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  • Messages of Hope ยท 2020
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Messages of Hope
October 21 - January 1, 2021
At Heller Nature Center in Highland Park, trails open from 7:30 am to dusk every day.

Brushwood Center is thrilled to partner with Cabinet of Curiosity and Heller Nature Center to present Messages of Hope.  As an organization dedicated to wellness, art and nature, we strive to provide immersive experiences that explore the healing powers of the natural world and creative expression.  In response to COVID-19, we have been finding new ways to fulfill our mission, creating adaptive, virtual programming, and exploring different ways of exhibiting artwork outside. This show is the perfect opportunity to help local communities connect to nature and enjoy a free, uplifting art exhibition safely during the pandemic.
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Inspired by traditional cabinets of curiosity, altars, temples, tramp art, and grottos, this show seeks to generate mundane, magical, and momentary locations of respite and reflection. Free boxes were provided to established artists, emerging artists, and community members to adorn. Cabinet of Curiosity delivered and retrieved the completed boxes, and mounted them to trees in the Little Red School House Forest Preserve in Willow Springs, IL in late summer 2020. With the help of Brushwood Center and Heller Nature Center, the boxes are now moving to Lake County for a whole new audience to enjoy.  They will be on display on the "red" trail at Heller Nature Center starting October 21st.

The project was devised in partnership with designer Sydney Lynne Thomas, who brought the altars to design life through her knowledge of construction, materials and civic practices. ​
Contributing artists include: 
​Jeremy Andersen (Oak Park), Linda Boyle (South Dakota), Rea Brown (Hyde Park), Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods (Riverwoods, IL), Gabriel Flash Carrasquillo Jr. (Harlem/Irving Park), Cynthia Castiglione (Avondale), Melecio Castillo (Steel City),  Kass Copeland (Wrigleyville), Michael Cotey (Wrigleyville), Sheila Cronin (Indiana), Adrian Danzig (Winnemac), Lisa Deluca,  Griffin DiStasi (Evanston), Sheila Donovan (Douglas Park), Lissa Dysart (Oak Park), Eseosa Edebiri (Pilsen), Anya Elsbeth (Lakeview), Enlace Chicago,  Tressa Ferrella (Uptown), Veronica Freemont, Joanie Friedman (Hyde Park), Geneva Gage (Lakeview), Justin Goh (Rogers Park), Angela Golota (Glenview), Ola Grabowski​, Annabelle Gross (Wilmette), Jillian Gryzlak (Logan Square), Wynne Harrison​, Deborah Hirshfield (Evanston), Karen Hoyer (Lakeview), Brian Hungerford (Oak Park), Brandin Hurley (Bowmanville), Shawn Ketchum Johnson (Iowa), Indira Johnson (Evanston), Cynthia Kerby (Evanston), Tai Kojro-Badziak​, Deborah Lader (Ravenswood), Tirzah Lawson (Texas), Laurie Wessman LeBreton​, Mark and the Levitin Family (Near North Side), Sydney Lynne (Groveland Park), Frank Maugeri (Oak Park), Toni Maugeri (Portage Park), Andrew Tyler Nelson (Rogers Park), Dan O’Brien (Lake View), Sully Ratke (Bowmanville), Terry Reimer (Lakeview), Amy Ribbon (West Loop), Sarah Rieser (Pilsen), Gina Lee Robbins, Tom Robinson, Cecilia Sheppard (Lincoln Park), Cathy Swalbe,  Shayne Taylor (Bowmanville), Ellie Terrell (Logan Square), Jessica Thebus (Rogers Park), P.K. Vanderbeke (Old Town), Liz Walton (California), Tracy Weisman (Rhode Island), Dan Wheeler (Lincoln Park), Anna Zahm (Uptown).

About Cabinet of Curiosity:
Cabinet is composed of diverse project-by-project collectives who authentically collaborate on original celebrations and productions. We use sophisticated puppetry and handmade devices to develop unique interactive experiences, productions, and events. We focus on creating new types of gatherings, ceremonies, and rituals that promote community and interactivity among people who may not ordinarily mix. Our intention is to support multicultural professionals in the field of theatre, visual arts, dance, sculpture, and music, while mindfully training college-age apprentices to become the future creators of meaningful new rituals through our School of Celebration. All of the objects and devices created by Cabinet are engineered to expose their mechanical operations so that they are simultaneously educational, informative, and magical. We embrace commissions which require unique elements of ritual, ceremony, procession, and pageantry. These commissions generate funding that establishes an innovative revenue stream, reduces the burden of being sustained by a Board, audience, or foundations, and trains apprentices through a unique celebration curriculum, builds community, and helps fund our greatly discounted public work. We are committed to social engagement — both grand and intimate. Our purpose is to promote curiosity, community and cultural discovery. Learn more at www.cocechicago.com. ​

About Heller Nature Center:
Heller Nature Center is a 97-acre preserve of the Park District of Highland Park, and has been under public stewardship since 1977. Heller’s careful resource management, including restoration and controlled burns, provides a taste of an authentic native landscape. Visitors to Heller can also enjoy a picnic in our woodlands, visit our Design in Nature exhibit in the Goodman Log Cabin, or rent cross-country skis and explore our three miles of trails.

Presented by:

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21850 N. Riverwoods Rd.
​Riverwoods, IL 60015

224.633.2424 info@brushwoodcenter.org
Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods is committed to enabling the participation and enjoyment of our programming and events for all visitors. At Brushwood Center, you will have open access to accessible parking and entrance to the house, a gender neutral bathroom, and changing tables.
If you require certain accommodations in order to observe or attend our events, or have questions regarding accessibility of our facilities, please contact our Manager of Public Programs and Communications, Parker Nelson, at pnelson@brushwoodcenter.org or at (224) 633-2424 ext. 1.
Programming and events at Brushwood Center is available to everyone, including but not limited to age, disability, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, and sexual orientation.​
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and by appointment 
  • ABOUT
    • Our Mission and Vision
    • Our Board
    • Our Partners
    • Our Staff
    • In the News
    • Blog
    • Join Our Mailing List
    • Visit Us
    • Contact Us
  • EVENTS
  • ART
    • Gallery >
      • Current & Upcoming Exhibitions
      • Past Exhibitions
    • BASE - Brushwood Art Supply Exchange
    • Classes >
      • Botanical Art Academy
      • Create and Sip Classes
    • Calls for Art
  • MUSIC
  • WELLNESS
    • 2022 Nature Explorer Backpack Project
    • Health, Equity, and Nature Accelerator
    • At Ease: Nature and Art for Veterans
    • It's A W.I.N. - Programming for Community
    • Senior Wellness
  • RENTALS
  • SUPPORT
    • Donate
    • Become a Partner
    • Volunteer & Job Opportunities
    • Our Sponsors
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