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. 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. Copies of the poster and postcards will be available at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 9 am and 4 pm for members to pick up and share with friends, family, and local businesses (while supplies last).
– 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.
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. ”
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!
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.
Many thanks to Celia Rodee for coordinating this year’s exchange of handmade holiday cards and to all the participating members for sharing their time and talents.
Flora or fauna, vibrant or muted, bold or delicate, loose or detailed – members of the Nature Artists’ Guild do it all.
Downers Grove Public Librarywill 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.
How to be-be-be like a chickadee-dee-dee? By spreading cheer to end the year!
No need to snatch peanuts, hop around, or chatter away (although it might be fun!) – there is another way to join these endearing little birds in spreading cheer during the cold, short days of winter.
2022 is the third year for the newest tradition for the Nature Artists’ Guild, the exchange of handmade cards at the end of the year to share and celebrate the wonders of nature and spread some cheer.
Interested Nature Artists’ Guild members can sign up with Celia Rodee (by email or by clicking here) by Sunday, December 4, 2022. Celia will randomly match each name with a recipient and email the recipient’s name and address to the sender on Monday, December 5. Every member who sends a card will receive one from another randomly-selected member.
A blank multi-media card and envelope will be available to pick up at the Nature Artists’ Guild’s holiday party at the Thornhill Education Center on December 1 for each participant, but any mail-able art surface is acceptable to use.
Cards should be mailed by Thursday, December 15, 2022. Before mailing out their handmade cards, participants are encouraged to take a photo to share on this website (email to Denise Fisk) to spread the cheer even further. The images won’t be shared on the website until after all cards have been received in the mail – no spoilers here!
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 WychCopyright Maggie MardisMorning at Schulenberg, copyright Betsy EdwardsLandscape, copyright Marlene VitekDowny Gentian, copyright Karen RemkusJoe Pye and Black Eyed Susan, copyright Margaret NavolioMilkweed Pods, copyright Marlene VitekPeace on the Prairie, copyright Margaret NavolioCopyright Cindy KerchmarPerfect Prairie Morning, copyright Laverne BohlinHoya, Hoya Carosa, copyright Kumie KimLittle House, copyright Bernadette HanacekPrairie Plants, copyright Arlene WidrevitzThe Prairie, copyright Dorothy Duffala
Nature Artists' Guild 