Category: Exhibitions

Nature Artists’ Guild to Celebrate Joy’s Vision at Daffodil Glade

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Daffodils, copyright Alice Wych

Joy’s early plans for the Arboretum included Sargents Glade on the West side of the Thornhill ravine, but most guests today know this beautiful area by a different name, Daffodil Glade. Beneath widely spaced old oaks, spring rolls out a grassy carpet filled with waves of cheerful, varied daffodils. The first daffodils here were planted in 1946.

– The Morton Arboretum

Joy Morton shared some thoughts about his vision for The Morton Arboretum with his colleague Professor S.C. Sargent of the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University in 1921 –

Excerpt of document archived by the Sterling Morton Library

And again in 1924 –

Excerpt of document archived by the Sterling Morton Library

The Nature Artists’ Guild is planning to honor Joy’s Vision with a exhibit this autumn of artwork created at or inspired by Daffodil Glade (originally “the Sargent Plot” or “Sargent Glade”), Joy Path, and Lake Marmo. These areas were all part of Mr. Morton’s original vision for the Arboretum, near his house in an area that he predicted would “ultimately become one of the prettiest parts of the Arboretum.”

A paint-out at Daffodil Glade has been scheduled for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild on Thursday, April 13, 2023 from 9 am until noon (rain date April 20 if required). Participants will meet near the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum, enjoy some muffins, and wander off to choose a spot among the daffodils. They should bring their sketchbooks and art supplies, a portable chair, their favorite drink, and plans to enjoy a wonderful morning filled with the sights, scents, and sounds of Daffodil Glade.

Members can let Celia Rodee know they plan to attend by email or by completing this registration form. Celia will have some 8 x 8 surfaces available for members to use or bring home for later use if they plan to participate in the Joy’s Vision project.

2023 Spring Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum April 15 and 16, 2023

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Poster artwork by Featured Artist Patricia Mroczka. Poster design by Jane Kellenberger.

The 2023 Spring Art Exhibit by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild at The Morton Arboretum will be open throughout the weekend of April 15 – 16, 2023. A reception for the artists and their guests will occur on the evening of Friday, April 14.

This exhibit will include over 200 pieces of nature art by more than 50 Guild members and will be open to all visitors to The Morton Arboretum.

Please click here to learn more about Featured Artist Patricia Mroczka.

We Just Can’t Wait!

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Leaning Tulips, copyright Patricia Mroczka

It’s that time of year when we just can’t wait …

– For the 2023 Spring Art Exhibit by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild at The Morton Arboretum, so we’ve posted above, and on the header, samples of artwork by the Featured Artist, Patricia Mroczka. Patricia, along with more than 50 other members of the Guild, will be displaying over 200 works of nature art on April 14, 15, and 16, 2023. A link for the prospectus will be emailed to members early next week.

– For the spring flowers to bloom, which is why we will have some purchased ones to share and sketch at the next gathering of Coffee and Art on Wednesday morning, February 22, 2023 beginning at 9 am (weather permitting) in the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum. Guild members and guests are welcome to stop by and spend a little time chatting, sketching, or enjoying the view.

UPDATE – We will have to wait for the spring flowers after all! The February 22 Art and Coffee gathering has been canceled due to the weather forecast.

– To get moving on the “Joy’s Vision” project, so Celia Rodee has announced a paint-out at Daffodil Glade at The Morton Arboretum in April, 2023, with the exact date and details to be determined (depending on the weather and bloom report.)

There is still time to renew membership or join the Nature Artists’ Guild for 2023 and receive a link to the prospectus for the Spring Art Exhibit.

Click here to read more about membership

Mr. Morton, Mr. Potter, and the Chauffeur

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The wonder we now know as The Morton Arboretum all began when “while touring by automobile in 1909, Joy Morton, his friend E.A. Potter, and their chauffeur jumped from their car to stamp out a grass fire and stumbled upon the spot that captured Joy’s vision for a home, and ultimately his legacy. ” 

Beginning in 1922, Mr. Morton began to establish some of the delights of the original 175 acres of his “museum of trees.” Some of those landmarks still exist in much their original state up to 100 years later – Joy Path, Lake Marmo, and Sargents Glade (now affectionately known as Daffodil Glade.)

