Category: Exhibitions

Featured Artist of the 2026 Autumn Nature Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum, Terrie McComb

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Winter Whimsy, copyright Terrie McComb. Click on the image to learn more about Terrie and her artwork.

The Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum is pleased to announce the Featured Artist for its 2026 Autumn Art Exhibit, Terrie McComb.

The 2026 Autumn Nature Art Exhibit will showcase numerous works by Terrie, in addition to nearly 200 pieces by approximately 60 other Guild members, at the Cudahy Room of The Morton Arboretum from Friday, November 13 through Sunday, November 15, 2026. A reception, open to all, is also being planned for Friday evening from 5 until 8.

From the Treasure Box, copyright Terrie McComb

Nature can often be amazingly resilient, but heartbreakingly fragile. To me, there is amazing truth in both. Telling the stories and revealing the secrets of these incredible creations can build a community to cherish and preserve them. – Terrie McComb

Much more about the reception, fundraising items, demonstrators, and samples of exhibit artwork coming soon!

Important reminder for Guild members – the final day to register for the 2026 Autumn Art Exhibit or the 2026 display of 8 x 8 artwork, Fauna, is this Saturday, October 17.

Nature Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum November 13 through 15, 2026

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Poster artwork by Featured Artist Terrie McComb. Poster design by Jane Kellenberger.

The Nature Artists’ Guild is excited to present their annual Autumn Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum on November 13 through 15, 2026.

This year’s exhibit will showcase numerous works by Featured Artist Terry McComb, along with over 200 pieces by nearly 60 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild. The exhibit will open on Friday, November 13, at 10 am, and a reception, open to all, free of charge, will be held that evening from 5 until 8. This much-anticipated annual autumn event is expected to attract nearly 1500 Arboretum visitors through the weekend and will continue until Sunday at 4 pm.

Interested members of the Nature Artists’ Guild must register by October 17 to participate in this exhibit or the accompanying display of 8 x 8 artwork, Fauna.

Much more about the exhibit, reception, fundraising, demonstrators, and Featured Artist Terrie McComb coming soon, along with samples of exhibit artwork. Free copies of the exhibit poster and postcard for sharing with friends, family, and local businesses and organizations are available to pick up at the office of the Thornhill Education Center at The Morton Arboretum.

Final Week for ‘Rooted in Observation: Art Inspired by the Living World’

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Click on image for museum location and hours.

More than 75 works of nature art by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will be available for viewing at the Bloomingdale Park District Museum through this Saturday, September 12, 2026.

The museum will be open to the public for the final days of Rooted in Observation: Art Inspired by the Living World, on Wednesday, September 9, from 3 to 7, Thursday, September 10, from 12 to 4, and Saturday, September 12, from 12 to 4.

Celebrated artist Cynthia Hellyer Heinz will be demonstrating her color pencil techniques on Saturday at the museum, and everyone attending Bloomingdale Septemberfest is welcome to stop by! (Parking may not be available at the museum during this event on Saturday.)

Reminder: Participating artists must pick up their artwork at the museum on Sunday, September 13, between 12 and 2.

Spectacular Color Coming Soon!

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Where the Garden Leads, copyright Lora Lee Gelles, was included in last year’s Autumn Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum. Click on image for more.

Recent cool evenings are beginning to hint at the coming wonders of autumn, especially the spectacular displays of color. Nature Artists’ Guild exhibits, paint-outs, a program, and a workshop (as well as a selection of classes offered by The Morton Arboretum) will help with exploring and celebrating these wonders.

  • In just a few weeks, prospectuses for the 2026 Autumn Exhibit at the Morton Arboretum and Fauna, the display of 8 x 8 works honoring the Arboretum, will be emailed to members. (New members who join the Guild before the prospectus due date will be eligible to participate in these exhibits.)
  • The Nature Artists’ Guild will sponsor a program by oil pastel artist George Shipperly on the evening of Thursday, October 1, at The Morton Arboretum. This presentation will be free and open to the public, and no registration will be required. More details coming soon.
  • A return of the free workshop for Guild members, Wood Slice Ornaments with Lindsay Sandbothe, will be held on October 10. Registration is required, and only a few spots remain for this popular event.
  • And for those who just want to drop by to enjoy the wonderful sights and sounds of The Morton Arboretum on a weekday morning without the crowds, the Guild’s Coffee and Art gatherings continue each Wednesday, beginning at about 9:30 in the Visitor Center.

The Bloomingdale Museum will be Hopping this Sunday!

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Tree Frog, copyright Dan Danielson

Award-winning artist (and Nature Artist Guild member), Dan Danielson, will be demonstrating his fun and fluid style of watercolor painting at the reception for the Guild’s exhibit, open to all on August 16, 2026, from 2 to 4, at the Bloomingdale Park District Museum.

The free reception for Rooted in Observation: Art Inspired by the Living World, at the museum on Sunday, August 16, will be open to the public from 2 to 4 pm. Refreshments and music provided by the museum, a demonstration by Dan Danielson, and the opportunity to view more than 75 works of art by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum, will all contribute to a wonderful afternoon!

The exhibit will continue until September 12, and visitors can visit the museum’s website for hours and directions.

Also —

  • Guild artists will also be demonstrating inside the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum during the Arboretum’s 2026 Wine and Art Walk. Everyone is invited to stop by and learn more about the Guild or simply chat with an artist and watch them create between 10 and 4 on Saturday and Sunday, August 15 and 16. (Arboretum membership or a gate fee will be required for entrance to the Arboretum.)

“Rooted in Observation” Opens August 8, 2026, in Bloomingdale

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Yellowstone Tree Root detail, copyright Jeffrey Zawada

It’s that exciting pre-exhibit time for participating members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum! They will be dropping off their work today for volunteers to artfully arrange throughout the galleries for tomorrow’s opening.

