Rochester Municipal Park to Welcome New Native Plant and Pollinator-Inspired Mural
Rochester, MI – May 9, 2022 – This Spring 2022, Rochester Municipal Park will welcome a colorful mural, inspired by native plants and pollinators, to its Gray Block Building (GBB) located near the northwest corner of the park. Local muralist and Detroit resident, Louise Jones, will be painting a spray of Black-Eyed Susans and Purple Coneflowers amidst blades of bright grass with a Tiger Swallowtail, Monarch Butterfly, Hummingbird Moth and bees hovering about.
Commissioned by Rochester’s City Beautiful Commission, Jones was selected for her “large-scale floral mural installations, which can be seen in public spaces throughout the United States, from museums to public parks,” explained Rachel Williams, Chair of the City Beautiful Commission. Jones’ murals often depict site-specific plants and animals, and this will be true of the mural on the GBB in Rochester’s Municipal Park as well.
“I have learned from the Rochester Pollinators that pollinator populations are declining, 1/3 of our food supply is dependent on pollinators and they are vital to our local ecosystems. The subject of the mural is Michigan native plants and pollinators reflecting our initiatives this year to help our environment; including creating a native plant garden at the Paint Creek Bridge and supporting the incredible work of the Rochester Pollinators,” said Rachel Williams.
(l) Rachel Williams (r) Louise Jones
Photo Credit: Marilyn Trent
Muralist Louise Jones grew up in Santa Monica, California. She went to University of California, Santa Cruz for college, where she focused on drawing and printmaking. After college, she experimented with many forms of artmaking, including sculpture, installation, painting, illustration, graphic design, sign painting, and, finally, murals. Jones moved to Detroit in 2014 after several informal art residencies and quickly found that the demand for murals was high, so she became a full-time muralist.
Jones’ love of floral patterns stemmed from an early introduction to textiles and fashion (which she takes from her mom who is a self-taught seamstress), so she initially painted flower patterns because it was something she was familiar with and something she had concentrated on in college. Now, Jones has grown to love the subject even more and finds herself especially drawn to wildflowers and native plants, as they are the key to making site-specific work that connects with the public.
Frequent visitors of the Rochester Municipal Park, Tim and Jessica Perry and family of Royal Oak, enjoy the New Native Plant Mural
The City Beautiful Commission held a “soft” opening for Jones’ mural on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. At the opening, Jones laid down the initial paint strokes on the mural, which is expected to be completed May 6, 2022.
Rochester’s City Beautiful Commission has a subcommittee—The Rochester Pollinators—and the initiatives of this subcommittee were a huge inspiration for this mural. The City Beautiful Commission was initially established to study, conceive, formulate, promulgate, and develop plans for the beautification of Rochester in various ways. Jones’ mural will bring attention to the City Beautiful Commission and Rochester Pollinator’s initiatives, while adding a beautiful, permanent art installation to the City.
“I am proud to work with the City Beautiful Commission to bring this mural to Rochester. I believe this work of art contributes to our community's identity, facilitates a sense of pride in residents, and celebrates the significant role pollinators play in our ecosystem,” said Council Member Amanda Harrison.
Rochester Municipal Park offers a wide range of outdoor activities, including tennis courts; open air shelters; over a mile of paved walkway; a pond (for skating in the winter); sand volleyball; and two tot lots. The Paint Creek and its trail namesake runs through the entire park as well. The Municipal Park is also home to the Rochester Community House, which is a non-profit service and banquet facility accessible from Ludlow Street.
For questions regarding the mural, please visit the City of Rochester’s website at rochestermi.org or contact City Hall at 248-733-3700.
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Mar 20, 2022 City of Rochester and Rochester.Life Staff