Now at GRAM Summer 2015 by Grand Rapids Art Museum

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SU M M E R

NOW AT THE GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM

Non-Profit Organization

Permit No. 126

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AMWAY GRAND PLAZA

OTTAWA

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Grand Rapids Art Museum 101 Monroe Center Grand Rapids, MI 49503

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JW MARRIOTT

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COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT

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MUSEUM HOURS

GENERAL ADMISSION

TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY: 10 am – 5 pm 10 am – 9 pm THURSDAY: 10 am – 5 pm FRIDAY & SATURDAY: 12 noon – 5 pm SUNDAY: closed MONDAY:

Members: Adults: Seniors/Students (w/ID): Youth (6–17): Ages 5 and under:

GRAM is closed on Independence Day, July 4, 2015.

Special exhibition admission may apply. Call or check the website for details.

Handicap parking is available in ramps. Curbside drop-off and wheelchairs also available. Call GRAM Security at 616.242.5033.

TUESDAYS 10 am – 5 pm

Free $8 $7 $5 Free

Free general admission on Meijer Free Tuesdays.

THURSDAYS 5 – 9 pm Parking is easy and accessible

GENERAL INFORMATION

Free general admission on Meijer Free Thursday Nights.

. . . . . . . 616.831.1000

GROUPS Auditorium is equipped with assisted hearing

Group discounts apply to church groups, social clubs, and other gatherings of ten or more. For group visits, call 616.831.2919.

Now at the Grand Rapids Art Museum is a triannual publication featuring the programs and events of the Grand Rapids Art Museum. Programs and publications of GRAM are made possible in part with the support of the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Grand Rapids Art Museum Foundation Endowment. NOW at GRAM is printed on recycled paper.

Media Sponsor

artmuseumgr.org

T. J. WILCOX

U.S. Postage PAID Grand Rapids, MI 49503

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Dear members, friends, and guests, Are you ready for summer? I am thrilled to see that Museum attendance and engagement with our exhibitions, learning initiatives, and community collaborations has not lagged throughout this challenging winter. There's no need for you to hibernate when so much is going on at GRAM!

2014 – 2015 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Jane Boyles Meilner President Tamara R. Bailey Vice President Tony S. Lawrence Secretary/Treasurer Patricia Betz Khary Bridgewater Marilyn Crawford Sam Cummings Rick DeVos Sydney DeVos Len Dyer Diane Griffin Kurt Hassberger Dirk Hoffius Robert Koenen Joyce Lee Tom Merchant Mary Nelson Lizbeth O’Shaughnessy Christopher Rosmarin Carol Sarosik Seth Starner Eddie T.L. Tadlock Joy Uddin Mark J. Wassink Mitchell Watt Meg Miller Willit

2014 – 2015 GRAM FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES

There's a lot for us to look forward to in the coming months: diverse exhibitions, new experiences, outdoor concerts, art-camps, hands-on family programs, and so much more. This issue of Now at GRAM is packed with previews and information about opportunities for you, your family, friends, and colleagues to take advantage of the many perks of GRAM membership! Our featured exhibition, T. J. Wilcox: In the Air, celebrates the urban skyline through a unique suspended panoramic video installation on loan from New York’s Whitney Museum of American Art. If you enjoyed the magical power of Anila Quayyum Agha’s Intersections, you will be entranced by Wilcox’s dawn-to-dusk portrait of Manhattan that evolves over thirty minutes, surrounding you in a complete 360-degree experience. Our Chief Curator, Ron Platt, has organized a companion exhibition, Surroundings, featuring the work of Yun-Fei Ji and Susanna Heller. Our popular outdoor concert series, GRAM on the Green, returns this July and August with a lively schedule of performances by a wide variety of Michigan musicians. Come for the music, and stay for the art! We're open late on Thursday nights—with free admission from 5:00 until 9:00 pm—thanks to a generous sponsorship from Meijer. Escape the everyday and enter a world of creativity in GRAMStudio during Drop-in Family Saturdays.

T. J. Wilcox: In the Air

GRAM launched a unique, collaborative, community program this April. The GoSite is an innovative, fun, and welcoming place for visitors and locals alike to find and share information and ideas about Grand Rapids. This strategic partnership with Experience Grand Rapids and Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc. expands our community-focused mission, adding yet another platform for the exchange of experiences, ideas, and dialogue that enrich the human spirit by connecting individuals with community activities, awareness, and opportunities.

Artist T. J. Wilcox's In the Air is a dazzling panoramic film installation, presenting viewers with a captivating, multidirectional, bird's-eye view of the New York City skyline.

