Butterflies Over Lakeland
If you haven’t noticed, it is peak season for butterfly chasing in downtown Lakeland. From October 2006 to April 2007, Kaleidoscope, Butterflies in Flight’s butterfly sculptures—with wingspans from five to seven feet—landed in Lakeland and rested a few months. The Kaleidoscope public art project benefits the construction of CommonGround, a fully inclusive play experience for children of varying abilities and disabilities.
On April 27, 2007, thirty-five of the flock was auctioned at The Butterfly Ball Auction. Including the auction proceeds, Kaleidoscope has raised approximately $550,000 in support of CommonGround and an additional $34,000 for other local nonprofit organizations. The enormous success of Kaleidoscope is a tribute to the community of Lakeland itself. Businesses, government, individuals, artists, and nonprofit organizations demonstrated what can be accomplished when uniting in support of a great endeavor.
We look forward to the groundbreaking of CommonGround in the October of 2007. This park will be an exciting addition to our community and will enrich the lives of many children for generations to come.
Kaleidoscope officially took flight in October 2005 thanks to its Premiere Emperor Butterfly Benefactors: Central Florida Eurocars, C & C Bank, and Publix Super Markets Charities, each of which contributed $25,000 in seed money to begin the project. The actual shapes of Emperor, Monarch, and Swallowtail butterflies served as models for the aluminum sculptures. A local company, G.M.F. Industries, Inc., fabricated the butterflies.
During the last quarter of 2005, Kaleidoscope made a “call for artists.” An overwhelming four hundred sketches were submitted. Sixty-seven different artists and local students were selected by the sponsors to decorate the butterflies. The artists range in age from twelve to seventy-four and live as far away as New York. Twenty-seven are from Lakeland.
The main sponsors for Kaleidoscope are the eighty-eight businesses, organizations and individuals who paid to be a “butterfly benefactor” at one of three sponsorship levels. Emperor’s sponsorships cost $25,000; Monarch’s sponsorships were $10,000; and Swallowtail’s were $4,000. Each butterfly name, sponsor, and artist is recognized on a plaque at the base of the sculpture.
Since the Butterfly Ball Auction, the butterflies have once again taken flight and migrated to their new homes throughout our community.
Published Thursday, April 19, 2007
Butterflies Will Fly Away Soon
Kaleidoscope was created to raise money for CommonGround.
By Aurora Rodriguez
The Ledger
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Bye, Bye Butterflies
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: TigerTown, 2301 Lakeland Hills Blvd.
COST: Free
INFORMATION: 863-834-6086 or e-mail infokaleidoscope@aol.com
Lakeland's butterflies will soon be free to fly, and this weekend is a chance to say goodbye.
The vivid public art pieces around Lake Morton and elsewhere downtown have flocked to a hangar at Tigertown in North Lakeland before they are auctioned off to raise money for a new playground.
Donna Henricks, co-chairwoman of the Kaleidoscope project, said 50 of the large butterflies and 65 of the smaller children's art contest creations will be on display at the hangar this Saturday and Sunday.
Kaleidoscope was created to raise money for CommonGround in Lakeland, Polk County's first all-inclusive playground where children of varying abilities and disabilities can play side by side. Plans are to build it in Veterans Park on Edgewood Drive in South Lakeland.
Donna Henricks, co-chairwoman of Kaleidoscope, said she expects the fund-raising effort to bring in about $450,000 to make the dream of constructing CommonGround a reality. The butterflies will be auctioned at the "Butterfly Ball" on April 27 at the Lake Mirror Center.
Not only does CommonGround benefit from Kaleidoscope, Henricks said she thinks everyone involved leaves with something valuable. "I think it's been a huge success for the community in general. So many people are a part of this."
Non-profit organizations such as the Polk Museum of Art and the Central Florida Autism Institute will also receive money from specific butterflies sold at the auction.
Those sad to see the butterflies leave can come to the hangar and leave with their own Kaleidoscope treasure. All merchandise, such as polo shirts, ornaments and tote bags, will be sold at half-price.
Although Henricks has mixed feelings about the Kaleidoscope events coming to an end, she said.
"The lakes are going to look empty without the butterflies around," said Henricks. "But it'll be good for the project to end and CommonGround construction to start."
Aurora Rodriguez can be reached at aurora.rodriguez@theledger.com or at 863-802-7539.
