Exhibition news

Rest and Recharge in Nature

By Megan Donahue

The world is noisy. In an environment saturated with constant alerts, urgent headlines, and an unrelenting stream of information, our nervous systems are rarely given time to settle. While some messages truly demand our immediate action, many linger as ambient noise, subtly shaping our thoughts, elevating stress, and eroding our capacity for presence and rest.

So what can we do about it?

Rest and Recharge: Practicing Radical Self Care in an Uncertain World is a new exhibition at Brushwood exploring this question. The exhibition acknowledges the quiet toll of the noise overload and offers a gentle counterbalance. Through visual art, space, and silence, Rest and Recharge creates an environment that encourages slowing down, tuning inward, and reconnecting with rhythms that sustain us rather than deplete us.

Over forty artists are featured in the exhibition, exploring rest not as withdrawal or passivity, but as an active, necessary practice—one rooted in attention, care, and renewal.

Rest is essential for humans to thrive. In addition to healthy sleep, downtime, and exercise, spending time in nature significantly reduces stress. A 2019 study found that just 20 minutes connecting with nature can help lower stress hormone levels. Research has shown “evidence that contact with nature is associated with increases in happiness, subjective well-being, positive affect, positive social interactions, and a sense of meaning and purpose in life, as well as decreases in mental distress.”

The artists of Rest and Recharge understand this vital link between nature and rejuvenation.

Artists Explore Nature as a Source of Calm

“Immersion in nature can bring peace and calm to otherwise anxious thoughts and feelings. When I walk through a garden or a forest or stand near a waterfall, I feel a connection and a feeling of belonging to something larger than myself. My awareness shifts. It helps me find perspective. The constant change and renewal inherent in nature reminds me that I am also changing and renewing in sometimes subtle, but significant ways. I can breathe a little deeper. My senses are awakened and I feel renewed. My paintings reference natural surroundings that metaphorically represent state of mind.”

–Joan Ackerman-Zimny

Image: Promise, by Joan Ackerman-Zimny
Media: Oil paint

“I create works on paper drawn from my personal nature library, built through time spent outdoors and close observation. When a pinecone or stone, a bone or shell catches my attention, I experience a moment of discovery—an immediate sense of joy and quiet amazement that slows me down and invites presence. In an uncertain world, fear can easily dominate our inner lives. For me, returning to nature and to art is a way of resisting that pull. Joyful observation becomes grounding: studying color, texture, form, and cast shadow allows focus to replace anxiety. Each finished work feels like a small but meaningful victory—proof that attention, curiosity, and care still matter. Inspired by Claude Monet, who continued painting through World War I and described his work as ‘the only way I have of taking part in the victory,’ my own practice similarly chooses creation over fear. By sharing these moments of discovery, I hope the work offers steadiness and reassurance—a reminder that attention to the natural world can restore balance, clarity, and peace.”
–Margarete de Soleil

Image:Owl Feather, by Margarete de Soleil

Media: Ink and watercolor on Arches paper

“Being in natural surroundings is the ultimate way to rest and recharge. Getting away from computers, TV’s and other devices is balm for the over-stimulated mind. Challenge yourself by walking, sitting or even laying down to let wind, sun and temperature play their part in rejuvenating and elevating mind and spirit.”
-Carol Luc

Image: Get Lost, by Carol Luc
Media: Photo

Rest and Recharge is on display at Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods through April 5.

learn more about the exhibition

A Joyful Black History Month Celebration at Brushwood Center

On February 22, 2026 the community gathered at Brushwood Center for a beautiful and inspiring Black History Month event.

Joyful! A Celebration of Black History Month, is a concert curated by singer Angela Walker, accompanied by a culinary experience by chef Jeffrey Williams.

Angela Walker sings, photo by InLife Photography

“Let Out Your Joy”

The program of musical selections by Angela, Patrick A. Pearson, and Tranelle Duffie traced the history of the African American experience and reflected on the role of music in the community. The audience clapped, sang, and cheered as Angela, Patrick, and Tranelle guided them through spirituals and gospel songs, from enslavement to the Civil Rights Movement to the modern day.

“The music was wonderful and the spirit was beautiful,” said one audience member.