Using the latest in digital video technology to capture footage atop his penthouse studio—18 floors above Union Square in Manhattan—Wilcox's work is a 360-degree, cinematic record of a day in the city, compressed into a 30 minute film. The New York Times has given rave reviews for In the Air, saying that, "the majesty and clarity of this wraparound vista is stunning. The city looks older, almost timeless, without the details of street traffic and storefronts."

T. J. Wilcox: In the Air was organized by the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York and curated by Chrissie Iles, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Curator.

Traveling to GRAM from the Whitney Museum of American Art, this multi-media exhibition will serve as a remarkable celebration of the urban skyline.

Douglas Williams President Tony S. Lawrence Secretary/Treasurer Charles Anderson Meg Goebel Barbara Jackoboice Jane Boyles Meilner Laurie Murphy Douglas Padnos Mitchell Watt

HONORARY LIFE TRUSTEES

Margaret Bradshaw Anita Carter Pamella DeVos Marilyn Q. Drake David G. Frey Mary Ann Keeler Luci King Mary Loupee Kate Pew Wolters

2015 is off to a great start for GRAM! Museum membership is strong and support for our Annual Fund is increasing year after year. With your continued support we can sustain our operations, enrich our exhibition schedule, and enhance our learning initiatives. If you haven't given a tax-deductible contribution to your Museum recently, please consider doing so today. With your help, we will keep GRAM strong and growing!

MAY 17 – AUGUST 30, 2015

The Grand Rapids presentation has been made possible by: Presenting Sponsor

Contributing Sponsors Sydney DeVos Lizbeth O’Shaughnessy

Warm regards, SPONSORSHIP LISTING AS OF PRINT DATE

Progressive AE Robert Daverman, AIA / GRCF Triangle Associates, Inc. J. Visser Design

In the Air is projected on a circular screen that is over 7 feet high and 35 feet in diameter, creating a truly mesmerizing experience for GRAM visitors that immerses them within an environment that bends time, space, history, and memory. COVER, ABOVE: T. J. Wilcox, In the Air, 2013 (installation view, Whitney Museum of American Art). Ten-channel panoramic video installation, black-and-white and color, silent, 30:42 minutes looped. Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase, with funds from Daniel and Pamella Roland DeVos 2014.62. © Bill Jacobson/T. J. Wilcox Studio

Dana Friis-Hansen, Director and CEO NOW AT THE GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM

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Surroundings: Yun-Fei Ji and Susanna Heller

In the Air shows a time-lapse panoramic view of New York City shot from the roof of the artist’s studio from dawn to dusk, interrupted by six short films inspired by a different view from the studio windows. The original vision for the Empire State Building to be an entry point for trans-Atlantic Zeppelin passengers is imagined; the apocryphal story of Andy Warhol’s launch of silver mylar balloons into the street as the Pope passed by in the 1970s is acted out; one vignette pays homage to the life of Gloria Vanderbilt, lived out in the spotlight; and the last film shows the phenomenon known as Manhattanhenge, which occurs when the sun can be seen setting in the narrow gap between the canyon-like walls of the city’s east-west street grid. Regarding his work, Wilcox said, “I like my film and video work to appear as the visible record of my own journey through our saturated mediated age, highlighting those things that have held my attention and captured my imagination. Just as our perception of a present is a

May 17 – August 30, 2015

ABOVE: T. J. Wilcox, still from In the Air, 2013. Ten-channel panoramic video installation, black-and-white and color, silent, 30:42 minutes looped. Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase, with funds from Daniel and Pamella Roland DeVos 2014.62. © T. J. Wilcox Studio

hybrid of personal memory, historical record, family lore, political, social, national, and artistic histories and mythologies, film and video provide the page upon which I make a collage of the ideas I hold most dear."

Exclusive Members Only Exhibition Events Member Preview Party Friday, May 15, 2015 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Free, members only

Celebrate the arrival of T. J. Wilcox: In the Air by attending the exclusive opening before the exhibition opens to the general public. Learn more about In the Air from GRAM docents stationed in the galleries, enjoy complimentary hors d'oeuvres, and a cash bar.

Free, members only

GRAM’s members-only celebration of T. J. Wilcox: In the Air continues! The new exhibition is open to members all day, and complimentary refreshments will be offered from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. GRAM docents will be available in the gallery from 3:00 pm until 4:00 pm for in-depth questions and answers. After exploring the exhibition, visit The Museum Store for an additional 10% discount on regular priced merchandise.

