Posted: June 17, 2009

Shorewood — Merchants hope visitors flock to downtown Saturday for the kickoff of the Butterflies in Flight public art exhibit that will feature 30 custom-decorated butterflies scattered throughout the shopping district.

"This is a great event for our community," said Barb Caprile, marketing director for the Shorewood Business Improvement District. "We want to help Shorewood become a destination this summer."

The butterflies will be rolled out along North Oakland Avenue and West Capitol Drive, at Village Hall, the Shorewood Fitness Center and the Police Department between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday. They'll remain there throughout the summer.

The Shorewood Foundation is presenting the event, the Shorewood BID is producing it, and the Shorewood Men's Club, Gloss Photography Studios and Shorewood Department of Public Works are additional sponsors.

Many artists are local

"The foundation gave us a pool of money to purchase the (butterfly) forms," Caprile explained. Artists were invited to submit their designs and a jury selected 30 artists, including many from Shorewood.

One of those artists is Jenny Steinman Heyden, who graduated from Shorewood High School in 1986 and returned to the village with her family in 2004. Heyden's experience with animal forms dates to Chicago in 1999. She was one of the artists who created a cow for the first art exhibit of its kind. Since then cities across the country - including Milwaukee - have featured public displays of cows, pigs and other animals.

"That changed public art," she said. "It gave really unknown people like me a chance to exhibit, as well as better-known artists."

Heyden later went on to create two cows for exhibits in New York City and Madison.

Heyden used Facebook to connect with 500 SHS alumni and asked them for comments about the school. "I wanted to make it a tribute to the school and the many ways it helps connect people who do good things," she said.

She managed to incorporate those elements and even the "green" theme at SHS. Look for the solar panels and box planters with flowers on her butterfly.

Event is foundation fundraiser

Various civic groups and businesses paid $275 to sponsor the individual butterflies, and all the proceeds go to the Shorewood Foundation. Heyden's sponsor is the Shorewood High School Alumni Association and her butterfly can be found outside the Shorewood Fitness Center.

The butterfly is about 36 inches by 36 inches, she said. Her design highlights several themes and features the leaders and artists who have graduated from high school.

Caprile said the artists have been invited to stand at their butterfly locations from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and talk to residents and guests about their art.

The butterflies will fly away after Aug. 23 and will be auctioned off Aug. 30 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Hubbard Park Lodge. The proceeds will benefit the foundation.

IF YOU GO

The following activities will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday unless otherwise noted.

• Shorewood Men's Club offers free trolley rides along Oakland Avenue and Capitol Drive, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Sendik's, 4027 N. Oakland Ave., hosts a summer cookout.

• Gloss Photography Studios, 3805 N. Oakland Ave., offers free children's photos.

• Establishment Hair Salon, 4503 N. Oakland Ave., sponsors live music, a cookout, family chalk jam and photo shoot.

• The Chiropractic Company, 3510 N. Oakland Ave., offers free chair massage for adults and balloons for kids, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Stowell Associates Select Staff, 4485 N. Oakland Ave., gives away summer treats.