Angela M. Walker is a U.S. Navy Veteran, musician, motivational speaker, community navigator, and Veterans’ advocate. She holds a master’s degree in Education and Inner City Studies from Northeastern Illinois University. She has taught at the City Colleges of Chicago and worked as a Veterans Service Officer Representative for the
State of Illinois, as well as a marketing consultant and health navigator. She is the founder of The Brave Project.

Angela Walker smiles while Patrick A. Pearson sings and plays the keyboard

In addition to her advocacy, Angela offers calming presence and grief support in hospice and hospital settings and promotes expressive therapy and positive psychology through her presentations. She performs as a songstress year-round for local and national Veteran service organizations, civic groups, and private events.

Angela says,”I think when you immerse yourself in the arts, you just lose yourself a little bit, but it also gives you time to meditate and think about the things that are important to you and to think about those inner dreams that need to come out… I’m able to express myself. And when you express yourself, you can let out your pain. You can let out your questions, you can let out your joy. It comes out and you share it with others. And then in turn, the audience shares their joy with you. And I can see that when I’m performing, I can see when people are being receptive to the music and
the songs.”

Angela Walker speaks while Tranelle Duffy plays the keyboard

“This Food is Love”

In the kitchen, Jeffrey Williams of From Hood to Table presented a hands-on demonstration about significant foods in African American culture, explaining the culinary history as well as the recipes. With a little help from participants, he prepared fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, greens with smoked meat, cornbread dressing, and cornbread.

Jeffrey Williams in the Brushwood kitchen, with a large bowl of cornbread, ingredients, and a baking pan.

Jeffery is a Chicago-raised private chef, and Waukegan urban farming and sustainability teacher focused on solving the
food crisis throughout urban landscapes. After six years of supporting and coaching high school students, he found peace and a safe space in his backyard during the pandemic. He connected his passions for cooking and gardening and founded From Hood To Table. He aims to prioritize access to the best and freshest food by teaching communities how to
grow and use what they have to make compost and organic inputs. He intends to build a bridge to the past and connect Black and Brown communities to a more sustainable and flourishing lifestyle.

Jeff Williams guides participants making cornbread dressing

Thank you to Angela, Patrick, Tranelle, and Jeffrey for creating such a special day at Brushwood!

art in action

Convergence in the Community

On June 28, 2024, Gorton Center in Lake Forest hummed with conversation and rang with applause as audiences experienced Convergence for the first time. Brushwood Center debuted the world premiere performance of music and art inspired by the findings of our recent report Health, Equity, and Nature: A Changing Climate in Lake County, Illinois, that links access to clean air, water, and nature to healthier lives.

Convergence: Health Equity in a Changing Climate, is a bilingual (English and Spanish) performance, guided by Brushwood Center’s Ensemble-in-Residence, Black Moon Trio. It translates the lived experiences of communities in Lake County, Illinois, affected by environmental racism and health inequities through original music, illustration, and storytelling.

This signature concert experience features live music performed by Black Moon Trio (Parker Nelson, Jeremy Vigil, and Khelsey Zarraga), including two commissioned compositions from composers Marc Mellits and Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate. Visually, it includes original artworks from five artists from across the country: Natashna Anderson, Kelley Clink, Laura Horan, Lakosh, and Naimah Thomas. The live performance is complemented by filmed narration in English and Spanish.

Since 2024, Convergence has quickly become a conversation-starter in communities in the region. Audiences in Waukegan saw a performance in August 2024. In the winter and spring of 2025, Convergence was condensed into a shorter program for educational and community settings. It connects students to the important data of health equity through art, while promoting social and emotional learning, and music and art literacy skills.

“Some of my favorite responses that I’ve gotten from audiences are things like the music program that we visited in North Chicago, where the program had grown from about five students to over 150. The students were just really excited to have real live musicians in their school, something that they had never dealt with before, something that they have never experienced before. Just having a chance to connect with these young musicians and talk a little bit more about how they can use their artistic talent to make change in their community was something that was really, really special,” says Parker Nelson, Director of Public Programs and Music at Brushwood Center.

“Brushwood Center is working with our artistic and community partners to make this data as accessible as possible,” says Catherine Game, Executive Director of Brushwood Center. “As an organization committed to improving health equity through community, nature, and the arts, we also know that art is a powerful tool for social change. By translating the research of the report into a multi-disciplinary performance, we hope to mobilize even more people and communities in this movement for a healthy and just future.”

Category: Arts in Action