The Transformations Continue with the Insightful Inspirations of Nina Salem, Buoh the Owl, and The Insect Asylum
If you’ve visited The Insect Asylum, you are aware of what avid mystique chirps within this one-of-a-kind, fascinating gem of storefront location at 2870 North Milwaukee Avenue. All at once a museum, an art gallery, a learning hub, an activity center, a gift shop, a nature sanctuary, a taxidermy gallery, and a community safe space for all, The Insect Asylum is among Avondale’s finest examples of innovative community-building while inspiring a sense of curiosity and reflection for both residents and visitors of our neighborhood.
The vision of The Insect Asylum’s founder, Nina Salem, stems from a lived experience in cultivating a life of service to others. Per the website, “Nina has created a space for art, learning and acceptance to flourish.” Having grown up in a small town in Massachusetts, she hid her passions for wildlife, nature, insects, bones and feathers for fear of being deemed different or not fitting in as others may have expected. Nina is a poignant champion of embracing that being different is the hallmark of ingenuity at its finest.
Nina Salem and Hazel
In the space she created in The Insect Asylum in 2022, the welcoming and encouraging approach to learning from a perspective of neurodivergent accessibility has become a beacon in the city and surrounding areas, not to mention nationwide. Nina, who lives with autism, cultivated an environment that addresses different neurocognitive functioning brains by enabling a touch-friendly exhibition series and reflects values of an autism-friendly space. Over 2,500 pieces are indicated with a specialized instruction – where items with a green dot may be picked up and touched, and items without a green dot (except insects!) may be touched gently. The Insect Asylum staff members guide this autism-accessible space and employ a sense of sensory-friendly and informed experiences for all.
For all guests, The Insect Asylum is a non-profit place of learning and development. Ongoing programming offers a blend of art and science-based workshops featuring everything from insect pinning, owl pellet dissection, jewelry making and more. With a calendar chock full of rotating classes, engaging events, music jams, and private parties, plan ahead for a visit to experience this unparalleled treasure of Avondale’s Milwaukee Avenue business district.
The photography featured in the exhibition Avondalia: A Collection of Our Work Together gives us a unique glimpse into Nina’s personal portraits through her own artistic contributions as she gives life to the work for countless others. There have been many moments behind-the-scenes that often go unseen or unrecognized, and these photos by photographer Savannah Seeger give us a remarkable viewpoint of those moments of Nina in communion with the wisdom of the owl named Buoh. The images reflect a careful sensibility to preserve the soul of natural species both living and dead as Nina educates us all about mortuary arts and animal science as a window into careful examination. Through these very-much-alive portraits, we can witness the powerful impact that a single living being can carry in a poised and observant tone to provide a sense of innate knowledge for so many others.
As a friend and a supporter of all she brings to the Avondale community and beyond, I applaud the much-needed sensitivity and empathy she has cultivated in a very complex world, one where we all could benefit from the types of acts of kindness she portrays daily. Being an advocate for the neurodivergent community also addresses many challenges we universally face, and its mission has greater impact than outside the Milwaukee Avenue address and our neighborhood blocks.
The future of The Insect Asylum is underway with its next transformation in its plans for a rooftop garden. Avondale Gardening Alliance and The Free Plant Library have collaborated to envision the creation of a community garden atop the Milwaukee Avenue building. Avondale has been a desert for green space, and lead organizers with partner organizations have worked tirelessly to infuse the benefits of green space within our concrete corridors. Aligned with the innate needs of stimulating a sense of growth and wellness through our relationship with the natural world, the Rooftop Garden project has been underway since receiving the Climate Infrastructure Fund Grant from the City of Chicago that supports green initiatives for underserved communities. Its plans include a host of events adorned with native plants and Chicago’s indigenous butterflies. Local produce and bee hives, classes and community gatherings are included in the envisioning of the space, and fundraising efforts continue as the project is large in scope. Learn more about the project here, and donate to help see this project to completion.
The Insect Asylum’s Mission Statement:
The Insect Asylum fosters appreciation in animals and the natural world through a unique, immersive, and inclusive educational experience.
Through promoting eco-sustainability, prioritizing neurodivergent learning, and creating an inclusive environment for all, we strive to help visitors understand our impact on the environment and feel welcome to learn and grow in their own unique way.
As an institution that values art, we believe that taxidermy and entomology are important practices that can capture the beauty and diversity of the animal kingdom. By combining education and art, we aim to inspire curiosity and respect for nature in all who visit.
Visit here to support.
