Enriching Life Retrospective

September 13 – October 19, 2026

For over a decade, Brushwood Center has had the pleasure and privilege of being the home of the Heeyoung Kim Botanical Art Academy. Now that Heeyoung has announced that she will be moving away later this year and her classes at Brushwood are ending, we take a moment to look back. In this exhibition, we will see work from both Heeyoung and the other artists from her Botanical Art Academy, and take a moment to celebrate and remember with friends.

The art of Heeyoung Kim, world-renowned botanical artist, instructor, and native plant advocate, documents native plants of Midwestern prairies and woods, with a focus on rare and endangered species. She creates detailed portraits of each plant and its life cycle through keen observation and broad research throughout its growing seasons in natural habitats. Her paintings and drawings are distinguished with scientific accuracy, authentic composition, and masterful rendering of the medium. She has been building up a digital image bank with her artworks in “Project 200,” she set a goal to paint 200 native plant species, and other wildlife hoping her art would contribute to the public awareness about native plants and nature conservation. 

Please note: Brushwood Center will be closed for private events on October 10, 12 & 17, and the exhibition will not be open on those dates.

At Ease in Nature: Nature Holds Our Stories

October 7 – October 24, 2026

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.

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.

Join us for a closing reception at the Waukegan History Musuem at the Carnegie on Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 1:30 pm.