Category: Exhibitions

Lake Marmo Paint-Out on October 4, 2023

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Lake Marmo Reflections, copyright Laverne Bohlin

It should be a work of art … In short, it should be a beautiful place, affecting one like a beautiful painting.

O.C. Simonds

The creation of Lake Marmo (named after Joy Morton’s wife, Margaret Morton) at The Morton Arboretum began in the autumn of 1922 with crews using teams of mules and dredges to widen and deepen a small tributary of the DuPage River. Working with those crews was renowned landscape designer O.C. Simonds, who believed that an arboretum should be more than a museum of trees. He wrote that it should also be a “work of art … like a beautiful painting.”

Just over one hundred years later, at 9:30 on the morning of Wednesday, October 4, 2023 (rain date October 11), Nature Artists’ Guild members will meet at Lake Marmo to attempt to capture the stunning autumn colors of the lake, sky, and surrounding landscape in their own “beautiful paintings,” drawings, or photographs. Members can register here to be added to the email list for paint-out details and updates.

This paint-out would be a wonderful opportunity for Guild members to find inspiration for the special exhibit of 8 x 8 small works, Joy’s Vision, at the Sterling Morton Library during the 2023 Autumn Nature Art Exhibit.

Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2023 Autumn Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum This November

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Poster art by Featured Artist Joe Rizzo. Poster design by Jane Kellenberger. Copies of the poster and postcards will be available at the October 5 meeting at The Morton Arboretum.

The 2023 Autumn Art Exhibit by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will take place November 11 and 12 at The Morton Arboretum. A reception for the artists, guests, and other visitors will be held on Friday evening, November 10.

The exhibit will feature over 200 works of nature art by more than 50 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild. Artist demonstrations, raffles, and a special exhibit inspired by the Arboretum’s founder, Joy Morton, will add to the experience. Much more about the exhibit and Featured Artist Joe Rizzo will be coming soon.

Reminders for members –

The deadline for registering for the Autumn Nature Art Exhibit is Saturday, October 7. An email with links to the prospectus and online registration form was sent to all members this week. (Note: previous links emailed on August 28 had an incorrect date for the registration deadline. The correct date is October 7.)

Any member who would like to contribute to the raffle baskets can bring their donated items to the October 5 meeting at The Morton Arboretum. A list of requested items was emailed to members on August 29.

Completed 8 x 8 works for the Joy’s Vision special exhibit can be brought to the October 5 meeting (where they will be temporarily displayed for meeting attendees and then retained for the November exhibit) or dropped off at the Autumn Exhibit’s “referee night” on November 8. Artwork for this special exhibit of small works does not require pre-registration, but must be correctly labeled on the back.

This Autumn for the Nature Artists’ Guild

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Zion II – Virgin River, copyright Joe Rizzo

For the Nature Artists’ Guild, the unofficial beginning of autumn will be this week, when the prospectus for November’s Nature Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum is emailed to all members.

The Guild is pleased to announce that the Featured Artist for the 2023 Autumn Nature Art Exhibit will be Joe Rizzo (much more about Joe and his work to come soon). The exhibit will include more than 200 works of nature art by approximately 50 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild. The exhibit postcard and posters, as well as many more details, will be coming soon.

Also coming this autumn –

  • A paint-out at the gardens at Cantigny is scheduled for Wednesday, September 6, beginning at 9:30 am. The gardens will still be blooming and beautiful for this event. All members are welcome to stop by any time that morning, but by registering here, they can be added to an email list for details and updates. There will be no charge for admission or parking for the paint-out.
  • A paint-out at Lake Marmo at The Morton Arboretum has been tentatively planned for October 4 at 9:30 am. Lake Marmo and its surroundings will be displaying the colors of fall and attendees might find inspiration to participate in the Joy’s Vision special display. A registration form for the paint-out and more details to come soon.
  • The Visiting Artist Workshop: Conceptual Landscapes in Watercolor with Bryce Lafferty on October 6, 7, and 8, 2023 at The Morton Arboretum is being co-sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild. (Guild members can receive an additional discount by registering by phone and confirming their membership.) Bryce will also be doing a presentation, free and open to all, on October 5, 2023 from 7 to 9 pm at the Arboretum’s Thornhill Education Center. More details to come soon.
  • Wednesday morning gatherings, Art and Coffee, will continue each week throughout autumn (except for the days with paint-outs scheduled). Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild and their guests are welcome to stop by the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum between 9 and 11 am to chat, sketch, or enjoy a quiet morning in beautiful surroundings.

