Carnegie Visual Arts Center

Downtown Decatur is all aflutter with giant butterflies. Arts Aflutter, presented by the Carnegie Visual Arts Center, is the most exciting, public, outdoor art event Decatur has ever experienced. Arts Aflutter celebrates the area’s diverse and creative visual artists and spotlights the “rebirth” of Decatur’s downtown. This event will encourage laughter, thought, and an appreciation of the arts all while attracting residents and tourists alike to Decatur’s beautiful downtown area during a temporary outdoor exhibition, May 10 – August 14, 2009.

Modeled after the wildly successful “Cows on Parade” held in Chicago and similar programs all across the United States (visit www.americanartparade.com), Arts Aflutter features 63 larger-than-life, three-dimensional, metal butterflies—painted, decorated, adorned, embellished and bejeweled by North Alabama’s leading artists. Butterflies were chosen to represent the revitalization of historic downtown district and to symbolize the rebirth of imagination that emerges each time a piece of art is created. Sponsored by the City of Decatur, Morgan County Commission, local businesses and individuals, the butterflies are designed to be works of art, rather than billboards advertising a particular business. Sponsors have worked with local artists to create unique images that allude to a particular business or simply make a whimsical statement about beauty.

“Everyone wins: businesses, artists, individual sponsors and civic organizations. Everyone who participates wins! This opportunity to support the arts AND draw attention and traffic to the historic downtown area is a major boost for the revitalization effort.” states Rick Paler, director of the Downtown Revitalization Authority.

Arts Aflutter officially takes flight on Sunday, May 10 at 4PM with a live butterfly release in Delano Park. The metal butterflies are placed in public places in and around Decatur’s historic districts and downtown parks, each with a plaque that identifies the butterflies’ sponsor and artist. Imagine butterflies on street corners, trees, lampposts—anywhere you might find a butterfly! The official guide to Arts Aflutter will be available at the butterfly release and includes a map of the butterfly trail, along with a complete listing of the sponsors and artists who are participating in this event. Additional copies of the official guide to Arts Aflutter will be available at the Carnegie Visual Arts Center, Decatur Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Cook’s Natural Science Museum, Decatur Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, the Old State Bank and selected retail outlets. Arts Aflutter t-shirts will be for sale along at the butterfly release.

www.carnegieartstrail.org