Foundation News Transforming 25 Acres into Prairie Thanks to donations to the McHenry County Conservation Foundation, the Conservation District recently sowed more than 585 pounds of diverse native seeds to transform a 25-acre parcel into high-quality prairie at Glacial Park in Ringwood. d The seed mix for this project was created in November 2023 and n a l e consisted of species like prairie dropseed, rattlesnake master and ev l C k foxglove beard tongue. This 25-acre planting is part of a larger r restoration e昀昀ort underway in partnership with the Wisconsin Ma Department of Natural Resources. Artist in Residence In total, 215 acres will be restored by 2026, including 115 acres in Glacial Park. This partnership will improve habitat greenway Coming June 2024 - May 2025 corridors where wildlife can move unimpeded across state lines, The Conservation Foundation is supporting the Conservation and connect core habitat areas to the Hackmatack National District by welcoming Mark Cleveland as our 2024-25 Artist Wildlife Refuge. in Residence. Cleveland will be at various conservation sites throughout the year painting "en plein air," which means "in the open air." Follow us on Facebook @mchenryconservation to see where he will be painting next. The public is invited to participate in the interactive sessions and chat with Mark about his process and techniques while observing his artistic process. As part of his residency, Mark will lead two public painting sessions. The 昀椀rst is scheduled for Saturday, June 29 (see page 10 for program details.) Additionally, at the end of his residency, Mark will host a show of his collective work in May of 2025 at Lost Valley Visitor Center in Glacial Park. About the Artist— Cleveland explores the unique beauty and connectedness we share in everyday life represented in contemporary urban and natural landscapes. He is passionate about capturing each image as legacy. His work echoes the “Ashcan School” of Post- Impressionist American Art which employs traditional use of underpainting and glazing techniques in oil to create a rich depth of color and perspective in otherwise Join McHenry County Conservation Foundation unlikely settings. on a Prairie Trail Clean-up All Ages Welcome Once a month, Conservation Foundation staff and volunteers meet for a morning stroll and pick up any debris along a one- An avid 昀氀y 昀椀sherman, Mark began his career by contributing mile stretch of the trail. Get some fresh air, help beautify the detailed illustrations to outdoor 昀椀shing magazines. A graduate Prairie Trail and meet some new people in the process! Dress for of Northwestern University, he attended classes at the “American the weather. Bring gloves and hand sanitizer. Long trash pickers Academy of Art" where he focused on use of color and composition. He also learned the traditional techniques used "en Plein Air" provided. Visit mchenryconservation.org/prairietrail alongside Chicago's renown Master painters at the Palette & Chisel or email [email protected] to sign-up. Academy and Plein Air Painters of Chicago. Saturdays 9 – 11 a.m. June 8, July 13, August 10, September 14 Meet at Mitchard Way Parking Lot, Algonquin Landscapes | Summer 2024 5