Trees are more than trees at The Morton -Arboretum in Lisle.
“Without trees, we won’t live,’’ John Featherstone said. “Trees are the lungs of the world. They are not just to hold up lights.’’
But this time of year, some trees at the Arboretum do a damn fine job of holding up lights.
For the seventh year, “Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum” mixes the natural world, art, technology, color, light and sound over 50 acres of trees at the Arboretum. “Illumination,” which spreads along a mile-plus trail, opens tonight and runs through Jan. 5.
It was my second year of seeing “Illumination.” I’m drawn to intersections of the natural world, art and technology.
Last week, I had a behind-the-scenes night walk with Featherstone, “Illumination” designer and founder of Lightswitch lighting and design firm, and Tari Marshall, head of public relations and social media at the Arboretum.
It was a learning experience from the start at Meadow Lake Magic. From last year, I assumed it was a creative light show on water. It’s far more interactive than that. Featherstone took us inside the trailer where computers program the light show based off data points from a probe taking the water temperature and an anemometer measuring wind speed and direction.
He also showed the technology behind Hug-a-Tree, one of the most popular exhibits, where visitors hug a tree and have it respond with pulsating light.
Symphony Woods is a returning star exhibit with synced interplay of classical music (different this year) and a light show.
“[‘Illumination’] changes every year. You can come back with your families and have a new experience each year,’’ Marshall said.
It is very much a family event. Last year, we saw many extended families. “Illumination” is constructed to handle everyone from a toddler in a stroller to a grandparent in wheelchair.
My wife and I found it excellent couples time. We will do it together in December.
My wife’s favorite is Tree Harmony, where lights glow and move to the sound of whoever is singing. Ornament Hill is similar, with visitors controlling the color of giant, glittering orbs.
Among the new things this year is Tree Fascination. It mixes art and science with a digital projection, “to demonstrate research techniques that use photogrammetry to scan trees for scientific study,’’ on a grove of pines. Workers were experimenting with the exhibit the night I visited.
The pathway is expanded this year and includes a wide connecting section with pithy sayings projected on it.
Featherstone had a curious path to “Illumination.”
“It was what I did as a kid in my backyard [in England],’’ he said.
In his school years, he did every light show for the English band The Smiths. When Chrissie Hynde recruited his friend Johnny Marr (of The Smiths) to play with The Pretenders, he said Featherstone had to come along to do the lighting. He would do lighting for such shows as the first Janet Jackson tour and INXS. When he and his wife had a daughter, he got out of the rock ’n’ roll life and founded Lightswitch.
At the finale, Fantasy Forest, Featherstone said, “Disney calls this the kiss goodnight.”
Bring the ones you love.
Tickets for “Illumination” are $13-$23 for adults, $7-15 for children. Information is at mortonarb.org/illumination.
FIELD NOTES
BUCK OF THE WEEK: UNPLUGGED
Bill Peak photographed this 12-pointer in northwest Indiana.
WILD TIMES
ICF FUNDRAISER
Monday-Tuesday: Director’s Hunt, Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area, ilcf.org/portal/upcoming-events-online-registration.
ILLINOIS SEASONS
Sunday: First firearm deer season ends.
Thursday: Duck and goose seasons, south zone, begin.
DALE’s MAILBAG
“Thought I would share this with you, Dale, for a laugh. Hunting [the morning of Nov. 14] on the Kankakee River. Before shooting time, I had an eagle dive-bomb and hit my mallard decoys six times before he finally gave up. All my years hunting, I have never seen anything like it. Seen videos of eagles in Alaska stealing downed ducks from hunters but never attacking decoys. Well, my spread must have looked pretty good to him.’’
— Bob Reichenbach
A: My kind of story. Never have witnessed that, but I have watched eagles steal fish from ospreys on the Kankakee.
BIG NUMBER
Billions of additional dollars American outdoor businesses have paid in “punitive tariffs over last year, as the trade war with China rages on with no definitive end in sight,’’ according to the Outdoor Industry Association.
LAST WORD
“The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reminds the public, and especially hunters, to be aware of elk and moose on the landscape in central and far northern Wisconsin as they enjoy fall hunting seasons.’’ — Wisconsin DNR, a word of caution with the nine-day gun deer season starting today
