BOONE — A new glass-tiled mosaic bench shaped like a butterfly is set to land on the Greenway Trail in Boone in the coming months, as Watauga Democrat reported.
The Watauga Arts Council, collaborating with the town of Boone, plans to install the artwork along the Greenway Trail loop off Deerfield Road, situated behind the Leon Levine Center. Titled “Taking Flight,” the piece stands over five feet tall and features a six-foot wingspan. It is constructed from glass tiles specifically chosen for their ability to withstand the High Country's range of weather, from cold winters to warm summers.
The installation represents months of joint effort between a group of local women and two art classes. Cindy Michaud, the project's lead artist, stated that her goal was to create something for the community alongside members of the community itself. She noted that an accessible outdoor installation allows people to experience art directly in a public space without needing tickets or appointments.
Michaud derived the inspiration for the bench during a previous bicycle ride on a Midwest trail where she encountered a mosaic bench. That experience led her to pursue a similar art project for a mosaic class she teaches through the Watauga Arts Council. To learn the necessary fabrication techniques, Michaud read about an instructor in Bellbuckle, Tennessee, who teaches outdoor fabrication using concrete and polystyrene. She and her husband, Bob, traveled to Tennessee to take the course, where they constructed the base structure of the bench and learned how to prepare it for tiling. Michaud expressed that the journey of the project from a single class in Tennessee to her classroom in North Carolina added a unique quality to the finished piece.
The design of the bench integrates regional educational themes and local natural elements. The front side features a Monarch butterfly, chosen to represent the species' migration through the area and local efforts by residents who plant milkweed to support them. The back side displays a Purple Hairstreak butterfly, a vivid species commonly found throughout the High Country. Michaud explained that incorporating two recognizable local butterflies adds an educational aspect to the work, while also providing a designated photo opportunity within the town's park system.
The detailed mosaic work was completed through collective labor regardless of weather conditions. Alongside Michaud and her husband Bob, team members Mary Ferrell, Lisa Loveday, Sheri Sastroyek, Jennifer Montague, Sherry Nibkaht, and Patti Jupiter contributed to the project. When outdoor conditions were rainy or too cold, the team worked inside the studio to prepare individual tile pieces, which were later carried outside and applied directly to the bench structure. Michaud recalled that several participants initially expressed doubts about their skill levels, but the team proceeded by learning the process together.
The installation site along the Greenway park loop already features an established butterfly garden along with shaded areas near existing seating. While the specific loop is still building a distinct identity among the area's trail network, the colorful mosaic tiles of the bench are designed to complement the surrounding garden environment.
Michaud noted that the primary reward of the project comes from watching a piece develop from scratch and seeing community members interact with it once completed. She voiced hope that the addition of the handmade bench will encourage further support for public art projects across the local community.
