At Brushwood Center, we are responding to the COVID-19 crisis by doing what we strive to do year round: build a community around nature and the arts. To help lift up the struggling arts community during this difficult time, we are highlighting a different nature-inspired artist each week and sharing their story with you. We encourage you to reflect on the impact of art in your life, and look for ways to support artists in our community. This week, we are featuring Shilin Hora - an artist that not only makes art about nature, she makes art WITH nature. A mixed-media collage artist, Shilin's work revolves around seeds she finds in nature - the small, often overlooked kernels of life all around us that hold the potential and future of all plant life on earth. Through her work, she puts the spotlight on these tiny treasures, creating what she calls "Botanical Boxes" - a unique blend between natural history specimen collections and fine art museum displays that celebrate and showcase the “need for the seed” as objects, and emphasize the historical, scientific, artistic, and cultural importance of each seed. In these boxes, she suspends individual seeds on a grid of thin filament in an arrangement of color, texture and shape that gives each seed it's moment while also creating vibrant, visual relationships between the different seeds. Shilin takes care to make sure the viability of each seed is kept intact by using reversible and eco-conscious glues and mounting methods. Because of this, the seeds never lose their potency or potential for new life. "The natural world and the environment inspires me because it is ascetically so beautiful, curious and mysterious. There is so much to discover, learn from and share still! Did you know that each rose of Sharon tree seed has over 50 small hairs on it?! Also, nature is super inspiring to me because it is the Great Giver, always giving and providing never asking for a thing in return. Much like a parent that gives and gives out of love, the earth gives and gives freely every day; water, wood, minerals, plants for food, air, warm sun...the list goes on. As humans we receive most of or all of our wealth from nature and we don't think twice about it. It's crazy that we each have a choice to protect our natural world and give back but some of us choose not too; It's the Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein syndrome I guess. With my work I hope to showcase the aesthetic beauty of seeds and botanical litter-fall in hopes to to convince folks to preserve, conserve and fall in love with our beautiful, ever giving, natural world." Shilin Hora on her work:
Undergraduate fine art studies took me inside the sculpture and printmaking studio at Grand Valley State University (B.F.A. 2001), where I developed my craft for collecting and illustrating nature. I learned to observe with intention and perfect the art of “seeing nature” through extensive botany collections and botanical illustrations. Here is where I learned the significance of the seed and learned to “hear” the voice of nature.
Follow Shilin Hora OnlineJoin Shilin on a virtual tour of her incredible work here.
You can learn more about Shilin's work and purchase her prints by visiting her website or learn about her workshops and community engagement with Grow Studio here. You can also keep up with her by following her on Facebook or Instagram.
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Congratulations to our Video Contest Winner: Braden WallenkampIn celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Brushwood Center invited our community to share their gratitude for nature during COVID-19 through our Earth Day Video contest. Our team was delighted by the submissions we received, and are so excited to share the winning submission "Earth Day Gratuity" by Braden Wallenkamp.
Special thanks to the runner-up submissions from Hannah Matthews and Jessamyn Lopez, both of whom created wonderful videos exploring the peace and joy we can find in spending time outside in nature during quarantine. You can view Braden, Hannah, and Jessamyn's beautiful tributes to Mother Earth through our YouTube playlist below: Thank you to our contest sponsor:Sibylle Szaggars Redford is one of our world's most passionate and influential environmental artists, and founder of The Way of the Rain. Brushwood Center could think of no one better to spotlight for Earth Week. As our global community faces unprecedented challenges, her message of collective action resonates like never before and is beautifully communicated through her performance art and rain paintings. Sibylle Szaggars Redford and Robert Redford were honored at Brushwood Center in 2018 as the Smith Nature Symposium Environmental Leadership Award Recipients. Sibylle Szaggars RedfordSibylle Szaggars Redford has dedicated her life's work to creating art informed by her spiritual consciousness of our connection to life, the land, and the world by raising awareness of our environmentally unsound practices. Szaggars Redford is a German born multimedia environmental artist whose artwork has been exhibited throughout Europe, Monaco, Peru, Singapore, Japan, Suriname and the United States. Having worked as an environmental artist for almost four decades, her desire is to create art that transcends words, languages, cultures and politics. Szaggars Redford creates art in order