Opening Announced For Human+Nature At Morton Arboretum

LISLE, IL — Morton Arboretum's highly anticipated Human+Nature exhibition is set to open May 28, after being pushed back due to shipping delays with the materials for its five towering sculptures.

The exhibition features five sculptures designed by South African artist Daniel Popper. Made from wood, concrete, steel, fiberglass and other elements, the sculptures loom between 15 and 26 feet tall throughout the grounds of the arboretum. As of May 21, visitors can already explore four of the five sculptures.

“Each sculpture has a story behind it, but I like to leave the questions about each piece a little bit open, so people can come and bring their own ideas to it,” Popper said in a news release. He added, “I want people to come here and ask questions of themselves about their relationship with nature.”

The sculptures include "Heartwood," which features a bisected face inspired by the link between people and trees. Another sculpture, entitled "Sentient," incorporates root structures to depict a human face with diverse traits.

Tari Marshall, head of public relations and social media at Morton Arboretum told Patch it's "hard to pick a favorite" of the sculptures. Marshall said she's fond of UMI, which is tucked amid a grove of magnolia trees.

"The grove that UMI's in just embraces her, and it feels very inviting and comforting," Marshall said. She went on,"It’s very peaceful in that place, and the [sculpture] has so many interesting parts to it that as you walk around it and walk into it, you get so many different views."

Human+Nature was initially set to open April 9, but the opening was postponed because of "pandemic-related" delays in the arrival of materials for its sculptures.

“This is the culmination of years of work and after the delays that we experienced due to the pandemic, the opening is even more exciting for the arboretum and for arboretum guests," Marshall said.

Marshall added that most of the sculptures can be seen from roads inside the arboretum and are located just a "short walk on a chipped trail" from the parking areas. She said one structure, entitled Hallow, is fully accessible to guests who use wheelchairs.

Admission to Human+Nature is free with the purchase of Morton Arboretum entry tickets. Due to the ongoing pandemic, visitors will need to buy timed-entry tickets in advance, as no tickets will be sold at the gatehouse. Marshall told Patch "the Arboretum is following State of Illinois mask requirements."

Visitors can enjoy the Human+Nature exhibition at Morton Arboretum for "at least one year," according to the news release.

Marshall said she hopes the exhibition will encourage guests to visit parts of Morton Arboretum they have yet to explore and to "find the 1700 acres of the arboretum beyond the core center, where a lot of people tend to stay.”

Marshall added, “Things are starting to open back up, and having a positive, interesting exhibition for people to see and experience at this time is very uplifting.”