After 20 years running her own highly successful commercial portrait photography studio in Chicago, Tampas is turning her gaze towards a new kind of image-making.  Flora: Photographs by Jessica Tampas includes luscious large-scale images of calla lilies and other plants photographed in a hothouse in rural Michigan. 

Brushwood.  Free. No registration required.

Join Steve Bailey, ornithologist with the Illinois Natural History Survey, for a captivating night exploring the mystery of owls at Ryerson Woods. He will discuss owl behavior and identification, as well as the places these fascinating birds are most likely to be seen. He may even demonstrate his world-famous Barred Owl call. After the discussion, Steve will lead a walk in the woods to look and listen for these enigmatic birds. Please dress warmly, and bring along a flashlight and binoculars. Presented in partnership with the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Brushwood.  SOLD OUT.

Join us for nature-themed chamber and solo pieces from the classical repertoire, featuring up-and-coming stars from the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, an elite training center for highly gifted pre-collegiate musicians.  Internationally recognized faculty from the Academy will introduce the performers and offer perspective on each piece.  Founded in 2006, the Academy has quickly established itself as one of the top programs of its kind in the country, providing a comprehensive musical education, master classes with some of the world’s most renowned artists and educators and significant performance opportunities for developing musicians. 

Enjoy an engaging book discussion led by Ben Goluboff, professor of American literature and nature writing at Lake Forest College.  This study of a lost North American tree chronicles the Chestnut blight that killed millions of trees in the first decade of the twentieth century, assesses the impact on forest ecology and human culture of the blight, and discusses the ongoing project to breed a disease-resistant Chestnut.

Brushwood.  $15 ($10 FRW members). Click here to register.

Join us for nature-themed chamber and solo pieces from the classical repertoire, featuring up-and-coming stars from the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, an elite training center for highly gifted pre-collegiate musicians.  Internationally recognized faculty from the Academy will introduce the performers and offer perspective on each piece.  Founded in 2006, the Academy has quickly established itself as one of the top programs of its kind in the country, providing a comprehensive musical education, master classes with some of the world’s most renowned artists and educators and significant performance opportunities for developing musicians.  

Derek Norman, artist and Director of the Midwest Center for Botanical Documentation, will lead students of all skill levels in drawing, sketching and painting the wildflowers of spring for this series of six field study workshops.  Personalized instruction will be given in capturing botanical detail and characteristics, and students will be encouraged to use various media including pencil, pen and ink, colored pencil and watercolor painting.  With studio facilities literally in the woods, Ryerson Woods is an ideal location for studying spring wildflowers.  A supply list will be provided to registered students.  Presented in partnership with Chicago Botanic Garden.