Month: November 2025

Before the Busyness Begins

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Lake Marmo Larches, copyright Cheryl Holz. Acrylic, old arboretum papers and rusted silk on wood panel.

This relatively quiet time before the busy season of cooking, cleaning, and celebrating officially begins, would be a great time to take a minute to join or renew membership in the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum.

In her collage inspired by The Morton Arboretum, Lake Marmo Larches, artist Cheryl Holz features “a silhouette from the European Larch tree overlooking Lake Marmo, set on a background of an old illustration of the arboretum, its sides wrapped with old arboretum annual guides.”

For many years, The Morton Arboretum has provided inspiration and encouragement, as well as a stunning location for programs, paint-outs, workshops, gatherings, and exhibits, for nature artists throughout the Chicagoland area. Once again, all artists with an interest in the beauty of the natural world are invited to join the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum, as it enters its 40th year in 2026.

Potential new members are invited to scroll through previous posts or visit the Important Dates page of this website to learn more about the Guild’s activities and events, and current members can do the same, as a reminder of all that the Guild offers.

January Nature Art Exhibits to Celebrate All Seasons

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Where the Forest Opens, oil, copyright Shannon Yeh, will be one of the many works included in the Guild’s exhibit at the Downers Grove Library in January 2026.

The Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will begin the new year with exhibits at both the Downers Grove Public Library and the Wheaton Public Library throughout January, embracing the beauty of winter, and eagerly anticipating the coming of spring, summer, and fall!

Guild members are encouraged to participate in either or both exhibits, and prospectuses for both were emailed to all members on November 15. Registration ends (mailed or online) on December 3 for the Downers Grove exhibit and December 12 for the Wheaton exhibit. (Specific drop-off and pick-up instructions and dates are listed on the prospectuses.)

Artwork must have either been included in a previous Guild exhibit or be approved for exhibit by emailing a photo of the artwork (including any matting or framing) to Suzanne Wegener. Exhibitors must also have joined or renewed their Nature Artists’ Guild membership for 2026 before the applicable drop-off date.

Samples of artwork, details about a reception at the Downers Grove Library in January, and more about the exhibits coming soon!

Online registration for the 2026 Downers Grove Public Library Exhibit

Online registration for the 2026 Wheaton Library Exhibit

Sharing Warm Wishes this Winter

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2024 Holiday Card, copyright Laurie Alvear. Click on image to see a sample of 2024 cards.

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild are invited to share some warmth this winter by participating in the annual holiday card exchange.

Card recipients will need to supply their own hot beverages and afghans as the cold weather sets in, but opening a hand-created holiday greeting from one of their fellow Guild members will surely add a bit of warmth as well.

This year, Margie Navolio will be coordinating the popular holiday card exchange, gathering names and addresses of participants and later providing each of them with the name and address of their randomly chosen card recipient. All cards should be hand-decorated with original art or craftwork, and blank greeting cards will be available (at the holiday party) for artists to use as a starting point, if desired.

Interested members of the Nature Artists’ Guild can register for this year’s exchange by clicking here or by contacting Margie by December 5, 2025. A recipient name and address will be emailed to each participant on December 8, and all cards should be mailed by December 14. (Images of the cards can be emailed by the sender or recipient to Denise Fisk by December 20 for display on this website.)

Examples of cards from previous years can be enjoyed here – 2024, 2023, 2022. Making the time to slow down to create and share the joy and warmth of a holiday card is a wonderful way to celebrate the season!

Congratulations to the Nature Artists’ Guild for a Wonderful 2025 Autumn Exhibit

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Awake in Light, copyright Shuli Wang. Please click on image to view a sample of the 2025 Autumn Exhibit artwork.

The Nature Artists’ Guild would like to congratulate and thank all those involved in the success of the 2025 Autumn Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum!

Visitors to The Morton Arboretum were able to enjoy more than 200 lovely works of art created by 70 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild last weekend, thanks to Exhibit Co-Chairs Alice Wych and Lisa Kanellos, Featured Artist Kathy Steere, and all the artists, volunteers, demonstrators, and Arboretum staff who put their time, effort, and talents into making the 2025 Autumn Art Exhibit, and the accompanying special display, Flora 2025, so successful.

Forest Floor, copyright Cynthia Boudreau. Please click on image to view a sample of the Flora 2025 artwork.

(Exhibit artists who haven’t already done so are encouraged to send up to two images of their exhibited work to Denise Fisk this week to have them added to the online display.)

An Invitation to the Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit Reception this Friday at The Morton Arboretum

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Home, copyright Amy Malysa. Click on the above image for a sample of exhibit artwork images.

The Nature Artists’ Guild would like to extend an invitation to all for an exhibit reception at The Morton Arboretum this Friday, November 7, 2025.

The reception will be open to the public, free of charge, from 4:30 until 7 in the Administration Building of The Morton Arboretum. (Admission to the Arboretum will also be free for the reception.) No registration or ticket is required, and gate attendants will direct visitors to the building and nearby parking.

Visitors will have the opportunity to view more than 200 works of art, including many by Featured Artist Kathy Steere. More than 70 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will be exhibiting their latest works, in a wide variety of media, in both the 2025 Autumn Art Exhibit and the accompanying special display honoring the Arboretum, Flora.

Complimentary light refreshments and a cash bar for wine, beer, and soft drinks will be available at the reception, and watercolor artist Dan Danielson will be demonstrating in the adjacent Sterling Morton Library.

The exhibit opens on Friday at 10 am and will continue throughout the weekend, with artist demonstrations throughout. Handmade ornaments by Guild artists, blank greeting cards featuring images of members’ artwork, and raffle tickets for themed gift baskets will be available to purchase.

While exhibit attendance is free, regular gate fees for Arboretum admission will apply (except for the Friday evening reception).