The Nature Artists’ Guild Executive Board members and Committee Chairs will be meeting this Thursday to discuss upcoming programs, paint-outs, presentations, exhibits, workshops, field trips and social gatherings, and we look forward to the schedule for 2016. Nature Artists’ Guild members are always welcome to forward their ideas to any board or committee members, as events are added throughout the year.
Our busy new Program Coordinator (and Vice President), Sharon Malec, has already scheduled February and March, 2016 programs featuring artists JoAnne Laudolff and Rhonda Nass, and our new Outside Exhibits Chair, Gary Chipman,will be coordinating a Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit for February, 2016 at Gallery 200 in West Chicago, IL (members should have received a prospectus in December 2015).
Many Nature Artists’ Guild members were able to catch a glimpse of some of the artwork at the Father Michael E. Komechak O.S.B. Art Gallery at Benedictine University in Lisle, IL while dropping off their own artwork for a group exhibit last year. What many may not have known is the extent of the artwork collection housed at the university or the history behind it!
The late Fr. Michael Komechak, O.S.B. spent his life collecting and celebrating the works of others. Over time, he amassed one of the finest art and sculpture collections in the Midwest. The collection, approximately 4000 pieces, represents both fine and applied arts, and is engagingly diverse in its scope of subject and media. While a majority of the collection deals with religious themes, it also has a fair representation of contemporary art and work by well-known artists, but, consists mainly of works on paper and fine art prints.The gallery also boasts a collection of ceramics, drawings, paintings, photography, textile, sculpture, mixed media, folk art and kitsch.
Komechak Art Gallery, Benedictine University. Photo credit www.ben.edu/komechak-art-gallery
Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild are invited to attend a behind-the-scenes gallery tour of the collections on the morning of Tuesday, December 8, 2015 from 10 am until noon. Participants should meet at the gallery located on the fifth floor of Kindlon Hall at Benedictine University, 5700 College Road, Lisle, IL promptly at 10 am.The elevator to the fifth floor is located near the rear of Kindlon Hall in a short hallway to the right (the main elevator near the front entrance does not go past the second floor). Other buildings on the campus will be part of the tour, so comfortable walking shoes and warm outerwear would be advised.
There is no need to RSVP for this wonderful opportunity to attend the gallery tour. Please click on the highlighted links above to read more about the gallery, the collections, or for maps and directions.
The Nature Artists’ Guild is proud to present two talented musicians at our annual holiday celebration this Thursday, December 3, 2015 at Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.
Event coordinators Gail Diedrichsen and Susan Bartlett announce that they will be –
Introducing Maria Requena and Marlyn Ayala, our Rockin’ Stars.They’ve been practicing holiday music and are ready to rock the house on December 3rd!
Maria Requena and Marlyn Ayala
Please scroll down to recent posts to read more about the celebration.
Thanksgiving isn’t the only important gathering that always takes place on a Thursday! Each year, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum meet on the first Thursday of December for a holiday celebration with friends and fellow artists.
On Thursday, December 3, 2015, members and their guests will meet between 6 and 9 pm at the Thornhill Education Center for appetizers and live music in the historic and elegant Founder’s Room, and entrees, desserts and a raffle in the Arbor Room.
Organizers Gail Diedrichsen and Susan Bartlett always do such a fantastic job of decorating for and organizing this fun and festive event that it is definitely worth setting aside the evening to attend, even during the already busy holiday season!
Members are asked to bring food to share (details were sent via e-mail), and contributions for the raffle are always welcome, but certainly not required. Gail or Susan would be glad to answer any questions about the event, and their contact information can be found in the Yearbook.
All members of The Morton Arboretum, as well as friends, family and guests of Nature Artists’ Guild members are invited to attend the artists’ reception of the 2015 Annual Holiday Exhibit of Natural History Art tonight, November 6, 2015, between 5 and 9 pm at the historic Thornhill Education Center. Light refreshments will be served in the Founders Room, former library of the Morton family mansion. There is no charge for parking, admission, or admission to the Arboretum for this special event. Visitors can let the gate attendant at The Morton Arboretum know that they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit and they will be directed to Thornhill.
