The pieces of the puzzle finally came together as Butte officials held a celebratory party at The Butte Depot to unveil the bright and colorful Butte, America puzzle.
If the reactions from the crowd are anything to go by, the finished product lived up to all the hype. The puzzle is the work of renowned American folk artist Eric Dowdle, and it not only meticulously reflects the town’s past, but its present, too.
A native of Green River, Wyoming, the artist has an impressive resume. His career began at 21 and he has been hard at it for 34 years. Seven years in, he decided to convert some of his colorful, original paintings into puzzles. The rest, they say, is history, and his puzzles can now be purchased at Walmart, Costco and other chains, with more than 10 million sold.
Based on his more than 400 original paintings, the puzzles feature such global subjects as National Parks, Barcelona, Surfin’ USA, London, Hometown Christmas, Amish Country, and Balloons over Paris.
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Dowdle treated his latest assignment as he has all the others, with enthusiasm, he said. Prior to putting his brush to canvas, Dowdle spent many hours researching Butte. He also visited three times to get a feel for the town.
“You see things different each time,” said Dowdle.
The artist took dozens of photographs and talked with residents, asking what they would like to see included in the puzzle.
Their answers were abundant and varied, with the puzzle reflecting the many facets of Butte.
Look closely and you will find Butte’s Copper Kings, William A. Clark, Marcus Daly, and F. Augustus Heinze, and nearby stands Bob Green, beloved former Montana Tech coach. The Mother Lode Theatre and the Finlen Hotel are among the notable architecture featured. Both opened in 1924.
It may take a person some time to find Danny Wong of Pekin fame and NFL coach Colt Anderson, but what’s not hard to miss are the headframes of the Original and the Mountain Con.
The Big M and Our Lady of the Rockies are highlighted, as are several Butte churches.
“Butte is such an iconic city because it is so unique,” said Dowdle, who arrived last week for the celebratory unveiling.
Driving through Butte once again, the artist found himself in a bit of a reflective mood during this visit. He confessed to finding several more symbols he wished he had included.
“You see things different each time,” said Dowdle, who believes a painting is never finished, only abandoned. “I eventually had to walk away.”
Those reflective comments do not mean he is not pleased with the puzzle, because he is.
“There is no place quite like this town,” he said. “Butte is a city that will never leave your mind.”
Dowdle is also pleased with having gotten to know Butte and its people. Residents attending the launch were pleased to meet him, as well.
The artist got a rousing round of applause when he was introduced July 2. He grinned and told the crowd — “This is one of those moments you want your mom and dad here.”