Wild Color—here, there, and everywhere!
Wild Color is a dazzling temporary exhibition that immerses visitors in the color spectrum. Guests make their way through rooms dedicated to each hue of the rainbow while learning about the functions, messages, and beauty colors hold in nature.
But red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and indigo abound throughout the Field. Since our volunteers know the Museum inside and out, we sought their opinion on other stunning specimens and objects that catch their eyes outside of Wild Color.
Wendy Herder marvels at a rainbow moonstone
In a room full of stunning and brilliant colors, a gem is nestled in the display—quietly waiting to be discovered in the Grainger Hall of Gems. For the lucky viewer who encounters this rainbow moonstone an entire spectrum of colors dance into view. This mineral was originally found in Labrador, Canada leading to the term Labradorite. It’s also commonly called rainbow moonstone, and it’s easy to see why.
Gayle Guzik reveres this reddish predator
My favorite fossil is SUE the T. rex, and my favorite color is red. Since SUE's bones are reddish brown that fits with my favorite color. Also, "SUE" is often written in red. I was at the museum in October 1997 when SUE's bones were delivered in numerous crates. I started volunteering with the first SUE exhibit in January 1998, and I continue to share apex predator’s stories today. My twin granddaughters have always known SUE as “Grandma's dinosaur.”
Jan Kingman wonders if life is better under the sea
Yellow is my favorite color, so this amber fish caught my eye. This mermaid stained glass was thought to be a favorite of Louis Comfort Tiffany of the Tiffany & Co. jewelry family because it decorated his personal studio. After Tiffany's death, the window was purchased and given to the Field Museum in 1941. Visitors can see the full-length window hanging in the Grainger Hall of Gems.
Tom Ioppolo finds fanciful feathers
If you look at the cases of perching birds in the Gidwitz Hall of Birds, you will see numerous birds with bright, beautiful colors. I thought the blue and black colors of the Asian Fairy-bluebird were exceptionally striking. Get up very close and you can see the bird’s blood-red eye. Its range is India to Borneo. And what a name!
