Temporary Exhibit

The Temporary Exhibit Committee is pleased to announce the new exhibit that was inspired by the work of Robin Wall Kimmerer (author of Braiding Sweetgrass and Gathering Moss). The committee focused on common plants of the region whose gifts have nourished, sheltered, and clothed human inhabitants for millennia.

What do you know about Marsh Marigold, Paper Birch, Labrador Tea, or Wild Rice? The goal of the committee was to expand your knowledge and leave you with a feeling of gratitude for these gifts of the forest. It was not easy to narrow the list of candidates, but the committee felt it was important to feature plants that are abundant and easily identified in the woods and marshes surrounding us, and whose gifts have been pivotal to the survival and comfort of the residents of this country through the ages. The concept of the ‘gift’ moved us to ponder how we might show gratitude and appreciation and we hope to inspire that feeling in visitors to the Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center.

The committee, working over zoom meetings, welcomed the fresh energy of Chik-Wauk staff person Emma Adams. Emma, Operations Assistant Director and Bonnie Schudy, Campus Director engaged local ISD #166 art teacher, Mila Horak and two of her students, Wren Ferry, and Genevieve Silence to create the backdrop for this exhibit. It is a beautiful piece of art and will highlight the story of the featured plants/trees.