Henri Rivière’s Paris Lithographs May 17 – August 30, 2015 Henri Rivière was a well known artist and printmaker associated with the Le Chat Noir cabaret circle of artists in Montmartre, an area of Paris where Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec also worked. This exhibition showcases GRAM's collection of lithographs by Rivière, which features a series of views in and around Paris that suggest the romantic associations of the city at the turn of the 20th century. The exhibition reflects Rivière's significant interest in Japanese prints, as his works' striking diagonal compositions and focus on similar scenes at various times of day—and in different weather —recall techniques of Japanese woodblock printmakers.

Spring and Summer 2015

Member Day 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

ABOVE: Yun-Fei Ji, Detail, The Three Gorges Dam Migration, 2009. Edition 108 of 108. Hand-printed watercolor woodblock mounted on paper and silk. 15 7/8 x 123 3/4 in. Edition of 108. Photo: Christophber Burke. © The Artist / Courtesy James Cohan Gallery, New York and Shanghai

Menagerie

Please RSVP online at memberpreview.kintera.org or by calling 616.831.2909

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Both Yun-Fei Ji and Susanna Heller create distinctive two-dimensional works in panoramic formats. Ji is best known for his drawings, which he executes in Chinese watercolor ink on traditional paper. Heller has long been inspired by her walks through the metropolis in creating her paintings, which are long panels that incorporate a variety of perspectives of bridges, skyscrapers, tunnels, and scaffolding. Serving as a complement to T. J. Wilcox: In the Air, this two-person exhibition draws strong contrasts and comparisons between these two artists' graphic formats and particular objectives and those of T. J. Wilcox’s all-encompassing cinematic view of Manhattan.

Member Day Lecture Saturday, May 16, 2015 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm Free, members only

Join us for an on-stage conversation with artist T. J. Wilcox, who will discuss the conception and creation of In the Air and other related projects. For more information, please contact Guest Services at 616.831.1000

Menagerie features many works that are inspired by the animal kingdom, by artists who have depicted fauna through the ages. This diverse, animal-themed exhibition of paintings, drawings, prints, and sculpture from GRAM’s permanent collection and select loaned works will feature artists from the 18th through 21st centuries, including Mathias Alten, John James Audubon, Deborah Butterfield, Andy Warhol, and many others. RIGHT: Agnes Miller Parker (British, 1895–1980). Two Rabbits, 1936. Wood engraving on paper. Grand Rapids Art Museum, Gift of Mabel H. Perkins, 1949.2.14. © Mrs A D Quickenden

For more information, please contact Guest Services at 616.831.1000

NOW AT THE GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM

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ArtPrize 2015 at GRAM: Nature/Nurture

Art of the Lived Experiment Now through July 31, 2015

ABOVE: David Lock. Detail, Misfit: Shadow, 2012. Watercolor painting on arches paper, 25.5 x 33 inches

September 17 – October 11, 2015

Art of the Lived Experiment addresses the idea that art and life are in a state of continual change and uncertainty. The exhibition’s starting point is the practice of alchemy, taking its magical, transformative, and experimental associations as a template for considering work by a range of international contemporary artists. GRAM is one of three Grand Rapids venues—along with Kendall College of Art and Design and the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA)—to present the exhibition, which coincides with the DisArt Festival, whose mission is to change perceptions about disability.

ArtPrize 2015 at GRAM will bring another thematic exhibition of work by artists from across the globe to West Michigan. This exhibition will address this theme in its broadest sense, serving as a framework for exhibiting and interpreting a wide range of different works of art. Nature/Nurture will explore the circumstances of every-day life and the complex character of identity. Are we a product of our DNA or of our environment? The classic construct of nature versus nurture as debated by philosophers and scientists will be only one dimension of this multi-faceted exhibition. Nature/Nurture will also investigate the numerous ways in which artists address the themes of nature and nurture separate from one another.

ArtPrize 2015 at GRAM Tours and Group Visits September 23 – October 11, 2015

GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2014: Encore

10:00 am – 12:00 pm Self-guided tours: $7 per person, includes reusable tote bag, water bottle, designated bus drop-off, 10% discount in The Museum Store, and assistance with ArtPrize voting registration

Now through October 11, 2015 During ArtPrize 2014, GRAM's curatorial team explored the entries on view throughout the city and chose works with strong resonances to particular works in the Museum's collection. This year's selection features the work of 11 artists in photography, installation, print, film, drawing, and sculpture. GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2014: Encore showcases these works throughout the Museum beside works in GRAM's permanent collection, encouraging guests to explore connections between them. This project underscores the significance of Grand Rapids' annual ArtPrize event by presenting selected highlights from ArtPrize on a

Docent-guided tours: Add an additional $40 per docent for guided tour

Take advantage of GRAM member benefits during ArtPrize! year-round basis. The chosen works will rotate on and off view with the Museum's permanent collection through ArtPrize 2015. ABOVE: Salvador Jiménez-Flores (American, b. Mexico, 1985). Soy Quien Soy, from I Am Not Who You Think I Am/No Soy Quien Crees Que Soy, 2014. Ceramic and mixed media. Museum Purchase, 2014.44 © Salvador Jiménez-Flores

COMING THIS FALL!

