Ryerson Woods film festival spotlights sustainable design
On Saturday, Aug. 20, Friends of Ryerson Woods will host a free evening of art and film under the stars.
The event will begin with a guided gallery tour of the ART of GREEN group exhibition at the historic home Brushwood at Ryerson Woods near Deerfield. Guests are then invited to relax and picnic on the grounds of Brushwood for a screening of acclaimed short films featuring design inspired by nature.
Set in Deerfield, Ryerson Woods is one of Illinois’ premiere natural areas. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also part of the Illinois Nature Preserve System, a designation given only to the most ecologically significant natural areas in the state. With more than six miles of trails, a historic home and a green Welcome Center, more than 100,000 people visit Ryerson Woods each year to attend a program, walk, bird watch and enjoy the quiet of nature.
Friends of Ryerson Woods is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to build an environmental ethic in our region through education and outreach.
The film festival is part of Friends of Ryerson Woods’ yearlong effort to promote a broader understanding of how designers and artists are working to reduce human impact on the natural environment through sustainable design practices. Simply titled GREEN DESIGN, this integrated roster of public education programs includes lectures, workshops, art exhibitions, building tours and film screenings, running throughout 2011.
The gallery tour will be at 7:30 p.m. in Brushwood. Films begin at 8 p.m. Films will include: “Flower Tower,” “The Green Machine,” “Halle Pajol” and “Gardens, The Nature of Cities, Tour Phare.”
The program is free with a suggested donation of $10. No registration required. In the event of rain, films will be shown in the Welcome Center.
Ryerson Woods is on Riverwoods Road, between Half Day Road (Route 22) and Deerfield Road near Deerfield. Follow signs for Brushwood once you enter the front gate.
Call (847) 968-3321, or visit www.ryersonwoods.org.