The exhibit will be open to all visitors of The Morton Arboretum on Saturday, November 7, and Sunday, November 8, 2015 from 10 am until 4 pm. While there is no charge to attend the exhibit, the gate fee will apply to non-members of the Arboretum.
Artwork by Featured Artist Mary Ann Jimenez. Postcard design by Evelyn Grala.
Just a reminder that this Thursday, October 15, 2015, from 7 until 9 pm, a special presentation sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will feature visiting artist Wendy Brockman.
Birds in Jeopardy, an exhibit of fine art showcasing images of birds that are either extinct or endangered, opens Sunday, November 1, 2015 at the Noyes Cultural Center, First Floor Art Gallery, 927 Noyes Street, Evanston, IL.
The Nature Artists’ Guild is proud and excited to announce that two of our favorite artists, member Lindsay Sandbothe, and Artist in Residence at the Field Museum of Natural History, frequent instructor for The Morton Arboretum art program, and presenter for our guild, Peggy Macnamara, will be featured in this exhibit. Curated by Sarah Kaiser-Amaral, the exhibition will also include artwork by Kristina Knowski, Maggie Weiss, and others. All participating artists in the exhibit will donate a portion of sales to a local bird conservation organization.
The opening reception will take place on Sunday, November 1, 2015 from 2 until 5 pm at the gallery. Refreshments will be served and entertainment will be provided by singer Josefien Stopplenburg. It will be a wonderful opportunity to show support for some great artists as well as for endangered birds. Birds in Jeopardy will be exhibited until December 1, 2015.
Please click on the highlighted links above for exhibit hours, directions, or more information about the artists.
The Morton Arboretum will be hosting the 8th International Oak Society Conference from October 18 until October 21, 2015. In conjunction with this event and as part of the arboretum’s 2015 Visiting Artist Series, artist Wendy Brockman will be teaching a workshop entitled Painting Oaks. (A few openings for this workshop may still be available – please click on the link to visit the registration page.)
The Nature Artists’ Guild is thrilled to announce that Wendy has also agreed to present a discussion of her art, inspirations and techniques for our members, guests and visitors on the evening of Thursday, October 15, 2015, from 7 until 9 pm at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.
Wendy Brockman lives and works in Minnesota, where northern forests and rocky shorelines provide inspiration for her imagery. She explores her interests in art and environmental issues using a variety of media. An avid observer, her work examines bits and pieces of nature and the responses they evoke.
Widely exhibited, Brockman’s paintings have been included in group and solo exhibitions. Her work has received national and international exhibition awards and is held in public and private collections throughout the United States.
What a wonderful opportunity to view the stunning work of this fine artist and hear more about her inspirations! This special presentation will be open, as are all Nature Artists’ Guild programs, to members, guests and visitors. There is no fee for attendance, parking, or admission to The Morton Arboretum for this event, and visitors just need to let the gate attendant know that they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program.
For more information about Wendy or to view more of her beautiful artwork, please visit www.wendybrockman.com by clicking on the link or any of the images.
Yes, you may feel like screeching at all of these corny references, but if you give a hoot about art or wildlife, you might find it wise to attend the upcoming Nature Artists’ Guild program on Thursday, October 1, 2015 from 7 until 9 pm at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.
The guest presenter at the upcoming meeting will be Marla Jedlicka, director of The Wise Old Owls Sanctuary, along with a few of her feathered friends. Marla began her career of rehabilitating owls by volunteering and interning at a small raptor center, which later closed. That is when Marla began the Wise Old Owls Sanctuary, which houses “owls that were once wild, injured, nursed back to health, but sadly cannot be released back to their natural habitat”. Marla also teaches and volunteers at SOAR Illinois – Save Our American Raptors, Inc., dedicated to “the welfare of our native birds-of-prey”.
There will be no Great Horned Owls there, (as in Evelyn Grala’s lovely painting, below), but Marla will be bringing some of her rescued Eastern Screech Owls and a Short-eared Owl for program attendees to sketch, photograph, or just learn more about.
As always, guests and visitors are welcome to attend the Nature Artists’ Guild presentations. This presentation would be of interest to artists, photographers, birders or anyone who enjoys nature! Parking. attendance and admission to the arboretum are free for this event, and visitors just need to let The Morton Arboretum gate attendant know they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program.