to speak to a deeper universal consciousness that’s connected to and dependent on the earth and its environments. Her stunning Rain Paintings are watercolor paintings that tell the story of changing rain patterns resulting from climate change. Rain literally acts as her collaborator as she places her paper outside for the rains to shape her watercolor pigment compositions. In 2015, Szaggars Redford founded The Way of the Rain, a nonprofit organization with the specific purpose of developing, producing and performing educational and artistic performances – themed and designed to promote public awareness to support the protection of our Earth. The Way of the Rain has performed across the globe, collaborating with organizations dedicated to protection of the planet, including Brushwood Center. A Special Gift from The Way of the RainThis Earth Week, take time to reflect on the importance of nature in your life by watching The Way of the Rain's inspiring multi-media series "Reflections on Earth". This series of videos, updated weekly and curated by artistic director Sibylle Szaggars Redford, features stunning nature imagery, soothing music by world renowned composer Tim Janis, and stirring spoken word performed by Robert Redford. It is the goal of The Way of the Rain to inspire, encourage and keep alive the beauty and dilemma of our Planet Earth, especially during this world-wide pandemic. Take a moment while we are all confined to our homes and allow the breathtaking images and soothing music to gift you a much needed escape. Subscribe to the video series here. "Nature is my spiritual connection to life, the land and the world, and Nature is my guide and inspiration in creating art," Szaggars Redford says. Pictured here with her Rain Painting Silk. At-Home Art & Nature Activity for FamiliesThis week, we take inspiration from Sibylle Szaggars Redford's work and will make our own rain paintings! All you need is paper (printer paper, paper plates, and coffee filters all work well), water-soluble markers, and a spray bottle or dropper. Create a drawing with the washable markers; try overlapping your colors a bit for better end results. Using your spray bottle or dropper, create "rain" over your drawing (or, if weather cooperates, use real rain outside!). The more rain you expose your work to, the more blended and unique your piece will become. Allow your piece to dry before moving, and then find the perfect place to display your new art!
At Brushwood Center, we are responding to the COVID-19 crisis by doing what we strive to do year round: build a community around nature and the arts. To help lift up the struggling arts community during this difficult time, we are highlighting a different nature-inspired artist each week and sharing their story with you. We encourage you to reflect on the impact of art in your life, and look for ways to support artists in our community. This week, we are featuring one of our favorite nature artists, printmaker Carrie Carlson. Carrie has been a regular feature at our Holiday Art Markets and group shows over the past several years, and we adore her vibrant, modern style. In addition to being an accomplished artist, she is an educator and scientist, and a staunch advocate for nature and the environment. Carrie's Artist Statement:"As a scientific illustrator, art and science are tightly twined together in my life and I am inspired to celebrate this through landscapes, botanical studies and portraits of nature’s smallest objects and winged creatures. I hope to reveal a bit of the wonderment I find in simple subjects by drawing attention to something beautiful or unique about them that might normally be overlooked or taken for granted. I am especially interested in raising awareness about issues faced by threatened or exploited populations, be they human, bird or bumblebee. Field sketching is a cornerstone of scientific illustration. I cannot imagine visiting a local zoo, much less traveling abroad, without a sketchbook. Travel and field sketching generate a deeper appreciation for humanity and the planet. The act of drawing forces us to slow down, to notice, reflect, cherish, and consider… What I gain from these experiences is a passionate environmentalism and driving responsibility to speak up for under-served populations. Through my artwork, I pray my steady, hopeful voice brings greater attention to how we can contribute to solutions and healing. If field sketching sparks new awareness and intimacy with the natural world, then creating finished prints satisfies an eagerness for studio challenges. I greatly enjoy learning the age-old processes of traditional printmaking. Relief printing, linoleum block in particular, has been an especially satisfying outlet for my creative energies." "I once heard a pastor say, "Ecology is Doxology," and that pretty much sums it up for me. My spirit finds hope and courage, learns patience and grit, experiences joy and community most clearly out in nature. I'm inspired to raise awareness and advocate for environmental causes." Watch Carrie in ActionWant to try your hand at coloring one of Carrie's prints? You can download a copy of her print, "Reverie,":Follow Carrie Carlson OnlineYou can learn more about Carrie's work and purchase her prints by visiting her Etsy shop or her website. You can also keep up with her by following her on Facebook or Instagram.
