Beetles share our world. They are varied, abundant, and perform many ecological functions. Beetles are eaten by all sorts of animals, they are pollinators for many plants, and aid in organic decomposition. Six beetles found in Michigan are represented in this work. These beetles were chosen for their diversity of color and shape: ladybug (red, black, and white), banded net-winged beetle (orange stripes), firefly (yellow, black, and red), green June bug (green), six-spotted tiger beetle (greenish blue with white spots), and the stag beetle (black, brown, and purple).
Jill is a Lansing resident best known for her work painting pedestrian crosswalks in the eastside neighborhoods. The goals of her crosswalk paintings are to increase joy for pedestrians and slow traffic on the roads. She believes that playful imagery in the road brings people out of the commonplace and walking across the colorful crosswalks empowers pedestrians with a sense of belonging. Jill also paints on paper and enjoys sending hand printed cards to friends and family.