January
23, 2007
Oakton Naturalist Featured at Notebaert Nature Museum
Radiant Plants, an exhibition of unique floral images created on the campus of Oakton Community College, opens Friday, Feb. 9, at the Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Dr., Chicago.
Since 2003, Oakton naturalist Ken Schaefer has been artistically documenting the textures and shapes of plants found on the grounds of Oakton's campus in Des Plaines. To create his unique "photogram" images, Schaefer picks each plant in full flower and takes it to a campus darkroom. After carefully arranging the specimen on photo printing paper, he exposes both to light, creating an image that reveals the plant's character and architecture.
"The Nature Museum became interested in showing Ken's work because it highlights the simple yet amazing natural beauty that exists right here in the Chicago region," says Jill Riddell, director of conservation at Notebaert. "His unique process in creating this body of work depends on having access to this particular location, and cannot be accomplished any other way."
Located on the Des Plaines River, Oakton's campus includes 55 acres of restored woodlands, wetlands, native seed gardens, and reconstructed prairie. The College initiated a program to revitalize natural areas in 1992, and conservancy remains an ongoing priority.
"Our efforts to become increasingly 'green' provide an example for our students and our neighbors," says Margaret Lee, president of Oakton. "We try to make it a participatory learning experience."
Radiant Plants will be on display at the Notebaert Nature Museum through April 13, and is free with general admission ($7 adult general admission; $5 students and seniors; $4 children; Thursdays free.) For more information, visit www.naturemuseum.org.
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