At Brushwood Center, we are responding to the COVID-19 crisis by doing what we strive to do year round: build a community around nature and the arts. This crisis is heavily affecting arts organizations and artists, as major art festivals, fairs, performances, and exhibitions that provide critical support and income are canceled or postponed. To help lift up the arts community during this difficult time, we will be highlighting a different nature-inspired artist each week and sharing their story with you. We encourage you to reflect on the impact of art in your life, and look for ways to support artists in our community. For our first spotlight, we are featuring our internationally-renowned artist in residence, Heeyoung Kim. Heeyoung has been part of the Brushwood family since 2011. She began with her first solo show, and soon after started teaching her weekly classes at Brushwood Center. In the spirit of natural history artists of the past, award winning contemporary botanical artist Heeyoung Kim documents and depicts native plants of prairies and woods in Midwestern USA. Giving priority to rare and endangered species, she also paints common ones when they have high ecological value. Rare orchid species are also her favorite painting subjects. Believing that humans can only survive when plants and pollinators thrive, Kim actively engages with locals to draw public attention to plant conservation through her exhibitions, talks at garden clubs, or nature and art related activities with students. Founder of Heeyoung Kim Botanical Art Academy, Kim is an internationally renowned botanical artist and instructor. She teaches the ancient art form of scientific plant illustration at Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods. "Everything in nature leaves me in awe, large or small, floral or faunal, living or non-living..... I am always awakened and amazed by the beauty and perfect design of every part of Mother Nature, and I strive for expressing my enlightened self in art." Free Tutorial for Brushwood Followers:Heeyoung has generously provided two free monarch butterfly coloring pages for Brushwood members to print out at home! Simply follow the link to her online store and enter the code "BRUSHWOOD" at checkout to download. You can also follow along with her step-by-step coloring tutorial on YouTube! Follow Heeyoung OnlineYou can learn more about Heeyoung's classes, view her portfolio, and purchase her work by visiting her website. You can also keep up with her by following her on Facebook or Instagram. Heeyoung's Most Recent Exhibitions5th Annual: Enriching Life - Botanical Art Exhibition, Heeyoung Kim & Brushwood Botanical Artists. November 24, 2019 - January 12, 2020 at Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods, Riverwoods, IL.
Heeyoung Kim: New Works - Orchid Watercolor Paintings. July 25- September 7, 2019, Joel Oppenheimer Gallery, Chicago, IL. Botanical Art Worldwide, America’s Flora: Linking People with Plants through Botanical Art. 2018 - 2019, 4 venues in the United States. Transylvania Florilegium, The Prince of Wales’s Botanical Art Documentation of Transylvania, Romania: May 23 - July 31, 2018, Embassy of Romania, London. Kim’s three watercolor paintings are included in the royal collection. Never underestimate the power of community in a time of crisis. Artists and volunteers from Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods are rising to the occasion to address the dire need for face masks across Lake County’s healthcare community. With the help of mask-making kits from Brushwood’s Art Supply Exchange, more than 1,000 masks have already been distributed to hospitals, clinics, and assisted living centers. What Brushwood Center is Doing:Many local healthcare providers face a serious shortage of protective face masks in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak. As an organization dedicated to wellness that partners with multiple health care organizations throughout Lake and Cook Counties, Brushwood Center is mobilizing its community to meet this need. Through online coordination of local artists, volunteers, and community partners, and with the material supplies from their very own BASE (Brushwood Art Supply Exchange) Brushwood is assisting in supplying much needed face masks. To date, kits to assemble well over 1,400 face masks have been distributed, and more than one thousand finished face masks have been delivered to healthcare workers in need. Mask fabrics represent the vitality and community spirit of the Chicago area, ranging from sports team patterns to cheerful spring flowers. Mask donation recipients include Vista Medical Center in Waukegan, Fenix Family Health Center in Highwood, Lake Forest Northwestern Hospital, Cedar Lake Assisted Living in Lake Zurich, Advocate Lutheran General, and the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago. “The need for protective equipment is urgent, and Brushwood Center’s community of artists and volunteers have really stepped up to the challenge. People are excited to help. Volunteers do the sewing, and we make sure the masks are delivered to the places that truly need them.” Catherine Game, Executive Director, Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods." How You Can Help:For those who would like to contribute to support our healthcare heroes, all you need is basic sewing knowledge and instructions for mask sewing which are available on the Brushwood Center website www.brushwoodcenter.org. The materials needed are simple cotton fabric, elastic/fabric ties, and sewing equipment. Donate your sewn masks to Brushwood Center’s front porch in the donation bin. Their mighty team of volunteers will handle the donation pick-ups and delivery to healthcare centers. Please email us at info@brushwoodcenter.org or message us via Facebook when you have dropped off your masks so we can track quantity. Drop off between sunrise and dusk on the Brushwood Center front porch: 21850 North Riverwoods Road, Riverwoods, IL. It’s okay if there are small differences between masks. There are many instructional videos available online as well that you can reference. Throughout our area there are other organizations with similar mask drives. Wherever you choose to put your energy, just know that it is appreciated. BASE (Brushwood Center Art Supply Exchange)BASE is a creative reuse center operated by Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods where your unwanted art and craft supplies can find new life. BASE provides materials, tools and education at very low-cost to the public, and free to educators and community partners. BASE remains closed due to COVID-19 through the end of April.
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AuthorThis blog is written by the staff and partners of Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods Archives
February 2022
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