‘Tufted titmouse’ Kalamazoo Mural Festival 2025 | kalamazoo, MI 2025

The design centers on the Titmouse surrounded by a circle of full-color native blooms. As the piece flows out it becomes a more monochromatic line drawing–-like a field sketch made huge. The colors of the mural subtly reference the blues, white, and yellows found in the Kalamazoo flag.

I wanted my mural to focus on native plants and birds that can be found specifically in Kalamazoo County, not just Michigan. I centered my research on local native plant and wildlife sanctuaries–specifically the Dow Wildflower Sanctuary at Kalamazoo College and the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary. I chose the Titmouse because it is a beautiful under the radar bird that has a high number of sightings at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary. After researching plants that are hyperlocal to Kalamazoo, I chose to include the following plants in my mural:

Plants portrayed include

Rigid Goldenrod (Solidago rigida), Wild Senna (leaves only) (Cassia hebecarpa), FleabaneDaisy (Erigeron annuus). Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)