Reynold H. Weidenaar: A Retrospective October 25, 2015 – January 17, 2016 Reynold H. Weidenaar is one of West Michigan's most acclaimed and talented artists. He is celebrated in the region as a cultural icon, and this retrospective is the most comprehensive exhibition of his work in over three decades. Coinciding with the centennial anniversary of his birth, GRAM will showcase 120 of Weidenaar's prints, drawings, and paintings that capture the energy of the 20th century American experience. ABOVE: Reynold H. Weidenaar (American, 1915–1985). Detail, Pearl Street Bridge (with Self Portrait), 1964. Resin oil on panel. 11 x 15 in. Collection of Gerald and Emma Talen

September 23 – October 11, 2015

GRAM members receive exclusive benefits during ArtPrize! As a member, you will be the first to view GRAM’s ArtPrize exhibition—with the opportunity to meet GRAM’s ArtPrize artists—as their work is unveiled at the Exclusive Member Preview at 6:00 pm on September 16, 2015. Other perks include avoiding the crowds with GRAM’s early member hours, entrance to the Museum through our exclusive Member Entrance, and access to the relaxing Member Terrace. Members may share these benefits with up to four guests during ArtPrize. Watch for your guest admission passes in the mail! For more information, please contact Juliana Nahas-Viilo at membership@artmuseumgr.org or 616.831.2912

ArtPrize 2015 Artist-led Walking Tour

Contributing Sponsors The Meijer Foundation Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation Cate and Sid Jansma, Jr.

SPONSORSHIP LISTING AS OF PRINT DATE

See ArtPrize 2015 at GRAM: Nature/Nurture first, and bring your friends! A self-guided tour of the galleries is a great way to explore the art before the Museum opens to the general public and the crowds arrive. Extend your ArtPrize group experience with a docent-led tour and get an inside look at Nature/Nurture from one of our art educators. Groups of 15 or more will require more than 1 docent. For more information or to book a tour, please contact Andrea Morgan, at amorgan@artmuseumgr.org or 616.831.2930

Volunteer during ArtPrize! September 23 – October 11, 2015 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

ArtPrize is GRAM's busiest time of the year! This is a wonderful opportunity for you to get involved as we welcome thousands of people to downtown Grand Rapids every day of ArtPrize. Our volunteers help with greeting, way finding, ArtPrize registration, and more. Are you part of a group, club, or organization that wants to get in on the action? We can accommodate groups of up to 12 individuals who want to help during this exciting time at GRAM.

September 23 – October 11, 2015

For more information about volunteering at GRAM, please contact Kris Shannon at volunteer@artmuseumgr.org

Artist-led walking tours will be offered on select dates, a schedule of which can be found at artmuseumgr.org/tours.

Contributing Sponsors

In Kind Donations

PwC

Steelcase Inc.

For more information or to book a tour, please contact Andrea Morgan, at amorgan@artmuseumgr.org or 616.831.2930

Applause Catering + Events Bank of America

SPONSORSHIP LISTING AS OF PRINT DATE

Merrill Lynch Gill

NOW AT THE GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM

PR O G R AMS

Fun in GRAMStudio: Drop-in Family Saturdays

Creativity Uncorked: DIY Batik Dyeing

MAY: Birds Eye View

Creativity Uncorked: DIY Batik Dyeing

Draw the world from a unique view. Learn about different forms of perspective drawing to create your own cityscape from up in the air. Using architectural models and traditional drafting tools, you will learn how to draw from a whole new angle.

May 22, 2015, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm $25 members, $30 non-members

Join us for a lively and unforgettable night at the Museum! After GRAM shuts the doors to the public, we invite you and your friends to socialize and make your own work of art. Learn about the tradition of Batik dyeing and use contemporary methods to create a wall hanging to take home with you. No experience is necessary, just an open mind and a willingness to try something new. Due to the "intoxicating" nature of the fun, participation is limited to ages 21+.

