Take An Enchanting Winter Walk Through Larger-Than-Life Sculptures At The Morton Arboretum In Illinois
By Melissa Mahoney|Published February 01, 2022
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Melissa Mahoney
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I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
Morton Arboretum is an enchanting place to visit no matter the time of year. But in the winter, with the ground all covered in a layer of white, it transforms into a magical wonderland. What’s even better this season is the Human+Nature exhibition of larger-than-life sculptures on the grounds of the Arboretum, perfect for taking an enchanting winter walk in Illinois.
Located in the Chicagoland village of Lisle is Morton Arboretum, a 1,700-acre outdoor tree museum that features special exhibitions throughout the year. There is one special exhibit on display right now and you will want to check it out this winter.
Through March 2023, several larger-than-life sculptures by world-renowned artist Daniel Popper will be on display in an exhibition called Human+Nature.
Currently, there are five pieces. However, two additional sculptures are set to be added to the collection in May 2022. Each piece was created specifically for the Arboretum with the mission of nature, trees, and human connection in mind, hence the name Human+Nature.
The sculptures are found throughout the Arboretum's acreage and range in height between 15 and 26 feet. It's a mesmerizing and jaw-dropping display to see in person, especially in the winter when the ground is covered in snow.
Close to the visitors center on the Arboretum's east side is a sculpture of a female that visitors can step right into. There are two additional sculptures within a mile while the final two sculptures can be found on the west side.
While these enchanting pieces of artwork look as though they are constructed out of wood, they were actually built with steel, fiberglass, and reinforced concrete. They were then painted to look like wood.
Have you visited Morton Arboretum’s Human+Nature exhibition yet? What is your favorite location for a winter walk in Illinois? Tell us in the comments! To learn more about Morton Arboretum and Daniel Popper’s sculptures on display, visit the website and Facebook page.
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