Jan. 29-March 22, 2026
"A Chorus of Wings" is a unique exhibition that brings together four distinct artistic voices, all united by a profound appreciation for our feathered friends. Their passion is evident in the craftsmanship and feeling of each work.
Marvel at this delightful show filled with a variety of styles and mediums including acrylic, ink and colored pencil to ceramics as diverse as the birds they celebrate.
Cost: Included with general daily admission, which is free for members and ages 15 and younger and $20-25 for non-members ages 16 and older. Indigenous peoples receive waived general daily admission to the Arboretum when making a reservation by calling 612-301-6775.
Artist Meet & Greet
March 22, 2026 from 1-3 p.m.
Reedy Gallery
Artist Statements
Julie Greenwood
Always inspired by nature, my art focuses on wildlife, playful anthropomorphism, human form, portraiture and sculpture. My purpose is to create a connection for the viewer via the medium of colored pencils.
While the manner of my storytelling occasionally changes, all of my work is a celebration of animal life, and a tribute to nature's ability to awaken our connection to and need for the natural world.
May we continue to understand and appreciate the uniqueness of all animals and their environments.
Hear Julie on her medium and her subject.
Kim Russell
My art career started in 1978, creating sculptural pieces in native hardwoods. After working exclusively in wood for over 30 years, I followed my heart and began creating stylized ink and acrylic drawings of birds. Regardless of the medium, my emphasis is on the flow of the lines, the symmetry between components and the balance of the composition.
I choose to depict birds because they are one form of wildlife that virtually everyone can experience, no matter where they live — robins hunting worms in lawns, crows calling overhead, hawks nesting on high-rise window ledges. I love hearing stories of the ways birds have touched people's lives.
Researching the birds, their habits and habitats brings me closer to finding my own place in the larger world.
Listen to Kim explain why she makes art about birds.
Sarah McRae
Most of the inspirations behind my artwork are the people in my life. My parents, friends and my relationships all make appearances in my paintings. They may appear as bears, moths, butterflies, but most often they emerge as birds. An enrolled member of the Red Lake Ojibwe, I adore traditional Ojibwe beadwork. I attempt to combine a modified version of traditional beadwork with bold geometric patterns and birds or animals, and I love combining all those elements into one cohesive and brilliantly colored design.
I create art to lift the spirit, to gain strength and clarity, and to bring peace and balance into my life.
Sarah talks about her relationship with birds.
Steve Hemingway
I primarily use ceramics as my medium of choice. My engagement with clay is rooted in a nonfunctional, narrative approach. Rather than focusing on practical utility, I strive to tell stories and evoke meaning through each piece.
My technique is shaped by the visual qualities of woodcut prints, especially their characteristic flatness. This influence guides the surfaces and textures of my ceramic work, allowing me to explore narrative possibilities through color and composition.
The intricacies of nature, as observed through the lens of time and space, serve as a foundation for my creative process. I find inspiration in the cyclical passing of seasons, the migrations of birds, and the seasonal runs of fish. These natural phenomena inform both the themes and the visual language present in my work.