A few years ago, the Nature Artists’ Guild announced a new project for its members. In the first year, the project consisted of a special display of members’ artwork, all in a 8 by 8 inch format, celebrating the 60th anniversary of The Morton Arboretum’s Schulenberg Prairie. Last year, using the same format, participating artists depicted scenes from Joy Morton’s original visions for his “museum of trees.”

In 2024, the third year of these projects honoring The Morton Arboretum, the theme is simply and fittingly,“Trees”. Entire forests, individual specimens, leaves, branches, roots, berries, buds, bark, birds, or bugs are all suitable subjects.

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild are invited to create up to three works of art in almost any medium to be exhibited in the lobby of the Administration Building of The Morton Arboretum during the same hours of the Guild’s 2024 Autumn Exhibit in November.

• Artwork must be inspired by or created at The Morton Arboretum and follow basic Guild exhibition guidelines for subject matter and the “Trees” theme. (The listed matting, framing, and size guidelines should be disregarded for this special exhibit).

• Artwork must not be framed in order to fit into the display. The final size of each piece must be exactly 8 by 8 inches and less than one half inch deep.

• There will be no fee or volunteering requirement to participate. A simple registration will be requested before the exhibit, and drop-off and pick-up hours will be the same as those for the Autumn Exhibit.

• This project is otherwise separate from and will not affect or depend on participation in the Autumn exhibit. (Details about the 2024 Autumn Exhibit will be shared in upcoming months.)