Arboretum hosts botanical illustrations

The hidden architecture of the botanical world has mesmerized Wisconsin artist Vala Mohr.

“The structure of a pollen catkin is costume-like and awe-inspiring,” she says.

Mohr and the Arboretum invite visitors to see what she means at “Magnification,” an exhibition of her botanical drawings. “They are surreal, humorous and very structural,” she says, adding that in nature, form indeed follows function. “In the end it’s about how the plant functions in the natural world.”

Mohr’s drawings will be on view at the Arboretum’s Steinhauer Trust Gallery through Thursday, Dec. 30. The exhibition is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Arboretum Visitor Center, 263-7888 or visit the Arboretum’s Web site.