Smokey Bear Paintings Will Be Displayed At 5 Will County Nature Sites

ROMEOVILLE, IL — Nineteen paintings depicting Smokey Bear, the popular symbol of the U.S. Forest Service’s wildfire prevention campaign, will be on display at five Will County nature sites this winter, according to a news release from the Forest Preserve District of Will County.

The "Smokey Bear: The Rudy Wendelin Collection" exhibit will run from Jan. 17, through March 2. The artworks are reproductions of original Smokey Bear paintings that were created from 1977 to 1995, the preserve said in a release.

The Forest Preserve District and Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie have collaborated to bring the reproductions to Will County. Promotion and programming materials for the Smokey Bear exhibit are made available through the support of The Nature Foundation of Will County.

The paintings can be viewed at: Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon, Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville, Plum Creek Nature Center in Beecher, and Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet starting Jan. 17.

Viewing hours for Four Rivers, Isle a la Cache and Plum Creek are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday. These visitor centers are closed on Monday and Tuesday. Viewing hours for Sugar Creek Administration Center are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday; and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays, Jan. 18 and March 2.

The exhibit will also open later at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie at a later date due to welcome center repairs. The tentative start date is Jan. 31, but visitors should call ahead to be sure.

Each site will have a portion of the 19 paintings on display. Visitors can take photos and videos, but should not touch the art, the preserve said.

“Smoky is the nation’s number one mascot and a true icon,” said Jessica Prince, facility supervisor at Plum Creek. “It is exciting we get to feature and celebrate him with this wonderful exhibit. Smokey’s message of preventing human caused wildfires is being promoted not only in the paintings, but also in the great roster of Smokey-inspired programs scheduled by the Forest Preserve in January and February.”

The artwork was created by Rudolph “Rudy” Andreas Michael Wendelin who was born in 1910 in Kansas. He studied at the University of Kansas School of Architecture and at art schools in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C.

In addition to the exhibit, the Forest Preserve will host complementary programs and a Smokey challenge that asks visitors to check out all five visitor centers where the paintings are displayed for a chance to win a Smokey-themed prize basket.

In Romeoville, at Isle a la Cache, a "WonderKids - Smokey Bear" program will be held on Feb. 6. This preschooler program will feature Smokey Bear-themed facts, singing, story time, table activities and crafts. Free, ages 2-5. Register by Feb. 4.

Also at Isle a la Cache, on Feb. 27, the preserve will host a Smokey Bear trivia night at the museum. Free, ages 16 or older. Join a naturalist for some trivia and put your nature history knowledge to the test. Play solo or as a team. Light snacks will be provided. Register by Feb. 25.