Maine Artist Candice Gosta's Milkweed Mural Blooms in CMTM Lobby
Candice Gosta
CMTM’s new lobby mural “Milkweed Ecosystem” by Candice Gosta draws was inspired by themes of belonging, and from the vital role milkweed plants play in supporting various insect species.
Painting by Candice Gosta. Photo: CMTM.
“Belonging to me means fostering community with my friends and loved ones. To belong is to share mutual love, respect, and tolerance with those closest to you. These values never fail to make others feel seen and accepted for being their most authentic selves.”
If you’ve visited the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine recently, you may have noticed an exciting change to the lobby! Maine artist Candice Gosta has transformed the space surrounding the elevator and stairwell doors into a gorgeous mural celebrating the powerful milkweed plant and the many creatures it supports in our environment. CMTM caught up with Candice this week and asked them some questions about their inspiration and process for creating this beautiful piece. Read on to learn more!
CMTM: Please share the inspiration behind your mural and what motivated you to want to share your work with CMTM audiences.
Candice: This mural is inspired by Alexis Nikole Nelson, aka 'Black Forager.' They were on vacation in Maine this summer and were captivated by the amount of common
Milkweed growing throughout the state. After seeing this, I was inspired to create work that promotes the diversity of the common milkweed ecosystem and highlights the
importance of planting more for these special creatures.
Painting by Candice Gosta. Photo: CMTM.
CMTM: Butterflies are often seen as symbols of transformation and growth. How does your mural capture this idea, especially for a young audience?
Candice: The mural captures this idea through movement; the milkweed seems to
come alive as it creeps up the walls of the atrium, and the insects flutter up the walls,
reaching new heights. I hope that young audiences know you never truly stop growing,
and the sky is the limit when making their dreams their reality.
CMTM: What message or themes do you hope to convey to young visitors through your mural?
Candice: Through bright colors and illustrative plants and insects, I aim to spark
curiosity and encourage questions young visitors to care for the surrounding
environment! The goal is to get them to ask about what they see in the mural and
recognize the importance of the ecosystems they may be overlooking.
CMTM: Milkweed plays a crucial role in the life cycle of butterflies. How did you incorporate the significance of milkweed into your mural's design?
Candice: I included common milkweed and some insects that inhabit it directly into the mural's design. Milkweed is often associated with Monarch butterflies and caterpillars.
but their ‘neighbors’ are almost always overlooked. Common milkweed is a food source for Red Milkweed Beetles, Milkweed Leaf Beetles, Large Milkweed Bug Nymphs, Large
Milkweed Bugs, Milkweed Tussock Caterpillars, and over 450 other known insects!
CMTM: Can you describe the process of creating the mural, from concept to completion? Were there any unique challenges you faced along the way?
Candice: My process usually begins with a hand-drawn sketch that is then made into a digital drawing
with added details and colors I plan to use. After the digital drawing is complete, I’ll create a
mock-up of what the mural will look like in the space it’s designated for — CMTM provided an
image of the atrium from the very beginning, so I was able to speed up this process significantly.
The next steps include submitting designs to the client(s), and commissioning me for the project for
their feedback. After receiving feedback, I will make changes or edits as necessary to ensure
that I meet the client's needs and uphold my artistic vision. Once this step is complete, I can
shop for materials (paint, brushes, dropcloths, etc.) which moves swiftly into the painting
process!
Painting by Candice Gosta. Photo: CMTM.
Candice Gosta and their team of volunteer painters work together on Milkweed Ecosystem, a new milkweed-inspired mural in the CMTM lobby. Photo: CMTM
CMTM: What materials and techniques did you use to bring the mural to life, and how did you choose them for this project?
Candice: I used BEHR Premium Plus interior paint with an eggshell enamel finish. This
particular finish is recommended for children’s bedrooms, giving the mural a flat 2D
illustration feel. The entire mural was handpainted with brushes and paint rollers, and a
projector was used to sketch out the phrase ‘more play this way!’
CMTM: How do you envision children and their families interacting with your mural? What kind of impact do you hope it will have on young minds visiting CMTM?
Candice: I hope to see many photos of families and children in front of the mural! The
overall intent behind the mural is to direct families to the exhibitions on the 2nd & 3rd
floors. Still, its imagery of ecosystems found in Maine offers an opportunity for further
exploration beyond the museum walls. Young minds and parents alike should find
themselves being able to identify common milkweed and the insects inhabiting them.
Painting by Candice Gosta. Photo: CMTM.
The finished “Milkweed Ecosystem” mural. Photo: CMTM
About the Artist:
Candice Gosta (b. 1998, New Haven, CT) is an interdisciplinary painter living in Maine. Gosta earned a BFA in Painting from the Maine College of Art & Design in 2020. Their practice combines traditional paint mediums with collaged elements such as textiles, paper, glass, dried flowers, dead insects, dirt, and hair to depict tangible emotional experiences. Their marginalized identity and lived experience as a Black-Latinx Genderfluid Queer person sparked their innate desire to carve out a visual and physical space for an unconventional expression of emotions. In 2021, they were invited to participate in the SPACE 538 Artist-In-Residence program and attended the Monhegan Artist Residency on Monhegan Island. Gosta is a 2022 recipient of The Maine Arts Commission Fellowship in Visual Arts. Learn more about Candice and connect with them via their website.