Joy’s Vision in Summer

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Joy Morton on Joy Path at The Morton Arboretum. Photo credit mortonarb.org

Mr. Morton wrote that every evening after work, still wearing his suit and hat, he would walk the path to connect with the sights and sounds of country life. – mortonarb.org

Spring brought the delights of Daffodil Glade and autumn will bring breathtaking color at Lake Marmo. This summer, the perfect location for artists to celebrate Joy Morton’s vision for The Morton Arboretum might be along one of his favorite places for an evening stroll, Joy Path. In 1924, Mr. Morton accurately predicted that Joy Path would “ultimately become one of the prettiest parts of the Arboretum.”

Look for the beautiful spreading canopy of the Miyabe “State Street” maple at the south end of Joy Path, and ponder the number of guests who have enjoyed its shade since it was planted in 1929.  – mortonarb.org

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild are encouraged to visit Joy Path (and the adjacent Fragrance Garden) on their own to find inspiration for a summer piece for the Joy’s Vision special display at the Guild’s annual autumn exhibit in November. (There will be a paint-out scheduled at Lake Marmo for autumn – more details to come soon.)

Participating in the special display of small works will not require members to mat, frame, register, or pay a fee to include up to four pieces. The works must be 8 x 8 inches and be inspired by The Morton Arboretum in any or all of the four seasons. They can be dropped off and picked up during the regular exhibit drop-off and pick-up times.

Celebrating Summer with the Nature Artists’ Guild

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Tomato, copyright Lisa Kanellos

The Nature Artists’ Guild begins the season with gatherings and events to celebrate the special sights, sounds, and scents (as well as textures and tastes) of summer.

  • The exhibit at the McCord Gallery continues through July 7, 2023. More than 30 unique works of nature art created by Guild members adorn the walls of this historic gallery.
  • A paint-out at the recently opened Grand Garden of The Morton Arboretum has been planned for the morning of Wednesday, July 12, 2023 (rain date July 13). Interested members can register here and be added to the attendee list to receive email details and updates.
  • The August 3, 2023 program (open to all) sponsored by the Guild will feature multi-talented artist John Fleck from 7 until 9 pm. John will be sharing his methods and materials for creating landscapes in charcoal. More details to come soon.
  • Weekly Art and Coffee gatherings continue every Wednesday morning (except on days of paint-outs) at the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum from 9 to 11:30. Members and guests are welcome to stop by and chat, sketch, or simply enjoy the quiet morning in a lovely atmosphere.

Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit at McCord Gallery Opens June 10, 2023

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Postcard artwork by Alice Wych. Postcard design by McCord Gallery & Cultural Center. Right click to download a copy for sharing.

All are invited to a reception on Sunday, June 11 between 1 and 3 pm for light refreshments and an opportunity to meet and support participating artists while enjoying the exhibit at this lovely historic gallery.

The exhibit will continue through July 7, 2023 and is open to the public during regular gallery hours at the McCord Gallery & Cultural Center.

Postcard design by McCord Gallery & Cultural Center. Right click to download a copy for sharing.

This and That for the Nature Artists’ Guild

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Garden of Anne and Charles Bouchard, Glen Ellyn, IL. Photo credit Anne and Charles Bouchard.

Now that members of the Nature Artists’ Guild have had time to experience some of the beauty and wonder (as well as yard work and gardening) that are all part of spring in Chicagoland, it is time to get back to creating and sharing some art!

