“Last week, artist Sophy Tuttle put the final touches on her awe-inspiring tribute to MK, a much-loved female eagle who died from eating rats poisoned with rodenticide; the poison doesn’t kill immediately, impairing rodents so they become easy prey.  Sophy’s glowing image remembers MK as a strong and glorious bird, in the prime of her life, surrounded by wildflowers that contribute to a healthy ecosystem.” ( quote from NEW MURAL HONORS FALLEN EAGLE, Arts Arlington newsletter, Sept. 2024 )

The quote above from Arts Arlington September Newsletter notes the serious issues signified by a local eagle’s death and the mural artist’s capacity to draw attention to the eagle’s life.

When I find a time of day to photograph this mural without cars in the way, I hope to post again with more perspective. But for now I’ll focus on a good outcome of my efforts to work around the obstructions. That was my heightened appreciation of how the painting, colors, design and details of Sophy Tuttle’s murals add beauty to the functional, necessary, routine features of buildings….

…. and also to car windows that frame reflections of the enlivened wall.

“Lou and Wells Sampson, the leaders of the American Alarm Company, welcomed the mural on one of their buildings in Arlington Center (on Broadway across from the Fire Station); …. The mural was commissioned as part of the Arlington Mural Project, a collaboration of Arts Arlington, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, and the Arlington Center for the Arts, and organized by ACAC public art curator Cecily Miller.“(quote from NEW MURAL HONORS FALLEN EAGLE, Arts Arlington newsletter, Sept. 2024 )

“Sophy Tuttle is an English-born American muralist, painter, and installation artist. Her work celebrates nature, reconsiders our position in the web of life, and creates new narratives that explore regenerative, resilient culture-building among all forms of life.” (quote from Sophy Tuttle’s website)

.” Often vibrant and dynamic, these murals are a way to begin conversations within the community about our relationship with nature and the ways in which we both conflict and collaborate with our fellow creatures every day.” (quote from Sophy Tuttle’s website)

Important Resources

“MK’s legacy: Coalition including Save Arlington Wildlife petitions to ban powerful poison” by Catherine Brewster, Your Arlington, June 2024.

“Harvard Animal Law & Policy Clinic Submits Legal Petition to State to Suspend Use of Anticoagulant Rodenticides on Behalf of SAW & Other Wildlife Advocates” on Save Arlington Wildlife website, director Laura Kiesel

Sophy Tutle Murals artist website

NEW MURAL HONORS FALLEN EAGLE, Arts Arlington newsletter, Sept. 2024

“The death of the bald eagle known as MK, who nested in Arlington’s Mount Pleasant Cemetery and succumbed to anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning in March 2023, triggered significant public support for more restrictions on19 powerful second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, or SGARs.” (quote from “MK’s legacy: Coalition including Save Arlington Wildlife petitions to ban powerful poison” by Catherine Brewster, Your Arlington, June 2024)