Chicago Botanic Garden Spring 2020

32 chicagobotanic.org Nature, through the creative lens of student artists The Chicago Botanic Garden, with its wide array of colors, textures, and designs, presents the perfect canvas for artists and photogra- phers. From budding flowers to intricate bonsai trees, the Garden is where creativity blooms. Each year, the Garden celebrates the outstanding work of students and instructors at the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden in two exhibitions: Drawn from Nature, for botanical art, and Focusing on Nature , for photography. Nature is the inspiration for these students. But their approaches, and results, are decidedly individual. “Using nature as a subject is endlessly beautiful. It’s the struc- tures and textures—once you study them and look, it’s just amazing,” says photog- raphy student Jane Feely. Here is a selection of student works featured in recent exhibitions: Aging Gracefully photograph by Jane Feely Jane Feely wanted to develop her pho- tography skills when she began taking classes at the Garden ve years ago. “At the Garden, you get the bene t of in- structors with so much knowledge and experience. ey push you to improve,” she said. Her inspiration may be a little surprising. “I have a history of photo- graphing owers that are a little past their best. I look for the beauty in the imperfect.” Spitzenburg Apple painting by Sylvie Vanhoozer An apple may seem like a simple subject for a painting, but for Sylvie Vanhoozer, the story behind heirloom apples is fascinating. “ e Spitzenburg is an heirloom apple that omas Jef- ferson had in his garden, and one that he particularly liked. I thought that was so cool,” she said. Vanhoozer makes sure that story comes through in her work. “My painting tells the story in its very composition: from a seed, to a spring blossom, to the branch in the autumn orchard, and nally, to the table with the cut apple.” Continued on page 34