Published Friday, February 23, 2007
Butterfly Fundraiser to be a 'Blast'
By Aurora Rodriguez
The Ledger
Searching for an escape from the usual weekend activities?
Families may want to stop by Lakeside Village on Saturday for a colorful "Butterfly Blast."
The arts and crafts event, hosted by Lakeside Village and Picasso's Cup Art Cafe, begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m., with all proceeds collected benefiting the Kaleidoscope: Butterflies in Flight fundraising project in Lakeland. The event will be held on the street and parking lot outside of the Picasso's Cup at the Village.
The Butterfly Blast includes an array of hands-on craft tables, live music and a lively butterfly habitat where the public will have a chance, for $1 each, to release their choice of 400 vivid butterflies into the wild.
Kaleidoscope was created to raise money for CommonGround in Lakeland, which will be Polk County's first all-inclusive playground where children of varying abilities can interact and play together side by side.
There will be 12 unique butterfly craft activities available, said Donna Henricks, co-chairwoman of Kaleidoscope
"It will be a great family art day," she said.
At the craft tables, aspiring artists and designers can create their own butterfly bead bracelets, decorative Croc clog buttons, butterfly mosaic plaques, butterfly refrigerator magnets, butterfly tiles and whatever else they can imagine that involves butterflies.
Spectators will be also urged to enjoy live demonstrations of diverse arts activities, such as the workings of a potter's wheel, hands-on sculpting techniques and the creation of a variety of crafts through glass cutting.
"It's a great opportunity for families and children, and people that love butterflies and crafts," Henricks said.
Not only will those attending have a chance to explore their artistic side, she said, but they'll also be able to see the 65 winning sculptures from Kaleidoscope's children's art contest. They will be on exhibit for one day and together for the first time since the contest's reception in January.
The public will have a chance to vote for their favorite butterfly, with each vote going into a raffle in which both the voters and winning butterflies will win prizes, said Henricks.
"Those attending can vote as many times as they wish," added Henricks.
After the event, the children's butterfly flock, along with 88 larger butterflies, will be kept on display throughout Lakeland until the end of March.
All 65 of the children's butterflies and 34 of the larger flock will be sold April 27 at "The Butterfly Ball Auction" being held in Lake Mirror Center.
Aurora Rodriguez can be reached at aurora.rodriguez@theledger.com or at 863-802-7539.
Published Friday, January 26, 2007
Student Butterfly Standouts on Display
By Aurora Rodriguez
The Ledger, Lakeland, Florida
IF YOU GO
This weekend, a new batch of butterflies will take flight as they're introduced to Polk County at the Polk Theatre in Lakeland. In honor of the "Kaleidoscope: Butterflies in Flight" fund-raising project, 65 standout designs chosen from 13,000 submissions for the Children's Art Contest will be shown in their completed, polished and painted glory. The public art project will raise money for a new park in Lakeland.
The selected students decorated their own 20-inch aluminum Emperor-shaped butterflies with designs of their own making, and five entries were picked to represent each grade level in Polk schools, said Lisa Jorgensen, chairwoman of the Kaleidoscope Children's Art Contest.
Judging from the response she's been getting, Jorgensen said, the kids are very excited about seeing their butterflies shown off in front of a crowd Saturday.
"We are presenting all winners with an acknowledgement in two different sessions," said Jorgensen. "I'm also excited about having these butterflies finally open for the public to see and the community to enjoy."
The official unveiling of the butterflies is scheduled in two parts. Winners in grades Kindergarten through 5th will be presented at 10 a.m. and winners of grades 6th through 12th will be presented at 12:30 p.m.
Ben Hamic, a 6-year-old first grade student at Cleveland Court Elementary in Lakeland said he was happy that his creation, "Flapper", will be unveiled Saturday.
Ben said he named his butterfly "Flapper" because he flaps his wings.
"I painted and colored it, the bottom orange and the top red," Ben said.
His father, Herb, said he was thrilled his son won, because he saw his child put a lot of effort into making his red, orange and purple butterfly special.
"We love it. He's very excited," he said. "We have family coming in from Ft. Myers and probably even Tallahassee to the presentation."
Rachel Ward, a 14-year-old ninth grader who is home schooled said she's looking forward to showing off her butterfly, titled "Fire and Ice."
"I didn't know if I would win or not," said Rachel. "I was very excited."
The butterfly has a fiery red-orange and yellowish image on one side and a bluish-purple and green icy array on the other.
