Art Lesson #13: Six Giant Troll Statues at Morton Arboretum

 Joe the Guardian, trail up the hill and overlooking the highway

The Six Forgotten Giants in Copenhagen, Denmark, designed by artist Thomas Dambo, is celebrated art in Europe.  Travel is restricted to Europe, but you can find the artist's work in the United States.  The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois is home to Thomas Dambo's first large-scale exhibit in the United States.  Since Thomas is known for using recycled materials and promoting sustainability, it's fitting that an arboretum combines such art with nature.

I've visited the Morton Arboretum before the pandemic.  My friend had a membership and invited me to Passport Europe Festival one September afternoon.  The festival is so big that the event holds multiple stages simultaneously.  You have to choose between dancing and musical performances.  Often lots of audience interaction, joy, and laughter.  My friend certainly giggled when successfully volunteering me to learn Polish dancing in front of an audience.  I was so impressed with the park.  It's much larger than I expected.  I later learned it covers 1,700 acres and has 222,000 live plants combined with scientific research, making it internationally known.

During the pandemic, it's still a great place to visit.  The crowd is limited by timed-entry with non-refundable tickets.  With such wide, open spaces, social distancing feels so easy.  While more expensive than local or state parks ($15 per adult, $10 child ages 2-17), you also contribute to a great cause.  Joy Morton, son of the founder of Arbor Day and founder of Morton Salt Company, created the arboretum after studying botanical gardens in Europe.  The non-profit organization collects and studies plants from around the world.  From your ride through the forest, you can visit the East Loop and West Loop and see distinct outdoor exhibits of Asian, European, and North American Collections.

Tip #1:  Use the App to Help Find the Six Giant Trolls

Without the map, it could be a challenge to find all six trolls, some hidden in the woods after a trail.  Even with the map and signs with arrows, it still feels like a hunt.

Tip #2:  Drive the Troll Hunt

If you don't drive, finding the trolls would take a six to seven mile hike.  From a parking lot, the hike does not feel strenuous.  It takes a two feet to three-quarters of a mile hike from the nearest parking lot.  You'll still get your family moving.  One hike took you up a hill and you could look over both the arboretum and the highway, along with the super tall troll.  Rocky Bardur:  visible from road, easy walk from parking lot #1

Tip #3:  Plan for a Couple Hours

Once we started the hunt, my daughter insisted we find all six sculptures.  Kids enjoy finding the cute trolls and parents admire the details of reclaimed wood with different natural colors, twigs, and pincones combining for character.  Due to the pandemic, trolls are now fenced off.  You can still get great photos of Rocky Bardur, Sneaky Socks Alexa, Joe the Guardian, Furry Ema, Niels Bragger, and Little Arturs.  I've placed Destination Asia Festival my wish list for post-pandemic entertainment in August.  Culture, nature, and art come together at the Morton Arboretum.

World of Difference #2: Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Years working in the pet industry made me especially enthusiastic about helping pet adoption.  I looked forward to our volunteer day every year.  The entire office team worked together to upgrade an adoption facility.  Lots of heavy lifting, planting, and painting and everyone left on the bus with a smile.

The National Geographic book 100 Best Affordable Vacations lists volunteer work as a vacation idea.  In the section "nurture the big cats", the author highlights Best Friends animal sanctuary, "The country's biggest no-kill sanctuary, Best Friends of Kanab, Utah, welcomed volunteers to work with it's dogs, cats, horses, waterfowl, pigs, parrots, and rabbits to name its most common residents.  On an average day, the shelter is home to 2,000 animals, rescued all across the country."  The sanctuary rents cabins at reasonable rates.  We chose to rent a log home offsite and make the sanctuary part of our vacation.  

Due to the popularity, I recommend you plan ahead and understand whether you can schedule volunteer spots ahead.  We lucked out with an extra special tour guide.  As the grandson of the original land owner, he had historical stories to share while driving the mini-van around the site.  He stopped and showed us the key buildings, taking time to introduce us to the animals.  We hit the timing in which well known, televised pitbulls were being rescued.  We cuddled with the cats.  We heard about the onsite cafeteria and so glad we hit lunch timing.  We ate our salad buffet lunch outside on the patio with an amazing view.  Meanwhile, my dad and stepmom ate indoors with a bigger surprise - the founder joined their lunch table!

We had such a great experience, we rearranged our vacation schedule to fit in another afternoon at the sanctuary.  This time we watched the horse demonstration and learned about their training techniques.  By donating financially, we became part of their magazine mailing and every month, we are reminded by the amazing work at the Best Friends animal sanctuary.

Ode to Impact 100

Yesterday I met a friend in downtown Cincinnati who told me about Impact 100. I could hear passion for the organization's purpose "Women together, Changing lives".

So here's a shout out to the organization that has given grants of over $1.6MM. Small gifts combine to big gifts, given to non profit organizations in the Cincinnati and Northern KY area. Check it out at www.impact100.org.

Isn't that how life is? Little things can make a big difference. In such difficult economic times, we are all in this together. And we can make a big difference.