Art showcase puts employee creativity in the spotlight

Get to know the creative side of Forest Preserve District staff by viewing their artwork during an exhibit that begins Saturday, Aug. 1, at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center.

Hours for “The Arts of the Preserves: A Showcase of Will County Forest Preserve Employee Artists” are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The free, all-ages exhibit runs through Sunday, Aug. 30. 

Forest Preserve visitor centers often feature art exhibits from both regional and national artists, said Jerome Gabriel, facility supervisor at Four Rivers in Channahon.

“We wanted to give Forest Preserve employees, many of whom have mentioned their artistic background in conversations, the same type of opportunity to showcase their works of art,” he said. “It started as a conversation among the staff at Four Rivers about many of their artistic hobbies and this morphed into a broader interest into seeing the works of all employees across the District.”

The exhibit will show visitors that Forest Preserve staff members who teach, conserve, preserve and protect the District’s 24,000 acres are talented beyond “their nine-to-five jobs,” he added.

“The public often gets to interact with Forest Preserve staff in their official capacities, but may never get to see the other facets of their talents,” Gabriel said.

The artwork will include watercolor paintings, photography, sculptures, textiles and poetry. Subject matter ranges from a great egret, a spider, feathers and bones and blankets.