“Nature’s Toolbox” at the Field Museum

Isabella Kirkland, NOVA: Canopy

With “Nature’s Toolbox,” organized by nonprofit Art Works for Change, the Field Museum mounts the rare art show. A nature and technology theme grounds it in the museum’s natural-history context, although a few works seem to omit the technology part altogether (unless you count the use of photo or video media). Even worse, some works omit the art part (a how-to green-design instructional, a Sundance Channel video series, absurdist theater props), leaving the second-floor white-walled room looking like a wunderkammer of social messages. On the bright side: Text panels include “A Scientist Responds” portion, which lets the public in on how Field Museum scientists smartly link creativity to their discipline.