A Road Scholar program by Charles Schweighauser

Landscape painters reflect society’s values about natural and built landscapes. This program will explore perceptions of the Illinois landscapes—prairie, riverine, urban, non-prairie wilderness—and the human values that create changes in these landscapes from the beginning of European settlement to the present day. Many of these changes involve remaking two million acres of prairie into one of the world’s most agriculturally productive landscapes, a change documented from a number of points of view—romantic, scientific, economic, religious—by Illinois landscape painters. Slides of Illinois landscape paintings, from the 1840s to the present day, together with lecture and audience participation, will shape this program.

For more information call Cindy Corrigan, 630.232.4951.