Details from previous works by Terrie McComb, Alice Wych, Laverne Bohlin, and Pat Mroczka, cropped to squares to simulate display of four seasons at The Morton Arboretum.

This year, the Nature Artists’ Guild will celebrate “Joy’s Vision” with artwork created throughout the year at these favored locations of Mr. Morton. Similarly to last year’s Schulenberg Prairie Project, members will be asked to create artwork at, or inspired by, Joy Path, Lake Marmo, and Daffodil Glade.

  • Each participating artist may contribute up to four pieces. Some may choose to do one location in all four seasons, others may complete three pieces (one from each location) and some may prefer depicting just one or two locations or seasons.
  • The artwork must be completed on 8 x 8 inch surfaces, which can be obtained free of charge at various paint-outs, programs, or other gatherings throughout the year. Artists can also use their own surfaces as long as they measure 8 x 8 inches and are less than 3/8 inches thick.
  • Paint-outs may be planned in upcoming months at these locations.
  • Finished pieces will be exhibited at the Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2023 Autumn Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum.
  • No framing or preregistration is required for participating.

Much more about this celebration of “Joy’s Vision” coming soon, but those who want to include all four seasons should take note that winter is already half over!

Nature Artists’ Guild Bids Farewell to 2022

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2022 was a busy year for the Nature Artists’ Guild. In-person paint-outs, programs, gatherings, workshops, exhibits, and even a holiday party returned, and our members were ready for it!

Here is a quick look at some images from events, presenters, and guild members throughout the year. For more information about any of the artists or events, please take a moment to scroll back through the posts of 2022.

From Bold and Beautiful to Delicate and Detailed

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Flora or fauna, vibrant or muted, bold or delicate, loose or detailed – members of the Nature Artists’ Guild do it all.

Downers Grove Public Library will host an exhibit of works by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum throughout January 2023. The library has a long tradition of proudly collecting and exhibiting the work of a wide variety of artists, from local to international, within two dedicated gallery spaces. The Nature Artists’ Guild is honored to participate each January.

Links to the prospectus and a library disclaimer were emailed to members on November 21, 2022. All artwork must have been included in a previous Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit and members will need to have renewed their guild membership for 2023 in order to participate. Completed forms must be returned by mail to Gary Chipman, postmarked by Saturday, December 10, 2022 and the artwork drop-off will be on the following Saturday, December 17.

Celebrating the Season on December 1, 2022

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Invitation artwork copyright Mary Ann Jimenez

On Thursday evening, December 1, 2022, at 6 pm, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild and a guest are invited to the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum to celebrate the season and a year full of art, nature, and friendship.

Members can check their invitation, emailed on November 6, for all the details.

Also coming up –

  • The popular holiday card exchange tradition returns for 2022. Blank cards will be available to pick up at the holiday party on December 1, but members can contact Celia Rodee any time to sign up for the exchange. An email with the details was sent on November 15.
  • For those needing a little guidance with their cards, Carrie Carlson is teaching an online workshop on creating holiday cards in watercolor on December 8 at The Morton Arboretum.
  • The annual Downers Grove Library exhibit of work by the Nature Artists’ Guild will be held throughout January, 2023. Guild members were emailed the details and a link to the prospectus on November 19 (updated November 21.)

The Schulenberg Prairie’s 60th Anniversary

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Milkweed Pods, copyright Marlene Vitek

This is just a small sample of artwork created by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Schulenberg Prairie. Thirty-six 8 by 8 inch works inspired by the Schulenberg Prairie were exhibited at the Sterling Morton Library of The Morton Arboretum along with the Nature Artists’ Guild’s annual Autumn Art Exhibit in the adjacent Cudahy Room of the Administration Building. Both exhibits were open to all visitors to the Arboretum on November 12 and 13, 2022 from 10 to 4 and for an Artist Reception on the previous evening.