JUNE: Things That Go Discover a variety of motion and movement using color, shape, and pattern-making to create your own work of art. Dream up the future of transportation while you explore different illustration materials and techniques. JULY: Panoramic Perspectives

GRAMStudio Drop-in Family Saturdays 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Grab your backpacks for an adventure and see inspiring views of the world in GRAMStudio. Learn about the Wonders of the World and other famous landmarks on Earth. Create a panoramic landscape inspired by the 360-degree view of Manhattan featured in T. J. Wilcox: In the Air.

Free with admission, free for GRAM members

AUGUST: RE-Loom

The next time you visit the Museum on a Saturday, be sure to drop in to GRAMStudio to enjoy hands-on art making and gallery activities. This is a great all-ages activity for the whole family to enjoy. We are able to offer this program at no addition cost to our visitors thanks to generous sponsorship from Amway. For more information, please contact Guest Services at 616.831.1000.

Get on board with a Greener GRAM! Learn about the many ways that the Museum reduces waste and has a positive environmental impact. Using up-cycled materials and fibers, you can create your own loom and weave a textile to take home with you. Sponsored by

Summer Art Camps 2015 Summer Art Camps GRAM Summer Art Camps provide June – August 2015 children ages 4 through 13 with 9:00 am – 12:00 pm the opportunity to experience $75 members creativity and innovation in a $105 non-members unique and transformative setting. Campers take part in observation and discussions in the Museum’s galleries, discovery and hands-on activities in the studio, and learn collaborative problem solving processes through communication and creation. Wolverine Worldwide Foundation and BDO USA, LLP support this great opportunity for kids in our community through their generous sponsorship. Book your child’s spot in the program early, as many sessions sell out. Artful Discoveries & Adventures June 15-19, ages 4-6 (grades K-1) June 22-26, ages 7-9 (grades 2-4)

This year’s Artful Discoveries & Adventures camp features a mix of all new art projects and teaching different methods that introduce campers to a variety of creative techniques, including printmaking, painting, and sculpture. Campers will become museum insiders by journeying through the exhibitions and learning techniques to curate a show of their work. For more information please contact Guest Services at 616.831.1000 or gramstudio@artmuseumgr.org. Register online today at artmuseumgr.org/artcamp

NOW AT THE GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM

For more information please contact Guest Services at 616.831.1000 or gramstudio@artmuseumgr.org. Register online today at uncorked.kintera.org

Purposeful Play + Artful Learning GRAM invites adults and children ages 0 – 5 to discover everything the Museum has to offer through activities designed to increase fine and gross motor skills, further cognitive and emotional development with discovery and play, and activate interpersonal communication. This innovative new program allows parents and educators to explore and experience GRAM’s collection with infants and young learners while creating meaningful memories together. At the Museum

Wonders of the World July 13-17, ages 4-6 (grades K-1)

GRAM now provides Discovery Packs for parents and children ages 0 – 5 that transform the Museum experience with self-guided gallery tours and themed activities that highlight select works from the Museum’s collection. Visitors and their small guests can sign out a Discovery Pack at the Guest Services desk at any time during regular operating hours.

July 20-24, ages 7-9 (grades 2-4)

In the Classroom

Do you have an explorer or adventurous kid on your hands? This camp is perfect for the child who enjoys discovering new cultures, geography, and tapping into their sense of exploration. This camp will feature themes and projects inspired by world cultures, with different media being demonstrated each day.

GRAM is expanding the reach of its early childhood program by engaging with children and families from child care centers, such as the David D. Hunting YMCA and Orchard Hills Christian Preschool. GRAM's instructors visit classrooms and work alongside children ages 0 through 5 as they create original works of art inspired by the Museum’s collection. Parents and family members are then invited to see their child's artwork on display in the Education Center at the Museum. GRAM is very excited about the opportunity to introduce art education in to the lives of so many young minds in our community!

Foundations: Drawing and Illustration July 27-31, ages 10-13 (grades 5-8)

A new camp for older kids who are eager to express themselves! Campers will learn the fundamentals of traditional and contemporary techniques through a mix of in-depth studies of drawing ranging from the old masters to modern illustration processes. Lessons will focus on building skills necessary for learners to solve problems and develop a personal style.

Does Purposeful Play + Artful Learning sound like something that you would like to introduce to your classroom? GRAM has developed a series of lesson plans for early childhood educators and center instructors to use when they can’t physically visit the Museum. Each lesson plan highlights an artist from the Museum’s collection and incorporates standards from the Creative Curriculum. Purposeful Play + Artful Learning is made possible by the generous sponsorship of PNC Bank. For more information about this great program, please visit artmuseumgr.org/ppal, or contact Guest Services at 616.831.1000 or gramstudio@artmuseumgr.org

Contributing Sponsor PNC Bank

NOW AT THE GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM

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GRAM on the Green Returns: Summer 2015!

