Art is in our Nature

When we say that art is in everything we do, we mean it. Whether it’s our cuisine, murals, installations, parks, or galleries, we know that art knows no bounds and that inspiration is everywhere you look – including our forests. Our newest art installation blends creativity with conservation in the most beautiful of settings—a forest oasis amid an urban area. And it’s opening just in time to experience it with full fall color too.

Created by community members and open to the public, the Forest Exploration Center (FEC) Trail Spur: All that Trees Provide, invites visitors to immerse themselves in a unique blend of art and purpose – all set in the beauty of this mature hardwood forest. Unlike traditional exhibits, this trail is alive with the sights, sounds, and textures of the forest that inspires the exhibits themselves. Through diverse materials, imagery, and techniques, artists like John Suess and 15-year-old Holden Van Dyke showcase just how deeply the forests shape our lives and the culture around us.

Spend the day wandering the inspiring trails sprinkled with artist’s interpretations of the forest. The center’s 67-acres are filled with a unique mix of large oak, maple, ash, and basswood trees along with sixteen other species that represent one of the best and last remaining remnants of the native hardwood forests that blanketed our area long ago. This, along with a diverse blend wildflowers and wildlife, allows you immerse yourself through self-guided tours and feel one with nature.

And to make that experience open to everyone, volunteers maintain the trails in the center—allowing wheelchair users, strollers, and those walking on foot to explore a one-mile loop in the woods. Whether you’re a family getting out to explore, an artist seeking inspiration, or you’re setting out to learn a little something, you’ll find it all at the Forest Exploration Center. Plan your visit and see all there is to do in Wauwatosa this fall.