splash of Colour.
"It could achieve all the aims I wanted to achieve with public art," Crosby said. "But at the same time have a message — an environmental message."
Angela Watson, cultural development officer for the City of Fredericton, said the public art selection committee was "enchanted" with Crosby's project.
"I think visually it's just a lovely, whimsical piece that we knew people would enjoy on the bridge," Watson said.
"This monarch butterfly display will also provide an opportunity to educate the public about the environment and the importance of plants and butterflies."
Crosby came up with the idea about a year ago but says his interest in sculpture and wood carving was inspired by his time in the military.
He spent four years in Germany's Black Forest, an area that is known for its iconic cuckoo clocks.
"Everything's painted, everything's carved, sculpted. There's art everywhere and it was four years of just being completely buried in art," he said.
A peacekeeping tour in Rwanda is where Crosby realized he could be a sculptor or carver. He was clearing out a university and came across a classroom where people had been learning woodcarving. The teacher had filled the room with his work.
"That's how he taught carving to all his students, because they could see each piece as it was being cut," Crosby said. "I looked at that and thought, 'I think I could do that.'"
It was at that moment that Crosby decided to take up woodcarving.
On the walking bridge, cyclists, runners and families out for a walk can be seen stopping to look up at the butterflies.
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