Artwork at Dillon Nature Center

Several times a year I hang art as a temporary featured artist at various businesses like coffee shops, banks, or perhaps venues like churches or other public areas. For the months of September and October, I will have artwork in the meeting room at the lovely Dillon Nature Center in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Originally a 27 acre recreational park for the employees of the then locally owned Dillons grocery stores, in the 1970s it was given to the city of Hutchinson and turned into a nature conservation site.  According to the Hutchinson Rec website, this 100-acre “wild arboretum” is designated as a National Urban Wildlife Sanctuary. There are more than 300 species of woody plants, hundreds of varieties of wildflowers and native grasses, 200 species of birds, and a large variety of other wildlife along three miles of National Recreation trails.

My children have grown up taking school trips to this ever improving nature retreat, and now my grandchildren ejoy to new playscape area and the hands-on nature experience.  For those who like to fish, there is a spring-fed pond stocked for fishing.  There are also areas for picnicing and beautifully maintained scenic paths for a stroll…. not to mention photo opportunities!

Inside  Visitor Center features interactive exhibits, a classroom, an observation deck, and gift shop. Everything looks so fun and inviting!

My focus, however, was on the blank walls of the large meeting room.

Task at hand… fill them with nature themed art!