Morton Arboretum- Daniel Popper Exhibit

 The Morton Arboretum’s outdoor art exhibition, Human+Nature was my goal to see.  

"Internationally renowned artist Daniel Popper created 15- to 26-foot-tall sculptures exclusively for the Arboretum featured in various locations across its 1,700 acres, leading guests to areas they may not have explored before. It is his largest exhibition to date anywhere in the world."

The first sculpture that gets one's attention because of its strategically placed location is Ginko, a cast aluminum sculpture.

"The name comes from 100 Ginko leaves that surround her face in honor of the Morton Arboretum Centennial. Celebrating 100 years of planting and protecting trees for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world."

Basilica was created with the intention of creating a gathering space. A place where people could be held by nature. Hands welcome and reach for passers-by, inviting them to hold and be held by nature.

Heartwood- made out of concrete, steel and fiberglass.  

"The Heartwood is the dense inner collection of rings which lie in the center of a tree trunk .The spine or central pillar of the tree, mechanically stong, and resistant to decay. It's rings allude to the trees unique history and identity. The rhythmic formation of the Heartwood depicted on the figures left inner side is paralleled to our thumbprint-depicted on the figures right inner side."

 UMI-Meaning Life in Swahili and Mother in Arabic. The head weighs roughly 4 tons made of steel and Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete.

Sentient-A being sensitive in perception or feeling.Constructed of wood, glass-reinforced concrete, fiberglass, and steel, stands 18 feet high.

"There is no denying how easy it is to be distracted in today's world.Over exposure to Phones, media, news blasting at us , fragmenting us, dislocating us from our selves and the world around us.  

The daily digital dementia leads to a scrambling of our senses."

Hallow-Glass fiber reinforced concrete, steel subframe, inner walls Bejuco vines from the Yucatan, 25ft.(Hallow is the sister piece to Thrive which was installed in Fort Lauderdale in 2020. 

" The idea that in the process of deep self expression there can be emmense growth and healing. When we express ourselves fully we are closest to nature. In the same way nature expresses itself spectacularly throughout the seasons."

 There are a total of eight sculptures located throughout the arboretum. I, although, walked a ton that day (see previous post) was not able to see all eight. 

Yes, one is able to drive around the premises but because I did not drive to the arboretum, tracking the last two was way too much walking, even for me.

Missing from this post are Ephemera and  Mycelia. Both stand 13ft tall and will be on display until June 2023.

 If you are interested in learning more about Daniel Popper here is a link to his website.

(source)