New mural unveiled in Rochester Municipal Park

ROCHESTER — The community can now experience the four seasons all year round with a stroll through Rochester Municipal Park.

The Rochester City Beautiful Commission commissioned self-taught artist Chelsea Hensbergen to create a four-panel mural highlighting the city’s natural beauty.

Hensbergen, of Washington Township, said she draws inspiration from nature.

“My philosophy is finding magic in the mundane,” she explained. “I’m always outdoors, being active. I love noticing all the little changes that we see, like the leaves, and watching and observing everything, because there’s so much out there that we don’t pay attention to.”

As soon as she heard about the mural project, Hensbergen said, she immediately thought of painting the four seasons. Her work colorfully depicts the park’s familiar ducks swimming in the Paint Creek in spring; butterflies, dragonflies and bees flying in blue skies and landing on a colorful sea of blooms in summer; a couple and their dog taking a stroll down the Paint Creek Trail amid falling leaves in fall; and community members ice skating on the duck pond in a magical winter scene.

The four-panel, 4-by-8-foot mural — hung on the Kiwanis Shelter, near the bandshell, in the park — was unveiled to the community Aug. 29.

“To me, they look really like Rochester,” said Rochester Mayor Stuart Bikson. “The artwork is beautiful.”

City Beautiful Commission Chair Jeanine Offer Krupp said the volunteer nine-member commission reviewed 12 mural proposals — including two from out of state — based on “artistic merit, alignment with the theme and feasibility” before selecting a winner.

“Not all the murals fit Rochester at all. Some were really urban. Some were really angular, and we also didn’t want a mural that was too similar to what we already had in the park. … This one was my favorite,” said Krupp.

“Chelsea’s art is the perfect fit for our park and Rochester,” she said.

The City Beautiful Commission is dedicated to making city spaces more appealing. The committee has been involved in many projects over the years, including adding everything from cedar pergolas and new murals to butterfly, sun and pollinator gardens in the city.

For the latest mural project, the idea is that every two to three years, the mural will be swapped out for another artist’s work, and the previous artist’s work will be returned.

“At first we talked about cycling them out every two to three years, but if we keep getting a good response to this — it’s hard to imagine beating it, but other people deserve a chance too — maybe the city will give us more walls,” said Krupp.

“We want artwork all over town,” Bikson added. “The City Council really supports the arts, so we are for that and want to keep on going.”

The City Beautiful Commission, the Community Foundation of Rochester and Rochester’s Tree Committee allocated a budget of up to $11,250 for the mural project  — $8,000 from the City Beautiful Commission, $2,250 from the Tree Committee and $1,000 from the Community Foundation — including all artist fees, materials and installation costs. The city will purchase the protective coating.

For more information, email the City Beautiful Commission at cbc@rochester.mi.org.