Cloverdale muralist explains how mural came to life

The town of Cloverdale and the wall of Shady Dale Studio recently received a significant refresh when Putnam County Mural Project muralist Christina Hollering crafted a significant piece of art for the town.

Hollering, who is from Indianapolis and has done projects for the NBA, WNBA, Pacers Sports & Entertainment and Jiffy Lube, created a mural full of native butterflies, clovers and spring ephemerals as her artwork after being selected to take part in the Putnam County Mural Project. 

"The Putnam County Mural Project is a highly respected mural festival here in Indiana. I was over the moon when I found out I had been selected and would be included among some of the best muralists from around the world," Hollering told The Putnam County Post. 

According to Hollering, the inspiration for her mural came from Cloverdale's proximity to Cataract Falls, the town's history and conversations she had with the owner of Shady Dale Studio. 

"I drew the color palette from Shady Dale Studio, and the butterflies featured in the mural are all native species found in the area. I also incorporated bloodroot, a native spring ephemeral wildflower, and clovers to further connect the mural to the surrounding landscape," she said. 

While she has done murals all over the state, Hollering acknowledged Cloverdale was a special place that provided plenty of inspiration for her work. 

"Cloverdale is a very tight-knit community, with a closer proximity to a state park than any of my other mural locations. I was surprised by the number of native butterflies that flew through the alley while I was working, as well as the migratory birds that passed overhead. What surprised me even more was how connected I seemed to be to nearly everyone who stopped to visit. People I had never met before would discover that we had a mutual friend or some other unexpected connection. It was such a great reminder of how small and interconnected our communities really are. That interaction is one of the things I enjoy most about painting murals, the opportunity to meet people, hear their stories, and become part of a community while creating something for it," Hollering said. 

Regarding what she hopes people take away from the mural, she hopes it provides a "visual escape and a moment of surprise" when people walk past. 

"I want it to encourage a moment of pause and appreciation for the natural world around us, while also becoming a landmark that the town is proud to call its own," Hollering said.