A new art exhibit opening Wednesday, June 4, at Plum Creek Nature Center in Crete Township invites visitors to experience Illinois’ native prairie landscape through the eyes of Orland Park artist Carrie Carlson.

“Prairie Reverie,” a free exhibit on display through Sunday, Aug. 24, features more than 30 original pieces by Carlson, including drawings, paintings, linoleum block prints and ceramic works. The exhibit is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.

Carlson’s subjects — native plants, wildlife and prairie landscapes — are rendered in bold, detailed styles that blend her backgrounds in both biology and art.

“The bold details in the artwork will hopefully inspire a closer look at the flora and fauna right outside our own doors,” said Heather Van Zyl, facility supervisor at Plum Creek Nature Center. “With prairie areas in bloom around the nature center, there are many opportunities to make comparisons and draw inspiration both from the exhibit and what’s in bloom.”

"Prairie Reverie" is designed to engage visitors more deeply with the natural world – whether that means exploring local preserves, planting native species or getting involved with restoration work.

“Two hundred years ago, over 60% of Illinois was covered in prairie ecosystem. In 2025, we have less than 1% of that prairie remaining,” she said. “Prairie plants are not only vital habitat, they anchor and enrich our soil. In residential areas, they can be beautiful additions to cultivated gardens.”

Much of Carlson’s work begins in the pages of her nature journals. The exhibit includes some of these field sketches, offering insight into the process behind her finished pieces.

Carlson grew up exploring the outdoors with her 4-H Club in Palos Park.

"As a kid, I was at my happiest when immersed in field grass catching bugs, or hanging out in the animal pens," she said. "For many years, I wanted to be a veterinarian and went to college to study biology. However, I earned work-study as a tutor and fell in love with teaching."

Since 2001, Carlson has been a full-time high school educator in the south suburbs of Chicago where she has split her years between the science and art departments. She also teaches a variety of adult art courses at the Morton Arboretum including linoleum block printing, drawing birds and nature journaling.

Carlson will also lead a printmaking workshop at Plum Creek Nature Center on Saturday, July 26, giving guests a chance to learn firsthand about the methods behind her signature block prints.

Van Zyl noted that “Prairie Reverie” complements the Forest Preserve District’s new Festival of Arts Through Nature event on Saturday, Aug. 23, adding a visual arts perspective to the growing slate of nature-inspired programming.