ENJOY YOUR VISIT — Exhibitions

Treewhispers

PHOTO: the Treewhispers exhibition "birches"

Enjoy these FREE tree-related activities along with your exhibition visit:

Tu B'Shevat
Sunday, January 29,
1 – 4 p.m.

In celebration of Tu B'Shevat, the Jewish Festival of Trees, special, drop-in family activities will be offered in the Regenstein Center.

Three Friends of Winter
Saturday, January 28 & Sunday, January 29
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Celebrate the beauty of winter at this special weekend of programming in honor of the Japanese tradition of Three Friends of Winter — bamboo, pine, and plum. Paint a scroll inspired by bamboo, pine, and plum. Enjoy traditional folktales and sumingashi, a Japanese marbleized paper art. Visit the Bonsai silhouette show in Burnstein Hall.

"Tree Stories" Storytime in the
Lenhardt Library
Monday, February 20
10 – 11 a.m.

Join us for a special tree-themed Storytime in the Lenhardt LIbrary this week.

Gumballs & Superballs
Saturdays, January 21 or 28
9:30 – 11 a.m. or 1 – 2:30 p.m.
$22 Nonmember per child
Garden Plus members receive 20% off
Ages 4 – 10 with adult

Find out how people use parts of rainforest trees to make chewing gum and rubber. Create your own bouncing ball and flavorful gum to take home.

HOT Chocolate
Saturdays, February 4 or 18
9:30 – 11 a.m. or 1 – 2:30 p.m.
$22 Nonmember per child
Garden Plus members receive 20% off
Ages 4 – 10 with adult

Examine the cacao tree, learn how bitter beans make delicious desserts, mix up an ancient Aztec chocolate, and take home chocolate mint and chocolate pepper plants.

For more information on the Treewhispers project, visit www.treewhispers.com.

Partial funding is provided by the Harriet Kay and Harold R. Burnstein Fund for Exhibitions.

January 14 – April 8, 2012

Regenstein Center Joutras Gallery
Admission is free.

It seems that everyone has a tree story — climbing a tree or falling out of one, walking in a dense forest, or finding that tree that seemed to speak to you. Treewhispers is an ongoing, international collaboration "awakening our heartfelt connection to trees," involving handmade paper, art, and stories relating to trees as a symbol and resource.

Treewhispers was created in 2000 by Pamela Paulsrud and the late Marilyn Sward. Through this project they have provided papermaking opportunities in public forums and presented the project in a multitude of venues while gathering round, handmade papers from participants around the world.

On the papers, contributors have remembered a tree or the spirit of a tree. Some contributions are simply a magnificent example of beautiful handmade paper and some include text and/or imagery. Some suggest tree rings, depict leaves, or illustrate a personally significant tree; others are imprinted with a poem or a meaningful story relating to trees.

The handmade paper is connected together to create large tree assemblages, and ultimately, a forest of hanging paper rounds for the ever-changing installation.

Enjoy the following classes offered in connection with Treewhispers exhibition:

Treewhispers: Awakening Your Heartfelt Connection to Trees
Regenstein Center Fairchild Room
Wednesday, March 28, 9 a.m.

Treewhispers: Hand-Made Paper Art Workshop
Regenstein Center Plant Science Lab
Saturday, March 31, 10 a.m.

Treewhispers Meditation Workshop: Breathing Without Boundaries
Regenstein Center Linnaeus Room
Friday, April 6, 10 a.m.

Interact with Treewhispers

Audio courtesy Beth Barbush and the respective speakers, 2011.

Play audio clip, "Butterflies"

Play audio clip, "The Magical Apple Tree"

Become a part of the exhibition when you purchase a blank, handmade paper round from the Lenhardt Library or the Visitor Information desk, and share your own creativity and story about a tree.

Mail your piece back to the artist at:

Treewhispers
Pamela Paulsrud
923 Amherst
Wilmette, IL 60091