Prairie Pair, copyright Alice Wych
Copyright Maggie Mardis
Morning at Schulenberg, copyright Betsy Edwards
Landscape, copyright Marlene Vitek
Downy Gentian, copyright Karen Remkus
Joe Pye and Black Eyed Susan, copyright Margaret Navolio
Milkweed Pods, copyright Marlene Vitek
Peace on the Prairie, copyright Margaret Navolio
Copyright Cindy Kerchmar
Perfect Prairie Morning, copyright Laverne Bohlin
Hoya, Hoya Carosa, copyright Kumie Kim
Little House, copyright Bernadette Hanacek
Prairie Plants, copyright Arlene Widrevitz
The Prairie, copyright Dorothy Duffala

From the Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2022 Autumn Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum

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  • Long-eared Owl, copyright Nancy Wu
  • Lake Marmo Reflections, copyright Laverne Bohlin
  • Golden-crowned Kinglet, copyright Vicki Liszewski
  • Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema Triphyllum), copyright Kumie Kim
  • Dunes Walk, copyright Cindy Kerchmar
  • Copper Beech, copyright Arlene Widrevitz
  • Along the Water, copyright Marlene Vitek
  • Magnolia Buds, copyright Lisa Kanellos
  • Sanctuary, copyright Margaret Navolio
  • Prairie, copyright Marlene Vitek
  • Tree and Oak Leaves, copyright Marlene Vitek
  • Camofrog, copyright Linda Hilderbrant
  • Cloud 1, copyright Haruo Kurokawa
  • Bucket of Zinnias, copyright Margaret Navolio
  • Young Barred Owl, copyright Cindy Kerchmar
  • Windy day on the Big Hill, copyright Beth Berry
  • Staying Warm, copyright Beth Berry
  • Turban Squash (Cucurbita Maxima)-, copyright Kumie Kim
  • Stillness in the Morning, copyright Beth Berry
  • Open Water, copyright Gary Chipman
  • Tomato, copyright Lisa Kanellos
  • Ephemeral, copyright Yvonne Buckley
  • Rest Stop, copyright Bernadette Hanacek
  • Springbrook Summer Solstic Sunrise – Walking the Prairie, copyright Cheryl Holz
  • Cabbage White, copyright Vicki Liszewski
  • Twin Oaks at Twilight, copyright Gary Chipman
  • Artichoke, copyright Brooke Wiseman
  • Autumnal Rhapsody, copyright Ann Lamoureux
  • Cloud 2, copyright Haruo Kurokawa
  • Night Owl…Owl you need is Love!, copyright Jacky Surma
  • Rectilinear Forest Fern, copyright Cheryl Holz
  • Imposing Irises, copyright Alice Wych
  • The Curious Pileated Woodpecker, copyright Karen Remkus
  • Alpine Glacier Melt, copyright Patty Koenigsaecker
  • McDowell Woods, copyright Yvonne Buckley
  • Autumn Leaves in Icy Puddle, copyright Margie Navolio
  • HollyHocks, copyright Linn Eldred
  • Honey Crisp, copyright Dorothy Duffala
  • Grape Honeysuckle (Lonicera Reticulata), copyright Kumie Kim
  • Great Blue Heron, copyright Mary Voegeli
  • Warren Woods, copyright Cindy Kerchmar
  • Pink Magnolia, copyright Jill Adzia
  • Sign of Spring, copyright Alice Wych
  • Winter Grasses, copyright Laverne Bohlin
  • Springbrook Summer Solstice -What lies Beneath, copyright Cheryl Holz
  • Mushrooms & Monarch Butterfly, copyright Linn Eldred
  • Barred Over Boreal, copyright Carol Cooley

Please enjoy this sample from the approximately 200 pieces of wonderful artwork celebrating nature recently exhibited by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild in the 2022 Autumn Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum.

The images are also available for viewing on the 2022 Autumn Art Exhibit page of this website, along with instructions for contacting the artists.

Congratulations and thank you to all of the many volunteers, artists, employees of The Morton Arboretum, and visitors for their contributions in making the exhibit a success.

Images from the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Schulenberg Prairie will be coming soon.