Rachel said it meant to represent the contrast of heat and cold.
"It took me around a week or so to complete," said Ward.
Cody Berringer, a 16-year-old 10th-grade student at Harrison School of the Arts in Lakeland said it was an honor to submit his plaid butterfly creation "Kilt" for the contest.
He decided to call it "Kilt" after he felt his design ended up looking like the Scottish garment of the same name.
"I saw it in a magazine and decided I could change it up a bit and use it on the butterfly," said Berringer. "I used red and black acrylic spray paint on it. I thought it'd be funny to call it that."
Berringer said although he's been a part of other art shows before, he felt this one truly stands out because it's for a good cause.
The works of art will be transferred or put on public display at Explorations V Children's Museum, Lakeland City Hall and the Polk Museum of Art from Monday through March.
In the third week of April, they will be moved to the Tigertown Hangar to be put on public display. Then they will be part of a silent auction at the Butterfly Ball on April 27, which will be held at the Lake Mirror Center in Lakeland.
The students' "baby butterflies" will be available first for $500 then at a silent auction, according to a press release.
All proceeds acquired from the butterflies will benefit the building of Common Ground, Polk County's first playground designed to be used by all children, regardless of any disability.
Craig Berringer, Cody's father, said the cause has truly been an inspiration for his son since he has an autistic cousin who will benefit from a park such as this one.
"I saw him put a lot of time and effort into this butterfly," said Berringer. "It really inspired him to do a better job, and I'm proud of him."
FANCY THAT!
Hopes for a park where kids of all abilities may play rise on the wings of colorful butterflies.
Amy L. Edwards | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted January 7, 2007
LAKELAND -- There are plenty of butterflies in downtown Lakeland these days: "Geoscope," "The Blue Prince of Flight," "Musical Flutter" and "The Messenger," just to name a few.
More than 80 of these colorful aluminum structures are part of a public artwork project that will benefit CommonGround, a proposed playground designed for all children, including those with disabilities.
Polk County residents, organizations and businesses sponsored the butterflies, which were then created by artists. Levels of sponsorship ranged from $4,000 to $25,000.
The butterflies, which have wingspans from 4 to 7 feet, are on display throughout Lakeland, including around lakes Mirror and Morton.
Many of the butterflies will be auctioned in April, with half the proceeds going to the local charity of the original benefactor's choice and the remaining amount to CommonGround.
Once the money is raised and the park constructed, CommonGround will be Polk County's first "inclusive" playground, said Donna Henricks, a volunteer with the Kaleidoscope, Butterflies in Flight project.
Plans for the park, to be built off Edgewood Drive in Lakeland, call for equipment that is accessible to all children, including those with disabilities.
That may include a swing that allows a wheelchair to be used, a slide that can fit a child with braces and quiet areas for children with autism.
CommonGround will have a butterfly theme and will include interactive features. Henricks said one such game might have a button that, when pushed, could tell the child to go talk to someone with brown hair, which encourages interaction among all children in the park.
"It's a whole experience," she said.
Later this month, a selected group of Polk County students will unveil their own aluminum butterflies, which will be on public display in February and March.
Kindergarten through fourth-grade artwork will be displayed at the Explorations V Children's Museum in Lakeland; fifth- through eighth-grade works will be at Lakeland City Hall; and high school students' butterflies will be displayed at the Polk Museum of Art.
For information on the project, including a map of butterfly locations, go to kaleidoscopelakeland.com.
Published Thursday, November 2, 2006
Vandals Steal Beauty From City's Butterflies
By Dana Willhoit
The Ledger
LAKELAND - The giant butterfly statues of "Kaleidoscope-Butterflies in Flight" alighted on the streets of Lakeland only a week ago, and already vandals have damaged seven of them, destroying one completely.
"I was surprised and disgusted" to hear of the vandalism Wednesday night, artist and former City Manager Roger Haar said. His butterfly, the stained glass "Kallie," was not among those vandalized. "It makes a person very sad to hear about something like that going on."
Vandals damaged five butterflies either late Saturday or early Sunday, according to Kevin Cook, director of communications for Lakeland.
They were "Connecting the Pieces" and "Metamorphosis," both in Barnett Family Park; "For the Love of the Arts" and "Water, Wings & Wild Things," both in the Lake Mirror Amphitheater; and "Freedom of Flight" in Kryger Park.
