Category: Exhibitions

Summer Flora

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Wild Bergamot, copyright Lisa Kanellos

Summer is the perfect time for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild to gather reference material for or sketch or paint their contribution to “Flora,” this autumn’s small works exhibit.

Each year, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild create 8 x 8-inch works of art for a special display honoring The Morton Arboretum. The theme for 2025 is “Flora,” and virtually anything growing at the Arboretum can be considered for artistic interpretation.

From the prairie and lakes to the formal gardens and displays, summer at the Arboretum will be full of inspiration!

Instructions for participating can be found here, and this sample of artwork from last year’s display, “Trees,” may help provide motivation to begin.

‘Into the Wild’ Exhibit Opens at Hidden Oaks this Saturday, July 5, 2025

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Summer Shades, copyright Patty Koenigsaecker, is one of more than 30 works of nature art included in ‘Into the Wild’ at the Hidden Oaks Nature Center.

It’s time for a cool break! The Nature Artists’ Guild’s summer special exhibit, ‘Into the Wild,’ opens this Saturday, July 5, at the Hidden Oaks Nature Center of the Forest Preserve District of Will County.

Visitors will enjoy plenty of cool and quiet while surrounded by artwork celebrating the wonders of the natural world in the upstairs gallery space of the Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook, IL. More than 30 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild are participating in this special exhibit, which will be open daily between 10 and 4 (except Mondays and Tuesdays) from July 5 until August 30, 2025.

Kids will love exploring the newly renovated center and be welcome to accompany their parents or grandparents into the gallery room to choose their favorite pieces! They can even sign up to win a poster or tote bag featuring Lindsay Sandbothe’s fabulous Scratch That artwork.

Images of exhibit artwork will be shared here and on the Forest Preserve District’s website and social media throughout the summer.

Hidden Oaks Exhibit Registration Ends this Friday

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Scratch That, copyright Lindsay Sandbothe

Only a few days left for members to register for the Nature Artists’ Guild’s exhibit at Hidden Oaks Nature Center!

It’s time for Guild artists to take a few minutes away from relaxing in our long-awaited sunshine to look through their artwork, find their favorites, and register for the summer’s special exhibit, Into the Wild.

Into the Wild is a special exhibit by Nature Artists’ Guild members being held at the Hidden Oaks Nature Center of the Forest Preserve District of Will County from July 5 through August 30, 2025. The newly renovated facility has a dedicated area for displaying artwork, away from the busy main floor attractions.

Hidden Oaks has confirmed that the “wild” in “Into the Wild” definitely includes the flora and fauna found in the yards, gardens, and planters of our members. Artwork should follow the general guidelines for Guild exhibits, as well as the specific guidelines outlined in the prospectus. Guild artists can register online here or by mail, as outlined in previously emailed instructions.

Nature Artists’ Guild Returns to Hidden Oaks this Summer

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Mouse, copyright Vicki Liszewski

The Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum is pleased to announce a return to the Hidden Oaks Nature Center in July and August, 2025, for a special exhibit, “Into the Wild.“

The Guild was there when Hidden Oaks celebrated their grand re-opening after the facility was purchased by the Forest Preserve District of Will County, and the Guild will be there again a few years later to help celebrate the recent extensive renovations to the award-winning building.

The Forest Preserve District of Will County has long been supportive of the visual arts, frequently hosting and promoting exhibits (just last year, one of their facilities was chosen to begin the traveling tour of internationally renowned Birds in Art). Hidden Oaks Nature Center includes a well-lit dedicated space on their second floor for exhibiting artwork.

The Nature Artists’ Guild’s exhibit will open on July 5 and continue through August 30, 2025 (artwork drop-off on June 29 and pick-up on August 31). Two pieces, either previously exhibited at The Morton Arboretum or juried by email, can be registered per member. Guild members will be emailed a copy of the prospectus and a registration form link by the end of this month, and the final day to register will be June 20, 2025.

Good Things in Store for May and June

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Hidden Prize, copyright Bernadette Hanacek

May and June bring all kinds of good things to Chicagoland! The Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum has plans to celebrate with a field trip, preparations for an exhibit, a program featuring three members sharing their talents, a garden paint-out, and weekly Coffee and Art gatherings.

  • Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild and guests will receive information this week about an outing to the great city of Chicago to visit two museums currently exhibiting nature art. Participants will visit the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art for Lichen and Coral, a two-person exhibit featuring work by Guild member Sandra Wilcoxon, and Driehaus Museum for an exhibit of work by Rory McEwen, a “20th century botanical master.” Plans for lunch at a nearby cafe will also be shared. Members are welcome to bring guests, and can register here.
  • In late May, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will receive an email with all the details about, and a link to register for, an exhibit at the Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook, IL. The newly renovated center includes a well-lit area on the second floor of the award-winning building, ideal for exhibiting artwork. Guild members’ artwork will be displayed from July 5 to August 30, 2025.
  • On Thursday, June 5, 2025, beginning at 7 pm, three members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will share their inspirations, insights, tools, and techniques at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. The program will be open to all, free of charge, and admission fees to the Arboretum will be waived for the event. More details soon. Note – The Guild urgently needs a volunteer to supply snacks for this meeting (costs reimbursed by the Guild). Any member who can help should email Terrie McComb or use this contact form.
  • June’s paint-out will be at a private garden blooming with glorious color. Details for the paint-out are being worked out, and Guild members will be the first to know when they are available.
  • Coffee and Art gatherings continue to meet each Wednesday morning (weather permitting) after 9. Guild members, their guests, or any other interested artists are invited to stop by the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum. No registration is required (regular gate fees will apply). The Arboretum will be filled with inspiration from which Guild members may choose to begin their “Flora” artwork!

A Great Time to Get Started

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Magnolia 2, copyright Lisa Kanellos

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 2025 Autumn Exhibit at the Arboretum in November, is “Flora.”

Merriam-Webster defines “flora” as the “plant, bacteria, or fungal life . . . characteristic of a region, period, or special environment.” The special environment in this case will be The Morton Arboretum, so the available material for inspiration will be varied and plentiful!

The Arboretum is currently bursting with flora, from flowering trees and shrubs to native wildflowers and blooming bulbs, providing a perfect opportunity to do some sketching, plein air painting, or even photographing for future study.

  • 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 2025 Autumn Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum.
  • Artwork should follow general Nature Artists’ Guild exhibition guidelines (except matting and framing and size requirements).
  • A registration form will be emailed to members later in the year.

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

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Blackburnian Warbler, copyright Vicki Liszewski, Featured Artist of the Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2025 Spring Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum. Click on image for a sample of exhibit artwork.

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

Visitors to The Morton Arboretum were able to enjoy more than 200 lovely works of art created by 65 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild last weekend, thanks to Exhibit Co-Chairs Alice Wych and Lisa Kanellos, Featured Artist Vicki Liszewski, and all the artists, volunteers, demonstrators, and Arboretum staff who put their time, effort, and talents into making the exhibit a success.

  • Woods Garden and Peter’s Pond, copyright Ann Lamoureux
  • Stretching to Bloom, copyright Celia Rodee
  • Nature’s Symphony, copyright Shannon Yeh
  • Desert Place, copyright Todd Serrano
  • Butterflies, copyright Linda Hilderbrant
  • Poppies and Olive Trees, copyright Ann Lamoureux
  • After Rain, copyright Lia Liu
  • Poppy Pods, copyright Terrie McComb
  • Hidden Prize, copyright Bernadette Hanacek
  • Zinnia, copyright Mark Scherer
  • Butterflies, Linda Hilderbrant
  • Canada Goose, copyright Nancy Staszak
  • Winter Sunset, copyright Joanne May
  • Paphiopedium Matchmaker Orchid, copyright Celia Rodee
  • Wisteria, Multi-Color, copyright Joanne May
  • Summer Shadows, copyright Maryann Wattelle
  • Foggy Mountains, copyright Lia Liu
  • Pretty in pink, copyright Lisa Kanellos
  • Great Horned Owl, copyright Nancy Staszak
  • Golden Peaks of Banff, copyright Shannon Yeh
  • Garden Wild, copyright Julie Rivera
  • Winter Tree, Fermilab, copyright Todd Serrano
  • Piping Plovers, copyright Vicki Liszewski
  • Resting Deer, copyright Jill Adzia
  • Apple Blossoms, copyright Vicki Liszewski
  • Blackburnian Warbler, copyright Vicki Liszewski
  • Poppy, copyright Mark Scherer
  • Bluebird, copyright Jill Adzia
  • Zinnia, copyright Mark Scherer
  • Crabapple 1, copyright Sandra Wilcoxon
  • Creek, copyright Patricia Joyce
  • Juncos, copyright Patricia Joyce
  • Striated Parrot Tulip, copyright Kathi Kuchler
  • Center Attraction, copyright Kathi Kuchler
  • Crabapple 2, copyright Sandra Wilcoxon
  • Gift from the Rose Garden, copyright Jean Black
  • Natures Bounty, copyright Deb Giampoli
  • Garden of Cosmos Delights, copyright Julie Rivera
  • Water lilies, copyright Lisa Kanellos