Coming up for the Nature Artists’ Guild –

  • Registrations for participation in the upcoming special exhibit at the McCord Gallery are due by May 24, 2023 (just four days from now!) The prospectus and a link to the registration form were emailed to all members on April 29. The McCord Gallery, just half an hour from The Morton Arboretum, features a wonderful gallery space and is active in promoting their exhibits with a reception, postcards, and community outreach. For the first time, Nature Artists’ Guild members will be eligible to also register artwork not previously shown at the Arboretum (details here).
  • May 30, 2023 is the final day to visit the Guild’s exhibit at the Woodridge Public Library, More than thirty pieces of nature art by members of the Guild were exhibited in their gallery space for all visitors to the library to enjoy and be inspired by throughout the month.
  • On Thursday evening, June 1, 2023, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild, guests, and visitors will meet at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum for the annual “Trio of Nature Artists” program featuring three members of the Guild demonstrating and discussing fascinating techniques they use for creating nature art. This event is open to the public, free of charge (details here).
  • Guild members are invited to a paint-out at a stunning private garden in Glen Ellyn on the morning of June 15, 2023. Paint-Out Coordinator Celia Rodee will be offering coffee and scones to attendees to add to the enjoyment of what promises to be an idyllic morning. Members who would like to attend should notify Celia by email or by clicking here. Photos and details (scone flavors!) coming soon.
  • The weekly Art and Coffee gatherings continue to meet each Wednesday morning between 9 and 11 at the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum. All members of the Nature Artists’ Guild as well as those interested in hearing more about the Guild are welcome to stop by. The meeting place is absolutely surrounded by blooms this spring and when the weather permits, attendees can move outdoors to enjoy the sights, sounds, and scents of the morning.
  • It’s the perfect time of the year for Guild members to visit another location from the Joy’s Vision project to sketch or gather reference material. Joy Path (including the Fragrance Garden) will be particularly fetching.

Exhibit at McCord Gallery by the Nature Artists’ Guild in June 2023

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I’m Hiding in the Tall Grass, charcoal, copyright Deana Bada Maloney will be included in the Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit at the McCord Gallery in June 2023

The McCord Gallery & Cultural Center began in a historic building in Palos Park, IL, has since expanded with an annex that includes an “expanded gallery, classroom, stage, and full kitchen facilities,” and now functions as a treasured “learning center for the arts and cultural history.”

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild have been invited to participate in a special exhibit at the gallery from June 10 through July 7, 2023. A reception will be held on the afternoon of June 11.

For the first time, new work (not previously shown at a Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit at The Morton Arboretum) will also be eligible for the special exhibit. Members who wish to include not-previously-exhibited work can do so by completing the registration form (online or by mail) and separately emailing a photo of the work (including mat and frame if applicable) to Maggie Mardis for approval of compliance to Guild guidelines for subject matter and presentation. Previously shown (at a Guild exhibit) artwork does not require further review and can be registered without emailing a photo.

Links to the prospectus and registration form were emailed to members of the Nature Artists’ Guild on April 29, and completed forms must be returned by May 24. Contact information for Maggie Mardis can be found in the Guild’s Yearbook.

McCord House, photo credit McCordGallery.org

Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit at Woodridge Library throughout May 2023

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Poster artwork by Cheryl Holz

All are invited to stop in at the Woodridge Public Library during regular library hours to enjoy a special exhibit of nearly thirty works of art by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum. The exhibit will continue through the end of May 2023.

In other Nature Artists’ Guild news –

  • Guild members who have contributions for the summer issue of the Quarterly should email them to Jane Kellenberger by today, May 1.
  • There will be a gathering for Art and Coffee this Wednesday from 9 until 11 at the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum. Members and their guests, as well as visitors wishing to learn more about the Nature Artists’ Guild, are welcome to stop by.
  • A prospectus for the special exhibit at McCord Gallery & Cultural Center was emailed to all members of the Nature Artists’ Guild on April 29. Completed registrations must be returned by May 24 (by mail or online with the link provided on the prospectus). More details to come.

Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2023 Spring Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum

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  • Jewels of Spring, copyright Beth Berry
  • Morning Meeting, copyright Vicki Liszewski
  • Let Nature Sing, copyright Yvonne Buckley
  • House Wren, copyright Vicki Liszewski
  • Reddish Egret, copyright Nancy Thyfault
  • Magenta Lined Orchids, copyright Kathi Kuchler
  • Out of the Wind, copyright Linda Fairbanks
  • Howard’s Dream, copyright Terrie McComb
  • Autumn Floor, copyright Jeff Walter
  • Zinnia Dance, copyright Maggie Mardis
  • Microcosmos, copyright Laurie Peters
  • Before the Sun Goes Down, copyright Beth Berry
  • Mother Bear, copyright Darcy Berg
  • Optimist, copyright Jeffrey Zawada
  • Spring Pussy Willows, copyright Marlene Vitek
  • Three Trees on the Trail, copyright Beth Berry
  • Eyelash Begonia (Begonia bowerae), copyright Kumie Kim
  • Rosa, copyright Jeff Walter
  • Snowdrops, copyright Marlene Vitek
  • Cantigny Ruby Garden, copyright Janice Czerwinski
  • Sunflower, copyright Cindy Franks
  • Summer Splendor, copyright Maggie Mardis
  • Clematis roguchi, copyright Kumie Kim
  • Pastel Prairie Grass, copyright Cheryl Holz
  • Monarch on Swamp Milkweed, copyright Karen Remkus
  • Helianthus, copyright Laurie Peters
  • Cinnamon, copyright Dan Danielson
  • Daffodil Glade, copyright Marlene Vitek
  • Lady Slipper Orchids, copyright Kathi Kuchler
  • Cantigny Yellow Water Lily, copyright Janice Czerwinski
  • Myna in Maui, copyright Lindsay Sandbothe
  • Zion II – Virgin River, copyright Joe Rizzo
  • Golden Eagle, copyright Dan Danielson
  • Spring Renewed, copyright Cheryl Rausch
  • Prairie Sedge, copyright Terrie McComb
  • Common Redpoll, copyright Mary Voegeli
  • Summer Daydream, copyright Patty Koenigsaecker
  • Two Young Bucks, copyright Carol Cooley
  • Old Guard, copyright Jeffrey Zawada
  • Spring on the Joy Path, copyright Maggie Mardis
  • Negentropy, copyright Laurie Peters
  • Agave, copyright Yvonne Buckley
  • New Beginnings, copyright Kathi Kuchler
  • Birds in Flight, copyright Darcy Berg
  • Lilac breasted Roller, copyright Dan Danielson
  • Water Lily, copyright Ann Lamoureux
  • Harbingers of Spring – Daffodils, copyright Cheryl Holz
  • Banyon Walking, copyright Nancy Thyfault
  • Magenta Madonna, copyright Jeff Walter
  • Fragrant Isle Lavender, copyright Janice Czerwinski
  • Myna in Maui, copyright Lindsay Sandbothe
  • The Courage to Bloom, copyright Laura S. Lucas
  • Robin in her Nest, copyright Celia Rodee
  • Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), copyright Kumie Kim
  • Last Flowers of Winter, copyright Linda Fairbanks
  • Bee on Milkweed, copyright Cindy Franks
  • Snow Glories Peek, copyright Patricia Mroczka
  • Impression, copyright Patricia Mroczka
  • Twisted Poppies, copyright Patricia Mroczka

Please enjoy the more than 50 examples of some of the wonderful artwork recently exhibited at the Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2023 Spring Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum. Larger versions can be seen by clicking on this link to the exhibit page.

Well over 1000 visitors enjoyed approximately 200 works of art created by more than 50 members of the Guild.

The Nature Artists’ Guild would like to thank all the volunteers, artists, Arboretum staff, and visitors for their contributions to the success of the Spring 2023 Art Exhibit.

All artwork exhibited on this website is the sole property of the artists and should not be used or reproduced without their written consent.  If you would like to contact one of the artists, please use the contact form on the About page and you will receive an email reply, normally within 48 hours. Your contact information will not be shared or used for any other purpose.