Milkweed

This painting is about connections. Monarch butterflies need milkweed to survive. Eating the leaves of milkweed plants makes butterfly larvae toxic to birds. Because of this, monarch butterflies will only breed amidst milkweeds. Restoring and protecting habitats that include indigenous plants, like milkweed, is something humans can do in their own backyards to protect species like the Monarch butterfly from going extinct. Monarchs are currently on the endangered species list. Loss of suitable habitat and indigenous plants along migration routes is one of the biggest threats to this butterfly which migrates up to 5000 km from Canada to Central and South America.

“We all have a part to play. Butterflies need milkweed. This painting shows how important that connection is and what we can do to help.” - Quinn

Quinn has planted hundreds of milkweed plants on Monarch migration routes.

This painting was created by choosing the colours of the monarch butterflies, applying acrylic paint to canvas, pressing and pushing the paint through plastic wrap to create texture.