A venture into book arts

For the past several years I have been exploring the intersection of my nature art and the book form, as a way of containing and collecting in some small object some of my images and musings about nature and conservation. Two months ago I was invited by Morton Arboretum to teach some simple movable book forms that have the ability to expand an artist's repertoire of materials, methods and creative expression. This book, which was an hommage to John James Audubon, and was part of a Chicago Hand Bookbinders' exhibit at Northwestern University and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago Library a few years ago, was my first venture into this form!

Kew Gardens

The 'Losing Paradise' finished its five-month run at Kew Gardens, London, as part of a larger exhibit titled 'Plants in Peril'. My son Ian and I were appreciative of the opportunity to see LP at its previous venue at the Smithsonian natural history museum in Washington. Kudos to Carol Woodin of the American Society of Botanical Artists for coordinating this groundbreaking collaboration between scientists and artists, in the service of conservation of endangered species! Their next major conservation-oriented exhibit will be featured by the historic home and gardens of 18th century Philadelphia botanist John Bartram, who helped ignite the love of botany worldwide.

Milkweed and monarchs

This is an illustration I did for a friend who is a natural areas steward here in the Chicago region. It's Asclepias exaltata, or woodland milkweed. The graceful, pendant flowers and finely-textured leaves are so different from the other members of the family, but when you look at the pods and flower interior, it's clear it is a milkweed. This species is fairly rare in our region; it's closely monitored by Plants of Concern, a regional rare plant monitoring program of the Chicago Botanic Garden. I have observed small populations (one or two plants) rebound after clearing of buckthorn and other non-native invasive species of brush. I believe it's primarily an edge or even a savannah plant.

The milkweed family is host to the beautiful, orange and black monarch butterfly, which means that's all the monarch eats - no milkweed, no monarchs! Monarchs migrate from Michoacan, Mexico, up to Canada every year, but their numbers are in decline because milkweed is considered a noxious weed by farmers and ranchers. Wouldn't it be nice if everyone could allow a wild corner to help our pollinators? We need fruits and vegetables too, not just corn and beans! : )

Book is finished!

My trilliums book, a collaboration with Susan L. Post of the Illinois Natural History Survey, is now off the presses! A limited edition of 12, with three artist's proofs, half will go to Susan and the other half to people who have helped inspire my love of nature.