Rooted in Observation: Art Inspired by the Living World will be exhibited from August 8 through September 12, 2026 at the historic Bloomingdale Park District Museum. A reception will be held on Sunday, August 16, from 2 through 4, with music and light refreshments provided by the museum, and a demonstration by talented Guild artist Dan Danielson (details coming soon).

Exhibit attendees should check the museum’s website for directions, hours, and other information before planning their visit.

The Gardens at Ball, August 4, 2026

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The Gardens at Ball, photo credit Hoerr Schaudt

It’s time for the Nature Artists’ Guild’s annual trip to the display gardens of one of the world’s most renowned growers, Ball Horticultural!

Guild members are invited to attend one of the year’s most anticipated paint-outs at The Gardens at Ball on the morning of Tuesday, August 4, 2026, from 9:30 until noon.

“What began as a row trial garden for seed varieties in 1933 has grown to encompass over 15 acres of display gardens for annuals, perennials, cut flowers and vegetables, including the newest plants from the industry’s leading breeders and marketers.”

The gardens are guaranteed to offer a glorious variety of color and form for Guild artists to capture in their sketches, paintings, or photographs. Space is limited for this opportunity, and registration is required. Coordinator Celia Rodee will contact participants with details, directions, and updates.

A few reminders —

  • The final day to register for the summer special exhibit at the Bloomingdale Park District Museum is tomorrow, July 27. Members were emailed the prospectus and registration link earlier this week.
  • The last day to submit announcements, images, and articles for the Autumn Quarterly is this Saturday, August 1. Instructions were recently emailed to Guild members.
  • The Nature Artists’ Guild will sponsor a program featuring Cynthia Hellyer Heinz on the evening of Thursday, August 6, at The Morton Arboretum. This presentation will be free and open to all, and no registration is required. Details coming soon.

Indoors and Out this July

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Clockwise: 2025 Quarterly covers, details of artwork by Ann Lamoureux, Linda Hilderbrant, Ann Lamoureux, and Jeffrey Zawada.

Nature Artists’ Guild members have lots to do this July, both indoors and out —

  • When the weather is a little less comfortable, members can spend a few cool hours indoors looking through their artwork or writing a poem or essay to contribute to the Guild’s Autumn 2026 Quarterly. Artwork images and articles can be submitted by August 1, as outlined in the July 18 email sent to members.
  • Also beginning indoors, cool and comfortable, are the casual weekly gatherings of Guild members and visitors, Coffee and Art, at the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum. All are welcome to stop by any Wednesday morning beginning about 9:30, and possibly move outdoors if the weather is nice. (An Arboretum membership or gate fee will be necessary to enter the Arboretum.)
  • And finally, it’s back outdoors, on another lovely day of the artists’ choosing, to find a subject to depict in their contribution to the Guild’s 8×8 small works display, Fauna, this autumn at The Morton Arboretum.

Nature Artists’ Guild’s Bloomingdale Exhibit Opens August 2026

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Detail of Yellowstone Tree Root, copyright Jeffrey Zawada

The prospectus and registration link were emailed to Guild members on June 25, 2026. Registration can only be completed through the emailed link, not through this website. (Guild members who did not receive the email or have questions about the exhibit should contact Irena Gintilas or Jeffrey Zawada. Their contact information is listed in the Guild’s 2026 Yearbook.)

Rooted in Observation: Art Inspired by the Living World will be exhibited from August 8 through September 12, 2026 at the Bloomingdale Park District Museum. A reception will be held on Sunday, August 16, from 2 through 4, with music and light refreshments provided by the museum, and a demonstration by a talented Guild artist.

Participants must be members of the Nature Artists’ Guild (half-year memberships are now available for first-time members), and the artwork must either have been included in a previous Guild exhibit or be juried by emailed photos to ensure it meets Guild exhibition guidelines.

The museum welcomes artist demonstrations during its open hours, and the Guild’s special exhibit coordinators, Irena Gintilas and Jeffrey Zawada, encourage members who may be interested in demonstrating to contact them by email. Museum hours are Wednesdays, from 3 to 7 pm, and Thursdays and Saturdays, from noon to 4.

There is no entry fee or volunteer requirement for this exhibit, and the artwork drop-off will be on August 7. Volunteers to help hang the artwork that day would be welcome and can contact Irena or Jeffrey to sign up. Artwork pick-up will be on September 13, and no artwork can be stored. All the details will be included in the prospectus and emailed to members.

Fauna of The Morton Arboretum

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Camofrog, copyright Linda Hilderbrant (cropped to illustrate square format of the Fauna project. Click on image for full version).

It’s time for Nature Artists’ Guild members to get started on this year’s small works project honoring The Morton Arboretum!

This year’s theme for our members’ 8 x 8 inch works, to be displayed alongside the Guild’s 2026 Autumn Exhibit at the Arboretum in November, is “Fauna.”

Merriam-Webster defines “fauna” as the “the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment.” The special environment for this project is The Morton Arboretum, so inspiration will be diverse and plentiful this time of year!

From the tiniest insects to the largest mammals, all the wild creatures ever found at The Morton Arboretum will qualify as subjects for “Fauna 2026.” (Domestic animals not eligible.)

Fauna 2026 –

  • A registration form will be emailed to members later in the year.
  • Guild members can participate by creating up to three works, completed at or inspired by The Morton Arboretum.
  • Artwork must be exactly 8 by 8 inches and less than 1/2 inch in depth, unframed, and can be in almost any medium.
  • There will be no exhibit fee or volunteer requirement.
  • This special display is separate from, but will be exhibited during and alongside, the Guild’s 2026 Autumn Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum.

(Click here for samples of artwork from last year’s “Flora.”)