At Ease in Nature: Nature Holds Our Stories

The Exhibition:

At Ease in Nature: Nature Holds Our Stories brings together artists with a U.S. military connection to explore the ways nature can hold memory, witness personal experience, and offer space for reflection and healing.

Presented by Brushwood Center at the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie, the exhibition brings together artwork, photography, and personal narratives from current service members, Veterans, and their immediate family members and caregivers. These works reflect the many ways relationships with the natural world can shape stories of service, transition, resilience, family, and belonging.

At Ease is Brushwood Center’s innovative approach to empower the wellbeing of Veterans and the Military Community.

It is the only Veterans program in the region offering a nature-based approach that helps build skills in creative expression, while also providing access to mental health support. 900+ participants gather annually to get outside, and explore and express their emotions through nature-based art, music, and photography workshops.

Through diverse artistic perspectives and lived experiences, At Ease in Nature: Nature Hold Our Stories honors the connection between service, storytelling, and the restorative power of the natural world. Together, these works create a space for recognition, reflection, and shared understanding; reminding us that sometimes, in nature, we find room to pause, reconnect, and feel at ease.

The Artists:

Darwin Adams
Evelyn Adams
Gary Andre
Anthony Casares
Jeanine Casares
Victor Flores
Ines Gardea
Angelique Lawyer
Jerry Loza
Carol Luc
Anna Nothnagel
Oluwatoyin Olabisi
Nataila Osias
Charlene Phillips
Dante H. Plata
Beverly Rivera
Margarete de Soleil
Angela Walker
Maryann Wattelle

The Reception:

Please join us for a closing reception on October 24 at 1:30 pm to celebrate the artists and the exhibition.

Please note: The Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie is open Wednesdays – Saturdays, from 11 am – 4 pm. General admission to the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie is required to view this exhibition.

Exhibiting artists may attend at no cost.

Exhibiting artists who would like to attend the closing reception on October 24 at no cost must register for the event by October 1, 2026.

Admission fees for the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie can be found at waukeganparks.org/parks-facilities/carnegie/