The Chicago Botanic Garden is celebrating our universal attraction to patterns through playfully planted gardens and nature-inspired artistic installations that stretch the imagination during Patterned by Nature. Starting June 7 through September 21, visitors are invited to explore garden beds and installations throughout the Garden featuring dynamic patterns, transformational art, and upcycled fashion.
 
“Our display gardens steal the spotlight in this summer’s exhibition, where the use of flowers and foliage transform each space into eye-catching patterns,” said Jodi Zombolo, associate vice president, Visitor Events and Programs. “We are thrilled to also showcase a curation of artists who bring nature-inspired pieces for visitors to experience.”
 
Patterned by Nature features several art installations viewable at locations across the main campus and Windy City Harvest’s Farm on Ogden including:

• Future, by Raquel Rodrigo, known as Arquicostura, represents a future in harmony with the natural world by bringing the technique of embroidery using fine mesh and cross-stitched yarn to a large-scale composition. This piece blends a two-dimensional pattern with a three-dimensional perspective featuring the native Echinacea flower.
• Ebb and Flow and Radiate, by Rachel B. Hayes, utilize vibrant and textured fabrics to create an environment to explore and meander. Inspired by modern quilts, stained glass, and covered open-air bazaars, this handmade artwork intimately responds to the changing light and winds of the day, while boldly scaling to the surrounding architecture.
• Noticing, by Kristin Field, invites us to pause and discover the intricate beauty of nature’s subtle wonders by engaging with naturally dyed textiles, created using time-intensive practices like growing dye plants and weaving on a floor loom.
• A Better Pattern, a collaboration with Columbia College Chicago’s School of Fashion, celebrates the work of emerging designers who incorporated Garden-sourced materials and textiles into couture-inspired fashion creations. 

Additional opportunities and events include classes inspired by patterns, Poems While You Wait, personalized poems typed on manual typewriters, Beats in the Garden with Planet Chambo and Solidarity Studios, make hip-hop beats inspired by nature at a mobile outdoor music studio, a library exhibition titled “Patterns & Nature”, and the introduction of Garden Game Nights, a series of evening events featuring life-sized games, a puzzle hunt, and cocktails.
 
Patterned by Nature is open daily during the Garden’s general hours, which change seasonally. To learn more, visit https://www.chicagobotanic.org/patterns
 
An image gallery is available for media download here. 
 

About Chicago Botanic Garden
The Chicago Botanic Garden is a world-renowned living museum and so much more. Its roots grow throughout greater Chicago and beyond, inspiring all people to connect with plants. The Garden helps build healthier communities through urban agriculture, offers lifelong learning opportunities, leads pioneering plant conservation research, and showcases the beauty of horticulture. The Garden is a nonprofit organization run as a public/private partnership with the Forest Preserves of Cook County. For more information, visit chicagobotanic.org and follow on Facebook (@chicagobotanicgarden) and Instagram (@chicagobotanic)