Legacy for Life: A Mural for Generations
A beautiful mural fills a play area in the new The Elizabeth House maternity home in Marshall. Meet the LaCrosse artist behind this special creation.
Kyla and her husband, James, are students who attend the University of Wisconsin in La Crosse. During the last weekend of April, Kyla traveled three hours to Marshall to paint a whimsical mural depicting Psalm 23 to brighten the children’s play area of the maternity home.
Having grown up in Madison, Kyla knew about Care Net Pregnancy Center and its mission to help women and families who were navigating the challenges of unintended pregnancies. In fact, the clinking of loose change in a baby bottle was a familiar sound. It was one way her family supported Care Net’s mission during the annual Baby Bottle Campaign.
But that is not the only connection that Kyla’s family has with Care Net. Her husband, James, spent many weekends, and even an occasional week or two during his childhood, living at The Elizabeth House in Madison, while his family served the women and babies living there. So, when Kyla’s mom shared Care Net’s Facebook post seeking a muralist for the new maternity home in Marshall, Kyla didn’t hesitate. She knew she was exactly the right person for the job.
“I was immediately intrigued,” Kyla said. “I especially love the challenge that murals pose, and care about supporting mothers.”
Her experience dates back to her time at Abundant Life Christian School. While she was a student there, she created murals for the campus and designed large-scale sets for school musicals.
“I was also able to use my skills to raise awareness for issues such as human trafficking,” Kyla remembered. “In college, I studied psychology and will go on to a master’s program this upcoming fall to become a mental health therapist, yet art and painting have remained constant companions and ways of processing and reflecting the world around me.”
Kyla’s diverse portfolio features murals in her childhood church, outdoor pieces at Madison’s Eli’s Art Supply “free wall,” and a commissioned cement planter for the city of La Crosse. Her talent earned her a spot in a 2021 exhibit on isolation at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art.
“I count it a blessing to be able to use my love for art to encourage others and bring warmth, hope, and connection to any space,” Kyla said.
Kyla and her husband, James enjoy hiking, reading, and supporting local arts. She is currently working as a behavior therapist with kids with autism and learning to speak Spanish while James is working to become a high school English teacher this upcoming fall.