William H. Howe Mural Recreation
Ottawa, Kansas 2017
This mural on the Birzer “Butterfly” Building, 415 S. Main St. in Ottawa, KS, is in recognition of lifelong Ottawa resident, William H. (Bill) Howe, 1938 – 2009.
Known around town as the “Butterfly Man,” Howe was an internationally recognized artist and lepidopterist (an expert of butterflies and moths). Among his publications, is his work as the illustrator and coordinating editor of the Doubleday book Butterflies of North America (illustrated with 2,033 watercolors), which is hailed by many entomologists as the greatest volume ever published on butterflies of this continent. His paintings are in the collections of museums worldwide. Howe was named “Kansas Artist of the Year” by Governor Mike Hayden, in 1987.
William's infatuation with butterflies began at an early age. As he told it, the defining event of his childhood occurred when his father, who was an entomologist working for the USDA, brought home a cage full of caterpillars and left them on the dining room table. Over the following days, William watched spellbound as the striped caterpillars metamorphosed, first forming chrysalides and then emerging as elegant black swallowtails. From this experience grew a lifetime passion for the gossamer-winged insects.
Howe said, "My fascination with butterflies has been welded into a lifelong avocation that has commanded both my spirit and my labors. But it isn't a scientific interest. The scientific problems I leave up to the experts. Sitting under a microscope in an office doesn't appeal to me. It is the emotional experience of catching a butterfly and the reward of being able to use my paints to capture it on paper or canvas. I do this for one reason - it's fun. And most jobs are not fun, I have found."
This mural is based on Howe’s 2005 painting depicting the Chippewa Hills, titled “Giant Swallowtails: Nightingale Point” which hangs in the Mound City, KS Public Library. Dave Loewenstein led the recreation with assistance from Sue Dunlap and Callie Mongold and the generous support from the community.
