A site-specific public art installation will soon be created Friday morning, June 4, at the Madison Public Library’s central location at 201 W. Mifflin Street. Molly Stentz is a floral artist and flower grower. For this site-specific “Madison Flower Flash, 2021” installation, she has curated a selection of Wisconsin-grown seasonal ephemerals. This project coincides with the library recently resuming services to the community. Fresh and vibrant florals are intertwined with the iconic Madison Public Library letters to welcome visitors back to the library. This public art project celebrates Madison’s community resilience and vibrant spirit with a floral array that creates a wonderful artistic expression. In Molly's plan, each letter of the exterior Madison Public Library signage is embellished with bouquets of bright peonies nestled among hardy evergreens. Spires of foxglove playfully pop out from the tops of the letters and spirea branches of cascading white blossoms encircle the lettering.
Flowers evoke a myriad of emotions and memories; thus, they are a powerful connector to the collective human experience. So many momentous life events are shared through flowers. This installation will acknowledge the past year through a commissioned flower flash. The one-of-a-kind expression will address a year of COVID-19 isolation, anxiety, stress, celebration, and loss. The installation is intended to be a gift to the Madison community and Madison Public Library as we emerge from this pandemic and plant new seeds for what will come next. Together we will celebrate the re-opening of the library, and the collective challenges our community and world have overcome.
Due to the ephemeral nature of the live materials and potential weather factors, this installation will only be on view for up to 24-72 hrs. The memories, however, will last a lifetime! We hope you will make plans to visit over the weekend and enjoy this public art project with your friends, family, and neighbors. Viewing the “Flower Flash” is free and open to all starting Friday morning, June 4.