Learning Literacy, One Work of Art at a Time

GRAM on the Green

The students begin the journey in their classroom with various activities like learning how to discuss works of art. This prepares them for a 90-minute GRAM experience where the 3rd graders develop their writing skills by viewing and discussing artworks like Alexander Calder’s Blunt-Tail Dog. The students use these skills to create a painting featuring a unique animal in a creative habitat and write a story based on that painting.

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

GRAM on the Green returns this summer for its 7th season of exciting live outdoor music! Make the most of your summer evening and join GRAM for Thursday nights filled with FREE outdoor live music, dancing, and a cash bar. Come for the music, and stay for the art, as the Museum is also open late for Meijer Free Thursday Nights! Stay tuned for details on this season's line-up. GRAM ON THE GREEN 2015: • Thursday, July 9, 2015

• Thursday, July 30, 2015

• Thursday, July 16, 2015 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

• Thursday, August 6, 2015 • Thursday, August 13, 2015

For more information, please contact Cia Segerlind at csegerlind@artmuseumgr.org or 616.831.2917

AR TIS TS

The culmination of this hard work is the Language Artists Celebration. The students, their families and teachers gather at GRAM to celebrate learning, view the students’ works of art, and hear them read their stories out loud.

Creating art and crafting the written word come together for thousands of students at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. This nationally-recognized program leads area 3rd grade students through a year-long arts and literacy journey. “It allows my students to broaden their thinking by questioning, considering, comparing and deeply

“I want to offer my thanks and appreciation for the Language Artists Celebration that we were able to attend at GRAM,” says a parent of a GRPS student, “My daughter was very excited to go, and the Museum did an excellent job celebrating and recognizing the students for their hard work.” The public can view the student art and stories in a summer exhibition at GRAM. The success of Language Artists is getting noticed. “GRAM is proud to have created a program that has not only been celebrated by local school districts and foundations, but has also become the model for school and community partnerships,” says GRAM School Programs Senior Coordinator Christopher Bruce.

analyzing GRAM's various works of creative expression.” —Jean Mucha, Wyoming Public Schools Since 2010, GRAM has worked closely with Grand Rapids Public Schools and literacy experts to create a program specially designed to develop reading, writing, and verbal communication skills for third grade students.

Summer Fun at GRAM What Floats Your Boat returns for Festival of the Arts Festival of the Arts: What Floats Your Boat? Saturday, June 6, 2015 from 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm Sunday, June 7, 2015 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Free admission during Festival of the Arts

Experiment with recycled and found materials during Festival of the Arts to create your own boat! Join us in the Pocket Park located near Wege Plaza and test the waters with your unique creation.

The results of Language Artists have been significant. Students within Grand Rapids Public Schools have experienced a 2 to 20 percent increase in their MEAP literacy scores. As a result, GRAM and GRPS entered into a 5-year partnership to continue Language Artists through 2018. The program is now a part of the curriculum at GRPS. “Students who participate in the Language Artists program not only benefit from a curricular focus,” says GRPS Executive Director of Elementary Schools and Early Childhood Education Rick Noel, “but also develop a strong understanding and appreciation of our Grand Rapids Art Museum as a valuable community resource.” Surveys show that Language Artists inspires teachers to integrate art into their lesson plans. This year the program is serving 2,351 students within 8 school systems. The learning students and teachers experience during Language Artists is intentional. The curriculum was carefully constructed to increase proficiency in writing. GRAM staff supports the schools with professional education programs, including providing resources online. “GRAM opens an entirely new, exciting, and educational experience for my students,” explains Mucha, “It helps them understand and relate to our global world. Where else locally can we discover such culture? The GRAM brings a deeper understanding of how we perceive the world.”

NOW AT THE GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM

Language Artists touches the lives of thousands of students every year, and is provided at no cost to participating schools, thanks to generous donor support. If you would like to help support the program and its continued growth, please contact GRAM’s Advancement Office at 616.831.2908 Sponsors James and Mary Nelson Peter C. & Emajean Cook Foundation ITC Holdings Corp. Keller Foundation The Samuel L. Westerman Foundation Till and Bernice Peters Cascade Engineering Inc. SPONSORSHIP LISTING AS OF PRINT DATE

NOW AT THE GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM

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What's a Docent?

GRAM Welcomes Juliana Nahas-Viilo

GRAM is starting to recruit for our next class of docents, so we sat down for a behind the scenes chat with Andrea Morgan, Docent and Senior Group Tours Coordinator, to find out what docents do, and how to become one.

