Community-Curated Trail SpuR
& StoryWalk
NOW OPEN!
All that Trees Provide
the value of trees and forests in our everyday lives
We are excited to share this new trailside exhibition and Forest Storywalk with you!
We have completed installation of an accessible trail spur that is home to a very special Forest StoryWalk experience, where pages from a children’s book are installed along the outdoor path.
The trail also features Community-Curated Exhibitions under the theme “All that Trees Provide; the value of trees and forests in our everyday lives.” Community-curated exhibitions will rotate with StoryWalks seasonally.
Enjoy reading and exploring under the canopy of trees. Forestry and nature themed children’s books, poetry, art, science and activities will rotate seasonally through community-curated trailside exhibits that celebrate Wisconsin’s rich forest heritage through visual arts, science and literature.
Want to listen along the way?
Scan the QR code at the trailhead for narration at each stop along the trail.
MEET THE INAUGURAL ARTISTS OF THE
COMMUNITY-CURATED TRAIL SPUR EXHIBITION
John Suess is a Milwaukee-based artist whose landscape paintings celebrate Wisconsin’s natural beauty, with a particular focus on local forests and woodlands. Living less than two miles from the Forest Exploration Center, John draws daily inspiration from the very landscapes the FEC works to protect and celebrate.
John’s detailed and vibrant paintings invite viewers to experience the profound connection between people and forests — a relationship rooted in awe, stewardship, and shared history. His purpose in participating in the FEC's Community-Curated Trail Spur is to honor the trees that define our region’s character and to inspire others to cherish and protect Wisconsin’s forest heritage.
Holden Van Dyke is a 15-year-old artist from Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.
For the past six years, Holden has been deeply inspired by the profound beauty of birds and the natural world. Through painting and photography, he seeks to reveal the meaningful connections we share with wildlife—connections that often go unnoticed in our daily lives. His work is driven by a passion not only to capture the grace of these creatures, but also to evoke a sense of responsibility for their place in our world.
Holden's work focuses on:
How birds and wildlife use this forest for food, shelter, and raising families
How many migratory birds rely on habitats like these during migration
How birds and wildlife contribute to their community and the forest
How we can help preserve and invest in our community
Thank you to our community review committee:
Maureen Badding, Tosa’s All-City Read co-chair
Mary Ann Buenzow, FEC board of directors vice president and retired WI DNR forester
Kimberly Mackowski, writer, photographer, and publisher of TheParkNextDoor
Download the Press Release. Media Inquiries, please contact info@forestexplorationcenter.org.
Trail Spur Exhibition Submissions
The community-curated trail spur provides a unique opportunity for students, individuals, families, researchers, and collaborative groups to share their forest art, stories, research, photography and experiences through curated exhibitions along an accessible nature trail under a canopy of trees.
The Forest Exploration Center (FEC) is now accepting proposals for exhibits along the community- curated trail spur.
The purpose of the curated trail is to celebrate Wisconsin’s rich forest heritage and our human connection to the land through the visual arts, literature, and the sciences. We will showcase, through a diversity in style, imagery, materials, and techniques, the creativity and talent of those who draw their inspiration from Wisconsin’s forests and this region’s rich natural and cultural heritage.
The Selection Committee
The selection committee is comprised of FEC staff and stewards, members of the board of directors, Wisconsin DNR foresters, and community members with expertise in the arts and sciences.
The committee seeks works that complement the FEC’s mission, purpose, values and goals. Subject matter should focus on the theme All that Trees Provide, the value of trees and forests in our everyday lives. This may include forest ecology, forest products, or the plants and animals of this landscape that depend on the ongoing care and sustainable forest management of this special urban woodland. The committee also encourages submissions that consider health and wellbeing along with the social, emotional, economic, and environmental relationships between humans and forested landscapes.
Individual and collaborative submissions are welcomed. We also encourage student participation and would be happy to help facilitate student exhibitions and explorations in the forest. For group submissions please designate one person as the contact. Exhibitors are encouraged to have enough material for 12-14 exhibit frames or to partner with others to fill the space. Collaborations between material and media types are strongly encouraged. Proposals for freestanding temporary public art displays along the trail will also be considered.
Upon acceptance, the FEC will layout, print and install each exhibit piece on specialty papers. The printed exhibit papers will remain the property of the FEC.
