Arboretum art show strives for connection with nature

More than 150 works of art celebrating nature were on display this weekend at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle as part of the Nature Artists' Guild Spring Exhibit of Natural History Art.

The two-day show, which ended Sunday in the arboretum's administration center, helps raise money to support the guild and the arboretum art program. This year's featured artist was Susan Bartlett, who works mainly in graphite, colored pencil and botanical collage.

"Through my art, I love to play with the transparency of light and the drama of shadow," she said in advance of the show. "I look for details that are not obvious and have interesting textures.

"I aspire to show everyone a glimpse of what I see and feel in my connection with nature," she added.