Join us for Flourish: The 42nd Annual Smith Nature Symposium! Learn more about tickets and sponsorships.
Walking Up the Dune by Josie Levin
Walking Up the Dune by Josie Levin

Rooted in the Shadow of Coal: Botanical Treasures of the Waukegan Dunes

July 13 – August 31, 2025

Brushwood Center presents a new exhibition, Rooted in the Shadow of Coal: Botanical Treasures of the Waukegan Dunes. It is presented in partnership with the Driehaus Museum to explore perspectives on art and nature in association with their summer exhibition featuring acclaimed botanical artist Rory McEwen, Rory McEwen: A New Perspective on Nature.

Rooted in the Shadow of Coal embraces the tradition of botanical art while expanding to include a wider range of artists and media, all focused on the resilient plants of the Waukegan Dunes. Each artwork in the show includes a reference to at least one, and sometimes several, of these botanical wonders. What has proximity to pollution done to the site? What does it mean to have this surviving and thriving natural environment next to coal ash ponds? In this exhibition, botanical art becomes a lens to consider health, equity, and nature.

Exhibition Materials

View the Exhibition Guide to learn more about the artwork and artists.

Get Into the Groove

As you tour the gallery, supplement your experience with music inspired by the themes of Rooted in the Shadow of Coal curated by Brushwood Center’s Director of Music, Parker Nelson. Simply scan the following QR code with your smartphone to access the playlist – no subscription required.

Artists

Beverly Behrens · Sharon Bladholm · Alexandra Blom · Jonathan Boyer · Curtis Anthony Bozif · Melissa Brummerstedt
Sinead Carus · Louise Daley · Megan Donahue · Royce Galindo · Kathleen Marie Garness · Polly Greathouse
Allison Hausladen · Catherine Hu · Ruth Hutter · Gillian Jackson · Josie Levin · Phyllis Levun-Agostino · Christina Lovering
Carol Luc · Erin McNamara · Carol Niec · Lindsay Olson · Katelyn Patton · Melissa Pierson · Amy Rosenwasser
Betty Schulte · Jane L. Sturgeon · Liliane Tran · Ellie Wasilewski · Maryann Wattelle · Amy F. Williamson

Artworks

Exhibition Events

Opening Reception
July 13, 2025
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods

Black Moon Trio at Driehaus Museum

The Great Lakes: Our Freshwater Treasure
July 16, 2025
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
The Richard H. Driehaus Museum

Botanical Art Workshops with Heeyoung Kim

Three Workshops: Drawing, Color, and Pollinators
July 25, 26, 27, 2025
The Richard H. Driehaus Museum

Additional Resources

Health, Nature, and Equity: A Changing Climate in Lake County, Illinois

Clean Power Lake County

Coal Ash Primer

Heeyoung Kim Botanical Art Academy

Sharing Our Shores – Waukegan

Waukegan Harbor Citizens Advisory Group

Español (Estados Unidos)
Powered by Localize
English