They all received some type of damage ranging from twisted antennae to graffiti, according to Cook. On Tuesday, vandals damaged Big Blue Butterfly on Lake Morton and destroyed Pharaoh Fly on the grounds of the Chamber of Commerce.
The public art project includes more than 80 statues. The butterflies are being used as a fundraiser for CommonGround, which will be Polk County's first playground designed for children with disabilities.
Anyone with information about the crimes who wishes to be eligible for a reward can call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 800-226-TIPS (8477). All callers remain anonymous.
Dana Willhoit can be reached at dana.willhoit@theledger.com or 863-802-7550.
Published Thursday, October 12, 2006
EMERGING TALENT
Youngest Artists to Create Butterflies Are Ready to See Their Creation Unveiled
By Aurora Rodriguez
The Ledger
When Mallory Adams, 12, found out "The Enchanted Butterfly" was chosen for sponsorship by The Rotary Club of Lakeland South as part of the Kaleidoscope public art project, she was surprised.
"I thought they were the least interested in sponsoring me," said Mallory, a Rochelle School of the Arts student.
The swallowtail sculpture, which is meant to represent peace and its reflection on Earth, is one of the 88 creations that will flutter to each of their designated Lakeland locations between now and April. "Enchanted" will be located at The Lakeland Center.
Money raised through sponsorships and a later auction of the butterflies will help pay for Common Ground, Polk County's first playground designed for use by children regardless of any disability.
For this 12-year-old, having her design chosen as part of the fundraising event was the result of a labor of love with her friend and former Rochelle student Kaitlyn Strange, 12, who recently moved to Virginia.
"We just came up with the idea of the design, and I worked about 11 hours on it with Mallory," said Kaitlyn on the phone from Virginia.
Kaitlyn said it was incredible to have been chosen at the "Net Your Butterfly" event in April. She said she felt surrounded by impressive artists with great ideas for decorating the butterflies.
"At first, we couldn't believe it. It's just amazing to have been sponsored," said Kaitlyn. "Then we just worked really hard on it, sanding and painting it, staying after school sometimes just to make it."
"When we were picked, me and Kaitlyn started jumping up and down and screaming," said Mallory. "It was very exciting for us."
The butterfly, decorated with primary colors, was one of five student designs submitted by Rochelle with help from its art teacher, Marshi Huneycutt.
"I thought we had some students that could do a good job," said Huneycutt. "We had the students pitching their designs at the 'Net Your Butterfly' event, and Mallory and Kaitlyn were of the most enthusiastic."
CINDY SKOP/LEDGER PHOTOS
Adams talks with her visual arts teacher Marshi Huneycutt.
For Mallory, having won sponsorship represents a milestone for a young artist. She said her design even beat those created by other adults, including some Rochelle art teachers.
"I'm really excited that we get a chance to show that kids can do just as good a job as grown-ups can," said Mallory.
Donna Henricks, co-chairwoman of Kaleidoscope, said she remembers the girls at the event pitching their butterfly with a lot of excitement.
"They stood by the design and did a great job showing it off," said Henricks. "I think that's one of the reasons why they were chosen."
Steve Carey, member of the Rotary Club of Lakeland South, said the girls really impressed him.
"I only met them the night that I was there to choose the butterflies, and they had a great presentation and were truly excited about the opportunity to do it," said Carey. "I knew they'd do a great job."
Childlike enthusiasm may have wooed judges, but the colorful swallowtail calls for attention on its own.
Boasting orange antennas, a royal-blue body and blue, purple, green, yellow and red swirls, "Enchanted" is a colorful explosion that reminds the viewer of an autumn and evening sky all merged into one.
CINDY SKOP/LEDGER PHOTOS
Mallory Adams, 12, and her Friend Kaitlyn Strange created "Enchanted." The sculpture is one of 88 pieces to be displayed in Munn Park and around Lakeland as part of the Kaleidoscope public art project. "Enchanted" will make its home at The Lakeland Center.
Mallory worked 26 hours detailing and adding the finishing colors on the butterfly. The bright colors, she said, are meant to represent the sun, and the lighter blue colors stand for peace.
"In the top wings it has an image meant to look like a water droplet, and the bottom part shows the circle and the sun," said Mallory. "Together they resemble peace on Earth."
The butterfly is something Huneycutt says the school and the girls should be happy about.
"I feel this has been a wonderful, active learning experience,'' said Huneycutt. "I'm very proud of my students."
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