When Mario Mena walks through the Forest Preserves of Cook County, he is not only clearing his mind. He is also gathering inspiration. Every flower and every bird have the potential to appear in one of his paintings or murals.
Mena, a Mexican-American artist from Chicago’s Gage Park neighborhood, is the featured artist at the Trailside Museum of Natural History’s new dedicated exhibit gallery in River Forest. His vibrant works are on display through the end of October in the upstairs gallery, filling the space with symbols of nature and culture that reflect both his heritage and his love for the outdoors.
“I’ve always been artistic, but it really clicked when I took my first studio class in high school,” Mena says. “From there, I stayed connected to the art community in Pilsen, and during the pandemic I started exploring public art and murals. That opened doors, from commissions to nonprofit projects, and now I even teach students how to paint murals.”
His murals, which can be found across Chicago, as well as the smaller works in Trailside’s gallery, are instantly recognizable. Monarch butterflies, hummingbirds and coneflowers often find their way into his art.
“The monarch butterfly is a symbol of migration, the hummingbird too,” Mena explains. “These nature elements connect Mexico and here. They help me portray my identity better to the community.”
Mena says he finds the Forest Preserves to be a personal refuge. “I love going to the Forest Preserves. I think we should all pay more attention to mental health. When art doesn’t cut it, I’ll go out to the preserves, take a bike ride or hike and check out what’s growing out there. Nature helps me process emotions and life.”
The Forest Preserves is also a source of creativity. Mena often researches plants and birds he encounters, learning their stories and bringing them into his work.
“I like to get a little nerdy,” he admits with a smile. “I’ll look at what grows out there, why it’s a certain color and what the story is behind it. For me, nature-themed images are welcoming to the community. Public art should be something that makes people stop, smile and feel connected.”
That sense of connection is what excites Mena about being part of Trailside’s gallery. Mena was ecstatic to find out he was chosen.
“When they reached out, I thought it was really cool because the Forest Preserves play such a big role in my life,” he says. “I’ve always wanted to do something with them because of my imagery. The gallery gave me the opportunity to develop about 17 new works. Most of the time I’m doing public art murals, so it was nice to slow down in the studio and create a concentration of pieces.”
For this exhibit, Mena also experimented with new approaches. Leftover materials from mural projects found new life in the gallery space.
“I did some paintings on paint trays covered with dried paint, then added hummingbirds or butterflies,” he explains. “It was a way to upcycle, since I sometimes feel conflicted about depicting nature while also creating waste. I wanted to play with that idea in my work.”
For Mena, art is never just about paint on a wall or canvas. It is about people. “I think anybody can be an artist,” he says. “Art is a great icebreaker. The colors and images push people to come and talk to me. I get to talk about art education, about community and about what neighbors want to see in their own spaces.”
At Trailside, his art will meet new audiences, including families and children who visit the museum. “Nothing beats the compliment of a little kid being amazed by one of your pictures,” he says. “That innocent reaction is humbling. It shows that art can reach anyone, anywhere.”
Want to Exhibit Your Art at Trailside Museum?
Trailside Museum offers a small gallery space for approved artists to display their work for about 2-3 months. Artists are invited to submit family-friendly, hangable, nature-themed or culturally relevant works for consideration.
To apply, email at least four photos of your typical artwork that fits the gallery criteria, along with a brief description of medium and size, and your contact information to: Adam.Kessel@cookcountyil.gov & Irene.Flebbe@cookcountyil.gov