Lines have blurred between the indoors and the surrounding wilderness at Moose Tree Nature Preserve.
With the help of Marie Rust and Lisa Ramlow, artist Lori Taylor created an enormous network of murals on the Moose’s previously bare walls. Students hardly know when to use inside and outside voices between the building’s forest-facing windows and freshly painted, highly-detailed murals.
‘Our big thing is getting kids outdoors and we want them to enjoy it? said Taylor of her handiwork. ‘It’s fun to watch kids find hidden creatures in the painting.?
Taylor is a graphic artist for Oakland County and has been an artist-in-residence all over Michigan. She’s been a friend to Moose Tree’s resident naturalist, Jamie Rustowicz, for many years. When Rustowicz’s father passed away, the naturalist contacted Taylor to create the mural.
‘We all knew the only artists we’d work with are these ladies,? Rustowicz said.
Taylor said her inspiration for the mural was Independence Oaks in Clarkson, where she’s raising her children.
The artwork, now used as an educational tool for students and community members, is as detailed and accurate as possible, according to Taylor, who said they tried to incorporate all the different elements of a forest.
The artwork took about a month to complete.
Paintbrushes in hand, the artist said they worked long hours and often slept in classrooms, courtesy of Webber Elementary.
‘One day, I came in with a pencil and drew it up,? said Taylor.
‘And then they came with paintbrushes and there it was,? Rustowicz joked of the speedy work.
The mural also incorporates images with special importance to Rustowicz, in memory of her father. On the main wall is a rowboat and three nature sprites are hidden among the trees, representing Rustowicz and her siblings.
Of the nature preserve, Rustowicz said Moose Tree is there for the community.
‘The goal is to let people know it’s here,? she said.