Click here to view the images in larger format.

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

Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit Opens this Friday, April 4, at The Morton Arboretum

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Exhibit artwork by Spring 2025 Featured Artist Vicki Liszewski. Poster design by Jane Kellenberger.

The Nature Artists’ Guild’s Spring 2025 Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum opens this Friday, April 4, 2025.

The exhibit will include more than 200 works of nature art in a wide variety of media, created by 65 members of the Guild, and will be free to attend for all Arboretum visitors (regular Arboretum gate fees will apply).

The reception on Friday evening from 4:30 until 7 pm will be open to the public, completely free of charge. Admission to The Morton Arboretum will be waived for the reception, and as always, there will be no charge for parking. No registration is required, and attendees can let the Arboretum gate attendant know they are there for the reception to be directed to parking for the event.

While enjoying wonderful works of art inspired by the natural world, attendees will also have opportunities to interact with talented artists demonstrating their processes, purchase raffle tickets (cash only) for popular themed gift baskets, and speak with Featured Artist, Vicki Liszewski. (Read more about Vicki and her art in a recent article on Art Beat Buzz.)

The exhibit will be held in the Cudahy Room and reception area adjacent to the Sterling Morton Library, in the Administration Building of The Morton Arboretum, a short stroll from the Visitor Center.

Artists Creating Art, April 4 through 6, 2025, at The Morton Arboretum

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Visitors to the Nature Artists’ Guild’s Spring 2025 Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum will have the opportunity to interact with talented artists as they share thoughts about their inspirations and demonstrate their methods and materials.

The exhibit will showcase more than 200 works by 65 members of the Guild, including many by Featured Artist, Vicki Liszewski. Exhibit admission will be free of charge for all visitors to The Morton Arboretum (Arboretum admission fees will still be required, except for the Friday evening reception). No registration is required.

Detail of wool and silk fiber art, copyright Sharon Malec
Detail of African Elephant, copyright Carrie Carlson
Detail of Poppy Pods, charcoal, copyright Terrie McComb
Detail of Househunting, colored pencil, copyright Linda Hilderbrant
Detail of Scratch That, acrylic, copyright Lindsay Sandbothe
Detail of Prairie Drought, pen and ink, copyright Todd Serrano

2025 Spring Nature Art Exhibit Opening April 4 at The Morton Arboretum

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Pretty in pink, copyright Lisa Kanellos. Click on the image for a sample of exhibit artwork images.

The 2025 Spring Exhibit by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild opens at The Morton Arboretum on Friday, April 4, and continues through Sunday, April 6. This exhibit of more than 200 works of art by 65 members of the Guild will be open to Arboretum visitors between 10 and 4 each day.

A reception is planned for Friday evening from 4:30 until 7, and is open to all. Reception attendees will have free admission to the Arboretum on that evening, and there will be no charge for parking or admission to the exhibit. Registration is not required.

Please click on poster for an exhibit artwork sample preview.

Poster artwork by Featured Artist, Vicki Liszewski. Poster design by Jane Kellenberger.