Published Monday, September 11, 2006

By Aurora Rodriguez
The Ledger

For artist Karla Wean, inspiration struck at 2 a.m., after a long, tiring, summer evening of painting and decorating her new public butterfly sculpture, "Musical Flutter." She grabbed a pen and paper and wrote lyrics, later composing music for an acoustic song by the same name that serves as the soundtrack for her swallowtail's imaginary flight.

Both the sculpture and song will make their debut at the "Butterfly Bash," the Oct. 14 event where monarch sculptures in the "Kaleidoscope: Butterflies in Flight" public art project will be unveiled.

There are several different sizes of butterflies, including emperors and swallowtails. In addition to Wean's swallowtail, more than 80 other butterfly statues are part of the project.

"Kaleidoscope" is a fundraiser inspired by the popular and successful Swansation public art project that took place in Lakeland in 2002, when swan sculptures began to dot the city.

Funds will go to the building of CommonGround, Polk County's first "inclusive play experience," where children with a variety of ability levels will be able to play with other children.

Wean said she's happy to be part of such a kind fundraising event and that working on painting and detailing her sculpture this past summer has been a gratifying experience.

"Combining both art and music has been an endeavor of joy and love," said Wean.

The Mulberry High art teacher sings and plays guitar, violin and flute.

"The song just came to me in the middle of the night," she said. "I really wanted to go to sleep, but inspiration had other plans."

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