Art becomes part of the nature mission at Will County forest preserves

Chicago Tribune

7 days ago

Visitors to Forest Preserve District of Will County sites have something else to discover besides walking trails, flora and fauna – art inspired by nature.
Throughout the year, the district's visitors centers host exhibits of work by artists local and national, connecting people to nature in ways they may not have expected.
'It's another way of introducing our preserves and nature centers,' said Heather Van Zyl, facility supervisor for Plum Creek Nature Center in Crete Township. 'There are visitors and community members who sometimes find their way to us for the first time because of an artist or an exhibition,' she explained. 'They say, 'Now that I know you're here, I see all these trails and all these exhibits. I'm going to bring my family.' … It can be a really great introduction.'
As part of that mission, through Aug. 24 Plum Creek presents 'Prairie Reverie,' which features more than 30 pieces by Orland Park artist Carrie Carlson, including linoleum block prints, ceramic pieces, drawings, paintings and sketch books. The free exhibit highlights the Illinois prairie through its depiction of native plants, animals and landscapes. It can be viewed 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.
What drew Van Zyl to Carlson's art was her work with purple prairie clover. 'It's a little flower you don't hear that much about, and she features that in several pieces. I love that flower but it doesn't get much attention. When I saw that in her work, I thought 'I need to know that person who has even noticed this little flower.' That drew me in.'
She wants visitors to feel a connection to nature, which is the forest preserve district's mission. 'Maybe being with art is a different way to experience nature to see a perspective that you never noticed before. You might see birds … or see flowers and (try to find them.) Maybe they will take that inspiration and take it to the next level themselves as well.
'We really think there is a lot of art to be found in nature. When you think about the patterns you see not only visually like butterfly wings and the seasonality of things but the musicality of all. All the exhibits we bring in here and curate are to connect people to nature,' Van Zyl shared. 'So many artists and individuals draw inspiration from nature for their work as well, whether that be visual art or audio or beadwork.'
Carlson said she hopes her art, which is grounded in her background of scientific illustration and nature journaling, raises awareness for nature's sometimes overlooked creatures. 'Rusty Patched Bumblebees – they are adorable. I've never seen one in person. I've seen specimens at the Field Museum. I've gotten permission to see them and draw them up close.'
She added that land is always at risk to be developed. 'We have got to protect our wild spaces and encourage people to plant natives in their own yards,' she said. 'We can be way stations to bigger spaces. Even a little patch can be a nesting ground. So I hope people get excited about native plants and seeing my art.'
One of her favorite mediums is printmaking, which she began doing about 10 years ago after inheriting tools and blocks from her grandmother. The Plum Creek Nature Center exhibit showcases block prints as well as some of her sketchbooks – a 'peek behind the scenes' as well as tools.
Visitors can make prints of their own on paper and tea towels using nature-themed stamps and carving their own linoleum block at a workshop July 26. There is a $20 fee and registration is required. Information is at ww.reconnectwithnature.org.
Farther west, forest preserve enthusiasts will find 'The Joy of Birds,' a free exhibit featuring 20 watercolor paintings by Homer Glen artist Robert Hafey. It can be seen from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays until July 6 at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon.
'All of my watercolor paintings, with the exception of one, were done from photographs that I took on the trails of Will County,' Hafey shared. 'I generally walk the Centennial Trail every day in Romeoville. It runs along the Des Plaines River. I do that almost every morning, four miles. I carry a large camera with me and I shoot bird photographs.'
Capturing birds on camera has taught Hafey that each species has its own traits and habits, and he's continually inspired by things such as 'a migrating warbler in constant movement with an almost frantic look on its face, as it scans every branch and leaf for insects to fuel the night flight ahead.'
'Birds are loved by all. They have always and will continue to spark our interest because of their beauty and ability to fly. That is why, for me, they are the perfect subject,' he shared. 'Painting birds almost guarantees my artwork will be appreciated and bring joy to people.'
Hafey said the forest preserve center is a 'natural place' for his art to be displayed, and visitors' reactions are all the thanks he needs. 'One of the things I love when people approach my work and look at it is I often see them looking at it and smiling. That is my reward for my artwork is to have them appreciate it, and to have them appreciate it in that setting makes it come together.'
He hopes people 'feel the joy of observing nature through art.'
'My goal is to have the gallery visitors leave with an elevated interest in both the arts and nature,' Hafey said. 'Viewers will experience joy – the joy that nature brings to those who take the time to slow down, visit a local hiking trail or park and just observe the natural world. The gallery visitors may be inspired to get outside and look for the birds observed in the exhibit.
'All the birds portrayed live in or pass through Will County,' he added. 'I hope the paintings ignite or renew the viewer's belief that the natural world must be protected and the caretakers of our natural spaces must be supported.'
Some of the district's past displays include 'Frida Kahlo's Garden' and the 'Inspired by the National Parks' and 'Inspired by Endangered Species' quilt exhibitions. Another exhibit, Becorns: Little Acorn People Living Big Lives, is on display through June 29 at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook.
'Those are just three of the more unique exhibits our visitors have been able to enjoy in recent years,' said Forest Preserve District spokeswoman Cindy Wojdyla Cain.
The district also has partnered with the Bolingbrook Arts Council in the past. For instance, Hidden Oaks Nature Center hosted 'The Natural World Art Exhibit' in 2023, which featured a variety of nature-themed artwork by local artists
Earlier this year, the district featured the 'Smokey Bear: The Rudy Wendelin Collection' exhibit at four forest preserve visitor centers. It showcased paintings of the U.S. Forest Service's mascot.
'When I reviewed all the exhibits we've had in recent years, I'm kind of amazed myself how varied they are — from Frida Kahlo to Smokey the Bear. Including local artists is always a priority, too,' Cain said. 'We're a local government agency, so we like to give local people opportunities to show off their passion for nature.'
The district's willingness to embrace a variety of artists 'highlights the critical connection between creativity and natural inspiration. Artists have been inspired by nature since they began drawing in caves,' she added. 'And in a day and age of electronic bombardment and hyper connectivity, it's wonderful to see so many artists who are still inspired by the bees, blossoms and birds in our preserves.'