Butterfly enthusiasts may find their hearts aflutter over the latest public artwork in the Arts District at Liberty Station in Point Loma.

Artist Kaori Fukuyamas “Garden of Transformation/Jardin de Transformacion” has three main elements — a large metal butterfly wing sculpture, a native garden area and educational messages — all designed to support monarch butterflies.

The monarch, an endangered species, frequents the San Diego region during its long periods of migration. The butterflies spend winters in Mexico and Southern California and warmer months in the northern United States and Canada.

“I choose this opportunity to design an innovative public art installation that is not only visually engaging but creates habitat for a beautiful and vital species at significant risk of decline, acts as an educational platform and generates public engagement,” Fukuyama said.

The installation is on the North Promenade near Stone Brewing’s outdoor patio.

Fukuyama, who is known for thought-provoking, immersive works, said this piece emphasizes the interconnectedness of art, nature and community.

“We couldn’t be happier to highlight another talented artist as part of the Installations at the Station [public art] program,” said Lisa Johnson, president and chief executive of the NTC Foundation, which administers Liberty Stations Arts District. “Kaori does an incredible job of uniting both people and nature with this piece, fostering beauty, connection and educating the community all at once.”

Fukuyama, originally from Kumamoto, Japan, said the concept for her project originated with the uniqueness of the San Diego/Tijuana border region.

“I wanted to represent the cross pollination through the sculpture that happens as residents on both sides of the border exchange ideas, people, goods, communication and collaboration and the transformative energy that can come from this type of exchange,” Fukuyama said.

She added that the urban environment can likewise “transform and become a habitat for beautiful species.”

The major part of the sculpture — the larger-than-life, free-standing monarch butterfly wing — was completed near the end of September, along with plantings of native milkweed and multiple species of nectar plants.

The 5-foot-tall, 10-foot-wide sheet-metal wing is filled with acrylic colored panels laminated with dichroic film.

Kaori Fukuyamas butterfly wing sculpture is made up of acrylic colored panels laminated with dichroic film. (Provided by Kaori Fukuyama)

Fukuyama used some artistic license on the piece, choosing multiple colors as opposed to just orange and black, as on an actual monarch.

“As the sun hits the panel, some colors refract and some reflect and they are two totally different colors, so as you walk around the sculpture you see different colors from different angles, Fukuyama said. It is really fun, especially under the sunlight. It’s pretty close to what I imagined.”

The native seed library and the educational signs in English and Spanish were the final pieces, Fukuyama said.

“The sculpture looks amazing. The solar works great and everything went really smoothly, she said. There are things I could have had a little more finesse in completing, but between budget and timing, I did the best I could and I’m really happy with the result.”

The native seed library works exactly like a little free library but with native seed packets inside that people can take and plant in their home garden,” Fukuyama said.

Though she hopes wintering monarchs will lay their eggs there, “that is up to the monarchs. I can’t determine the course of nature,” she said. “I am providing plants that attract them.”

She also connected with several local garden enthusiasts who helped her plant the garden area.

“They’ve been planting mostly native plants on their own properties for a long time, and they collect seeds as well,” Fukuyama said.

Even before the sculpture was complete, Liberty Station visitors were taking photos of the work in progress and discussing the concept with her, she said.

“One person from out of state shared with me about a similar program she saw in her town, so I feel like this is becoming a gathering place,” Fukuyama said.

“While I was working onsite, there were a lot of kids [from a nearby preschool] super excited about a butterfly garden coming in.”

She said in October that visitors may have to be patient before the work actually showcases her completed vision.

“The plants are very small, she said. Milkweeds kind of go dormant and right now they look like sticks.

Still, she said, “adding them really helps liven up the whole piece, and I’m happy about that.”

“They do look great in spring — that is what nature does, Fukuyama added. I think it’s OK that the garden doesn’t look good all year, but it serves a critical purpose to provide nourishment for this vital creature that we have and really helps the ecosystem as a whole.”

She said she expects to be at the site frequently for the time being to tend to the plants and encourages visitors to stop by.

“I eventually want to set up a volunteer group to help me water the plants, as I don’t want the plants to suffer since I will be busy with other projects,” Fukuyama said.

As part of the upcoming temporary exhibition “Mirror, Mirror,” she is creating a site-specific installation at San Diego International Airport in early 2025 and is one of three area artists working on the city of San Diego’s public art project “Here Comes the Neighborhood: Encanto.”

Fukuyama’s art also is part of a group exhibition titled “Primordial Instincts” through Saturday, March 1, at the Techne Art Center in Oceanside.

Anyone interested in volunteering to work in the butterfly garden can go to @kaori_fukuyama on Instagram or instagram.com/kaori_fukuyama, or email kaori.fukuyama.art@gmail.com.

For more information about Liberty Station and the NTC Foundation, visit libertystation.com and ntcfoundation.org.