We encourage a pre-submission meeting and are happy to talk with you to provide initial guidance and feedback on your proposal concept. Please send an inquiry with your exhibit concept to: community@forestexplorationcenter.org with the title "Community Trail Spur."
Submissions should include the following for consideration:
an artist/purpose statement for this exhibition (resume is optional)
a narrative explaining the focus, content, and inspiration of the exhibit to include how the
proposed exhibit aligns with and supports or compliments the Forest Exploration Center’s
purpose.6 to 8 images or samples of art, photography, or writing that accurately reflect the proposed exhibit.
HOW TO APPLY
Email proposal, images, and any supporting text documents together as a compressed zip file OR a Google Drive link to community@forestexplorationcenter.org with the subject line “[your name/organization name] Community trail submission.” The zip file should not be larger than 15 megabytes.
If selected, we will request the full exhibition for final review and fabrication. At that time, we will discuss additional elements such as artist statements, audio or video components, and any other considerations before installation. The FEC is solely responsible for layout, installation, and printing costs for the exhibit. Donations and sponsorship are welcomed.
We are currently not reviewing submissions. The call for submissions for our second exhibit will be in spring 2026.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is this Community-Curated Trail Spur all about?
The theme of this exhibition trail is: “All that Trees Provide, the value of trees and forests in our everyday lives.”
The purpose of the curated trail is to celebrate Wisconsin’s rich forest heritage and our human connection to the land through the visual arts, literature, and the sciences.
What kinds of submissions are you looking for?
We seek submissions that complement the FEC’s mission to sustain this urban woodland, and to provide accessible educational and recreational experiences.
Exhibitions may include forest ecology, forest products, or the plants and animals of this landscape that depend on the ongoing care and sustainable forest management of this special urban woodland.
We also encourage submissions that consider health and wellbeing along with the social, emotional, economic, and environmental relationships between humans and forested landscapes.
Is there a cost to apply or to exhibit?
There is no cost to you for submitting or exhibiting your work!
The FEC is solely responsible for layout, installation, and printing costs for the exhibit.
You retain the rights to your work; the FEC retains the physical copy of the exhibition.
. . . Want to support this effort? Contact us about sponsoring exhibits along the Trail!
I’m an educator. Can my students submit something as a class or group?
Absolutely! We welcome submissions from students and school groups, and collaborations of all kinds.
Our interpretive team will work with you to develop an exhibit.
What should I include in my submission?
An artist/purpose statement for this exhibition (resume is optional)
A narrative explaining the focus, content, and inspiration of the exhibit to include how the proposed exhibit aligns with and supports or compliments the Forest Exploration Center’s purpose
6 to 8 images or samples of art, photography, or writing that accurately reflect the proposed exhibit
I don’t have enough artwork for all the panels. Can I still submit?
Yes.
Consider applying with a friend/colleague working in a different medium to explore the same topic from different perspectives.
Or, if we have other submissions for smaller exhibitions, we can work on a pairing that suits everyone and the theme.
What size are the exhibits?
Final exhibit size is 18x24” with a viewable area of 17x23”
You can have different dimensions or have more than one image per frame as long as they fit in those measurements.
I’m a writer or researcher, not a visual artist. How will my work be displayed?
Let’s talk about it!
Contact us to explore your situation and your exhibition idea. Our interpretive team can help turn your vision into visuals.
I have a question about the theme “All That Trees Provide.” Who can I contact?
We’d love to discuss the theme and how your work might fit.
Email us to ask questions or set up a time to chat
Who is the curatorial committee for this project?
The curatorial committee is comprised of FEC staff and stewards, members of the board of directors, Wisconsin DNR foresters, and community members with expertise in the arts and sciences.
If you’re interested in joining the committee now or for future exhibits, drop us an email.
How are the exhibits fabricated?
The FEC will professionally lay out and print exhibits that will be secured under plexiglass in our hand-crafted wood and metal frames.
This is an outdoor exhibition and materials are chosen to withstand the elements. The paper we use is fibrous and that impacts how exhibits will look.
Artists can receive a sample page if selected to exhibit, and will have final approval.
I’m submitting my work for consideration! When will I hear back?
Our committee expects to have a decision by June 23rd. We’ll keep all applicants updated via email.
When will the exhibit be installed? How long will it be on view for?
We aim to install the first Community-Curated exhibit later this year. The exhibition schedule and StoryWalk rotation is still being finalized.