50 butterflies released from canal barge for Medina Triennial event
Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Children held out their hands hoping a Monarch butterfly would land in their palms, after the butterfly release Saturday on the Floating Barge on the Erie Canal in Medina. (Right) Dave O’Donnell, founder of the Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm in Clarence, prepares to release 50 Monarch butterflies on Saturday afternoon.
MEDINA – A Monarch butterfly release from the Medina Triennial’s Floating Barge drew a crowd estimated at more than 200 Saturday afternoon.
As the Triennial concludes its eighth week today (Sunday), co-director Kari Conte said the event has been attracting people from across the country. She reported on Friday there were visitors from Ithaca, New York City, Massachusetts, California and Toronto, many of whom spent at least one night.
Grace McKissock, an intern with Great Lakes Education, and volunteer Emma Tanovis are dressed as butterflies on Medina’s floating barge, where a Monarch butterfly release took place Saturday afternoon.
Three friends from Williamsville said they visit Medina at least twice a year.
“We love this town, its shops, Zambistro’s, the scenery and the community,” said Eileen Giarraffa of Williamsville, who was there with Lora Fletcher and Eileen Torse.
The Floating Barge, also called a “food forest on the Erie Canal,” was open for harvesting beginning at noon.
At 1 p.m. today, Conte will conduct a curatorial tour at the historic Medina High School, 324 Catherine St. She will share information about participating artists and their works.
Volunteers Terry Cook and David Sidari greet visitors to the Floating Barge in Medina’s Canal Basin, prior to a butterfly release Saturday by Dave O’Donnell of Clarence.
Crowds stood with cameras ready to capture the release of 50 Monarch butterflies Saturday afternoon on the Floating Barge in Medina’s Canal Basin. A Monarch can be seen in the upper left corner on a flowering bush.