Please join us in welcoming Juliana Nahas-Viilo to the GRAM team, who has taken the helm as our new Membership Manager!

Q: So Andrea, what’s a docent? Isn't that a fancy pastry you have to wait in line for hours at a swanky bakery for? A: Noooo, docents aren't pastries. The word docent comes from the Latin verb teach, so at their core docents are teachers. Here at Andrea Morgan GRAM our docents are volunteer art educators that engage in conversations with our guests about the Museum’s collection and exhibitions. Being a docent means being part of a long-standing prestigious tradition of sharing knowledge and experience with others. Q: So a docent is a super smart art know-it-all? A: In the vast history of art, I think few can "know it all", but what docents strive to do is share what they know with our guests, as well as give them tools to look at works of art on their own the next time they visit a museum. Q: I see, thanks for clarifying. So why would someone want to be a docent? A: Well, docents get a behind-the-scenes look at GRAM’s collection and exhibitions, life-long learning opportunities, and insider access to special guests, artists, and curators here at GRAM. They also get to be part of one of the best groups around, who share their love of art with each other and our guests.

Take a Tour!

Alan Bedell, GRAM docent

Q: Ok, you’ve got my attention. I’m listening. I love art and I’d love to play a more active role in our community, but I’m not a teacher. I’ve never had any formal art education or training. Could someone like me ever be a docent? A: YES! Many of our docents didn’t have teaching experience before they joined our team. An ideal docent is outgoing, friendly, flexible, dedicated, and comfortable with public speaking. We provide each of our provisional (in-training) docents with a 7-month program of art education, during which time they attend weekly training sessions. Collaborative learning and a specifically designed curriculum provide the content and practical knowledge necessary to lead groups of all ages through GRAM’s galleries.

It's a dream come true for Juliana to be part of a community focused, arts organization like GRAM that shares her personal philosophy, and that is such a significant part of what makes Grand Rapids the great city that it is today. She thinks that the arts are the heart of what makes a city great, and recognizes the immeasurable impact the Museum has on our local economy, education, and community. As the new Membership Manager, over the next few months she looks forward to examining the current membership programming, creating opportunities for greater engagement, and providing members with a stellar ArtPrize experience this fall.

T. J. Wilcox: In the Air Saturday, July 11, 2015

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Drop-in Tours

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Saturday, August 8, 2015

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Free for members, free with general admission GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2014: Encore Tuesday, July 28, 2015

NOW AT THE GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM

Juliana graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Minors in Music Performance and French, and in 2012 with a Master's of Public Administration and Nonprofit Leadership. She resides in Eastown, Grand Rapids with her husband Tyler and their two dogs, Bruiser and Ellie.

Please save the date for GRAM's 3rd annual Live Artfully Dinner, where Kate Pew Wolters Friday, September 11, 2015 will be honored for her longstanding and 6:00 pm Cocktails personal commitment to advancing the 7:00 pm Dinner arts. Proceeds from this event help GRAM 8:00 pm Program to continue to present our audiences with exceptional educational programs and exhibitions, and enables us to continue our collaborative efforts with many of the wonderful cultural institutions in our community. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Limited tickets will be made available beginning July 1, 2015. Live Artfully Dinner

Kate Pew Wolters

For information about the event, please contact Laura Bull at 616.831.2907, or visit artmuseumgr.org/liveartfully

Art Every Day: Annual Fund With every contribution to the Grand Rapids Art Museum's Annual Fund, you make it possible for guests to live artfully all year long. Your support sustains the exciting exhibitions and collections presented at the Museum, and makes a real difference to the thousands of children who participate in our award-winning school programs each year. Gifts of $500 and above are recognized in the Stewardship Circle. This dynamic program offers free admission and a range of benefits including invitations to exclusive member-only events and tours, travel opportunities, and special recognition as Museum supporters. You can support GRAM online at artmuseumgr.org/donate or mail check to:

ABOUT JULIANA

SAVE THE DATE!

For more information about GRAM’s docent program, please contact Andrea Morgan at amorgan@artmuseumgr.org or 616.831.2930 Interested in applying? Visit artmuseumgr.org/learning/docents today!

Juliana Nahas-Viilo

Support Your Museum

Q: Awesome! So how do I join GRAM's docent program? A: Come to our next docent welcome reception! On Monday, June 1, 2015 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm we’ll be welcoming new recruits who want to experience GRAM on a whole new level and join this community of fun and active learners. Sign up today!

