Located among pristine woodlands in the Ryerson historic home in Riverwoods, Il., Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods promotes the importance of nature for nurturing personal and community wellbeing, cultivating creativity, and inspiring learning.
Before Dreams Are The Last Place We Find You Lydia Cheshewalla is an Osage ephemeral artist from Oklahoma, living and working in motion throughout the Great Plains ecoregion. Through the creation of site-specific land art and ephemeral installations grounded in Indigenous land stewardship practices and kinship pedagogies, Lydia engages in multivocal conversations about place and […]
Veterans Acrylic Paint & Sip Nights Join us for a fun and relaxing acrylic paint event led by Veteran artists. ​This event promises to be both educational and therapeutic. Take home your own hand-painted masterpiece!All skill levels welcomed.Non-alcoholic drinks, beer and wine will be available for purchase with the American Legion Cicero Post 96.​ Small […]
The 42nd Annual Smith Nature Symposium Awards Dinner Join our movement for change! The Smith Nature Awards Dinner is Brushwood Center’s largest fundraising event of the year, and all funds raised from the evening directly benefit our programs for youth, families, and Veterans across our community. This year, we honor Robin Wall Kimmerer, author, scientist, mother, professor, and […]
Day of the Dead Art Workshop for Veterans DÃa de los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead, lasts from October 31st until Nov 2nd. It is celebrated in Mexico and several other Latin American countries. This celebration is filled with rich symbolism and colorful traditions, offering families and communities an opportunity to remember […]
Digital Art for Veterans and Families Enjoy learning about digital art with your fellow veterans and families members. Please download the proper software to your phone. A smartphone is required for this class. Prior to class Download ArtRage (free for Android, $2.99 for iPhone). Make sure to also open the app prior to class. This […]
Art Impact Project Art Impact Project facilitates supportive art projects designed to provide participants a different way to express themselves through art-making. With a focus on emotional wellness through creative expression, Art Impact Project's small-group environment gives participants the chance to self-reflect and safely share their observations. Each 90-minute session involves the completion of an art project from start to finish. Projects will vary from week to week, exploring various art media […]
Watercolor Painting for Women Veterans and Families Develop your unique artistic expression through watercolor painting. We will delight in the colorful, transformative nature of the watercolor while also sharing factual information about the natural world and flowers. Student input and discussion are welcome! Class taught by Gabrielle Tufano.--Art materials will be mailed to your home. […]
Nature Book Club: The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating The Brushwood Nature Book Club is a space to talk about and explore nature literature in a friendly environment. Each meeting includes discussion, creative writing, and art activities to engage with the themes of the chosen book, led by Brushwood’s Poet-in-Residence Kathryn Haydon, and writer-artist […]
You Choose the Project · Use Tools and Supplies From BASE · Get Help When You Need It Open Art Workshop is open to anyone who wants to make something in any area of visual arts and crafts, from the experienced artist looking for a community of others to work with, to the complete novice […]