Birdhouse or art?
One of the best kept secrets near the North Shore is the beautiful Brushwood Nature Center at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods. A new nature exhibition, “Avian Architecture: The Bird Sanctuaries of Dave LaForge,” will begin on Sunday, Feb. 28 with an opening day reception between 1 and 3 p.m. The event will run from Feb. 28 to April 10.
Multi-media artist and Vietnam veteran Dave LaForge was inspired by the beauty of birds and nature around us to create this collection of rare platform bird feeders and bird houses, all with unique architectural designs and unexpected details. Through his work as a master plasterer on numerous vintage architectural estates throughout the North Shore and Chicago, he has found not only design inspiration, but also the raw materials for his bird sanctuaries. By utilizing job site scraps to bring life to the structures in his imagination, he is not only serving birds, but also practicing one of the best forms of recycling.
The result is captivating and will appeal to adults and children alike. While you are out visiting the exhibition, you can take in the gorgeous nature setting of Ryerson Woods with numerous walking and cross country ski trails.
The exhibition is free of charge. Free parking at Brushwood Center.
Submitted by