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

M US EU M

With a diverse background in music, leadership education, marketing, and social innovation, Juliana is passionate about promoting the arts as an essential component of a healthy, thriving community. Before joining the team at GRAM, she most recently served as Communications Coordinator at Varnum Consulting, working in social media, marketing, and external communications.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Explore the galleries with one of GRAM’s dedicated docents to learn more about GRAM’s collection and exhibitions.

TH E

ATTN: Advancement Office Grand Rapids Art Museum 101 Monroe Center St. NW. Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2801 NOW AT THE GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM

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Volunteer at GRAM

GoSite Grand Opening New Volunteer Orientation Saturday, July 18, 2015, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Free, RSVP appreciated

Join the fun at GRAM and become a volunteer! Connect with us and learn about the many areas of the Museum where volunteers can have an impact. Our volunteer program is open to anyone 16 and older, and students as young as 14 can volunteer with a parent or guardian. We have many opportunities available every day of the week, including evenings and weekends! RSVP today by contacting Kris Shannon at volunteer@artmuseumgr.org

You can now reserve space for your private event at GRAM on Friday nights! GRAM plays host to a variety of events and weddings throughout the year. The simple lines and understated beauty of GRAM’s architecture provide a unique backdrop for weddings and corporate events. Let our professional and attentive staff assist you in making your next event one that everyone will remember!

This unique community collaboration involves many partners, including Experience Grand Rapids and Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., who provide ongoing content and support for the GoSite. Steelcase Inc. provided design and furnishings. The Wege Foundation, the Dyer-Ives Foundation, and the Frey Foundation provided essential launch support. Numerous other Photo © Kelly Sweet

Mother's Day & Father's Day at GRAM Mother's Day at GRAM

Father's Day at GRAM

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Sunday, June 21, 2015

12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Admission is free for all moms!

Admission is free for all dads!

GRAM celebrates our moms this Mother's Day with free admission for all moms! Spend an afternoon with your loved ones exploring the Museum galleries for an experience as unique as she is.

Celebrate dad this Father's Day with a trip to GRAM! Bring your dad, granddad, or kids and enjoy free admission for all fathers.

For more information, please contact Guest Services at 616.831.1000

Missing our Calendar Page? Because GRAM continually strives to be greener in everything that we do, our calendar page is now published on our website: artmuseumgr.org

NOW AT THE GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM

The GoSite, a 21st century welcome center for locals and visitors alike, celebrated its Grand Opening on Saturday, April 4, 2015 with a full day of activities, prizes, and giveaways. The GoSite is located in the northwest glass-enclosed corner of the Museum, and it serves as a comfortable and vibrant space to explore and discover ideas of what to see and do in the area. GoSite staff are ready to help visitors find what best suits their needs and interests in Grand Rapids, whether they are visiting for the weekend, just moved to the region, locals meeting up to decide their evening plans, students exploring beyond their campus, or individuals just trying to find their way around town. The GoSite is a unique collaboration among public, private, and non-profit organizations. A pop up pilot site was temporarily introduced in the summer of 2014, to great success, and the feedback helped inform the permanent design.

Celebrate with Us!

For more information, or for a tour of our facility, visit artmuseumgr.org/programevents/facility-rental/, or contact Karen Carpenter at kcarpenter@artmuseumgr.org or 616.831.2916

M O R E

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, March 31, 2015 Kris Larson, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.; Steve Wilson, Frey Foundation; Deb Bailey, Steelcase Inc.; Dana Friis-Hansen, GRAM; Kerri VanderHoff, GoSite at GRAM; Doug Small, Experience Grand Rapids

organizations, from Hello West Michigan, Cultural Marketing Group, Arena District, LINC Community Revitalization Inc., Neighborhood Ventures Inc., and many more participate in the GoSite to ensure information is inclusive and comprehensive in showcasing all of metro Grand Rapids, its culture, and its people. For more information about GoSite, please contact Kerri VanderHoff at 616.831.2914 or kvanderhoff@artmuseumgr.org

The Museum Store T. J. Wilcox: In the Air Catalog Available T. J. Wilcox: In the Air, which features an incredible 360-degree view of the Manhattan skyline, is a critically celebrated ode to the magnificent city from artist T. J. Wilcox. The fascinating view from his 18th-floor studio on Union Square initially distracted Wilcox from his work, but ultimately inspired him to create this dazzling display. This 80 page, softcover book chronicles the production of his awe-inspiring work.

Color Your Summer The Museum Store has a brilliant array of pencils, pens, paper, paint, and more to creatively capture your summer activities. Please call The Museum Store for more information: 616.831.2920

NOW AT THE GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM