Seasons - Spring 2016 Volume 7, Issue 2 by Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

HORTICULTURE EXHIBITION

SCULPTURE EXHIBITION

HORTICULTURE ESSAY

Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming

Mimmo Paladino: Present Into Past

The Fascination of Butterfly Farming

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Spring 2016 Volume 7, Issue 2

MASTER LECTURE SERIES

Daniel H. Janzen Kendall H. Brown

MIMMO PALADINO: PRESENT INTO PAST

SECCHIA GARDEN LECTURE

SPRINGTIME ANTICIPATION

FRED & DOROTHY FICHTER BUTTERFLIES ARE BLOOMING

Each year, hundreds of dedicated and talented volunteers give Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park the gift of service. Volunteers help further our mission by bringing joy to our guests. The positive impact of our volunteers cannot be fully measured. However, this statistic will help you understand: on average, every hour we are open, 27 hard-working, dedicated volunteers help to further our mission; that’s a truly remarkable 1,566 volunteer hours each week. Connie Snell started our volunteer program 21 years ago. We remember Connie, and her significant leadership and contributions, at our annual volunteer appreciation dinner when we gather to honor and thank all our fantastic volunteers for their service. You may be reading this and thinking, “I’m missing all the fun.” We would love to have you be a volunteer, so please attend one of our bi-monthly volunteer orientations and learn what being a volunteer is all about. Last June we opened The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden. I sincerely hope you have had a chance to visit the garden multiple times. The Japanese Garden will be somewhat different and “new” again this spring. Why new? All gardens are new each year as the plants wake up after winter dormancy. Sculptures, too, take on a new look as the plants grow and the weather shifts. It is something that makes our gardens innovative. We are abundantly thankful to the Meijer, DeVos and more than 300 other families who made significant contributions to make this garden possible. Now is also the time when our thoughts turn to the Fifth Third Bank Summer Concert Series and the Tuesday Evening Music Club. We are currently working on securing the line-ups for both series. We are able to present quality artists because Fred and Lena Meijer generously gave us the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater and our sponsors provide wonderful support to us. It is all greatly appreciated.

Exciting News: Following the April 20, 2015 dedication of the monumental sculpture Iron Tree by Ai Weiwei, we are most pleased to announce Meijer Gardens is partnering with Ai Weiwei to present an exhibition in 2017 titled Ai Weiwei at Meijer Gardens: Natural, State. Ai Weiwei is one of, if not the most important and influential artists of our time. It is a significant honor for us to host this exhibition. Please know your membership is vital to sustaining Meijer Gardens. The indoor sculpture galleries (the Bank of America Gallery, the Holton Gallery and the James & Shirley Balk Gallery) and the Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse had not been updated since they were built and are in need of repair and renovations. Similarly, our trams are 10 and 13 years old and need to be retired, with replacement trams arriving for the spring tour season. These renovations and tram acquisition are made possible, in part, by your membership. Thank you for being a member and helping to sustain Meijer Gardens. David S. Hooker President and CEO, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Gratefully,

BONSAI SHOW

WEGE ENVIRONMENTAL LECTURE

A most generous gift from the Meijer family has made it possible to renovate our Maintenance Center. Though not open to the public, the new Maintenance Center will allow us to better maintain our facilities, equipment, sculpture and gardens. The work will begin in the spring and will be completed by the end of August.

HOURS Tuesday, 9 am – 9 pm Monday – Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm

HONORARY CHAIRMAN Frederik Meijer (1919–2011) HONORARY MEMBER Earl Holton

CONTACT Main 616-957-1580 Toll Free 888-957-1580

PRESIDENT AND CEO David Hooker

EX OFFICIO MEMBER, President of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation Dirk Hoffius

Ryan Anderson Rich Brolick Keith Brophy Kim Bruyn Joan Budden Linda Chamberlain Jeff Dean Eileen DeVries Suzanne Eberle Joy Fossel Michael Gaudino Matthew Heynen Nancy Hickey Dirk Hoffius Cate Jansma Yang Kim Jeffrey Lambert

Ping Liang Candace Matthews Mary McLoughlin Doug Meijer Liesel Meijer Mark Miller Mark Mossing Craig Mutch William Padnos Jim Preston Janet Ramsey Bill Schoonveld David Vanden Berg Kathleen Vogelsang Jill Walcott Vicky Black Weller John Zimmerman

HONORARY MEMBER OF SCULPTURE COMMITTEE Miner S. and Mary Ann Keeler

HORTICULTURE EXHIBITION

4–5

SCULPTURE EXHIBITION

6–7

HORTICULTURE ESSAY

8–9

SEASONAL HIGHLIGHT

10 – 11

MASTER LECTURE SERIES

12 – 13

DEVELOPMENT/MEMBERSHIP

14 – 15

EVENTS/EXHIBITIONS/CLASSES

16 - 23

Cover: The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden, Front Gate. Photo by Peter McDaniel.

Meijer Gardens receives funding from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS/ATTRACTIONS Mimmo Paladino: Present into Past MAR 1—APR 30, Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming FEB 26—AUGUST 14,

Spring 2016 Volume 7, Issue 2 March 2016—May 2016 1000 East Beltline Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 © 2016 Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Seasons is published four times per year for members. Please contact membership@meijergardens.org if you prefer to receive Seasons via email. Occasionally, Meijer Gardens trades its mailing list with similar non-profit organizations. If you do not want your name traded or if you would like to comment on our content, please call membership at 616-977-7689.

CONTENT

BOARD of DIRECTORS

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS/ATTRACTIONS Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens JUL—AUG, Tuesday Evening Music Club SEPT 16—DEC 31, Almost Home: Grand Rapids in Focus Resource, Reference and Repository JAN—AUG 2017, Ai Weiwei at Meijer Gardens: Natural, State

JUN—AUG,

MeijerGardens.org

Blooms, such as this lantana provide nectar for tropical butterflies like the Scarlet Mormon. Photo by Nicolas McComber.

HORTICULTURE EXHIBITION

MEMBER HIGHLIGHT: Members-only events provide a perfect opportunity for you to view the exhibition, Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming. Exclusive preview party for Sculpture and Botanic Society Members is on February 29, 6–8 pm. All other members may choose from the following dates to attend a Night of the Butterflies Member Party: March 7, 13, or 28, April 3, 17 from 6–8 pm. Watch your mailbox for your invitation. You won’t want to miss out!

Children’s Activities In the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden Tuesday, March 1—Saturday, April 30 Daylight hours only Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming in the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden with engaging outdoor activities: • F ly like a butterfly, wrap up like a chrysalis, move like a caterpillar, or crawl out of an egg using lifecycle costumes and your imagination. • P erform a butterfly-themed puppet show or read about moths and butterflies in the Log Cabin. • S earch for butterfly and moth lifecycle stages in a special Treehouse Village hunt. • R ing the bell after successfully navigating through the Butterfly Maze. • B ecome a butterfly in the Monarch’s Migration game. There’s something for all ages! Activities vary daily; check at the Information Center for what is happening each day.

Who Am I? A Butterfly Ballet Saturdays, March 12 and 19, 10 am OR 12:30 pm In collaboration with Grand Rapids Ballet Choreographed by Attila Mosolygo, performed by members of the Grand Rapids Ballet Junior Company and narrated by Errol Shewman FEE: $5 members, $8 non-members Free for ages 2 and younger General admission fees apply to see the butterfly exhibition Don’t miss this thoroughly delightful butterfly ballet. Told through the eyes of a newly emerged butterfly, the story will captivate young and old alike. With colorful costumes, spectacular music and exquisite choreography, this enchanting performance will provide a unique and memorable experience. Participate in interactive dance activities before the performance and take advantage of photo-ops on stage with the dancers afterward. Direct questions to classes@meijergardens.org or to register by phone call 616-975-3144. There will be an American Sign Language interpreter for the 10 am performance on March 19— reservations for this service are REQUIRED; please call 616-975-3144 by March 17.

Tuesday Night Lights Bring your flashlight on Tuesday nights until 9 pm to see the nightlife in the Tropical Conservatory.

Volunteers Wanted. Needed. Appreciated. Various jobs and shifts. Mid-February through mid-May. Contact Tom Hoving at thoving@meijergardens.org or 616-974-5221. Media Sponsors

FRED & DOROTHY FICHTER BUTTERFLIES ARE BLOOMING March 1–April 30

It’s springtime! Let your spirit soar amidst thousands of butterflies and hundreds of blooms that make this year’s exhibition visually stimulating. Each March and April, a bounty of butterflies are released in the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory to take flight. This exhilarating experience is the nation’s largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibition and a perennial point of pride for Meijer Gardens. This is the second year the exhibition carries its now permanent name of Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming. We remain exceedingly grateful to Fred Fichter for his generous gift to honor his wife Dorothy and the memories they shared. Escape the chilly air and surrender to the sights and smells of our balmy paradise, a home away from home for an incredible 7,000 butterflies and moths. These world travelers come to Meijer Gardens from the tropical regions of Central and South America and represent over 60 species. Be amazed at how these winged wonders nestle into nectar plants, which take center stage this year. We’ve created an oasis of more than 900 of these sweet treats, whose vivid blooms and savory banquet delight butterflies and all who watch them feast. Complementing these nectar plants will be concentrated displays of blooms that add color and dimension to this sensory spectacle.

BLOOMS ARE A VISUAL AND LITERAL FEAST New this year, see butterflies indulge in more than 900 nectar plants, including: Ixoras ’Maui Red‘, ’Maui Yellow‘, ‘Nora Grant’, the most colorful member of the coffee family. L antana ’Carlos‘, ’Changing Times‘, ’Ham & Eggs‘, ’New Gold‘, compact clusters of red, orange and yellow blooms. Pentas ’Cranberry Punch‘ and ’Ruby Glow‘, tiny star-shaped flowers laden with nectar. Shrimp Plant ’Fire Spike Lava‘, intriguing tongue-like white flowers that bloom every season. Stachytarpheta ’Dwarf Red‘ porterweed, spiky blooms small in stature yet robustly succulent.

This Scarlet Mormon is nectaring on a Maui Red Ixora bloom.

As you meander through the exhibition, don’t miss Monarch caterpillars in the Caterpillar Room, butterflies basking in the sun in the Tropical Conservatory, or watch them emerge from chrysalides in the Butterfly Bungalow to stretch their wings in preparation for first flight. Watch for the stunning blue Common Morpho, whose iridescence impresses in flight, and other brush-footed beauties like the Clearwing, Lacewing and Zebra Mosaic. Likewise, the Longwings quietly captivate with elongated elegance and distinctive patterns, as seen in the Blue, Doris, Postman and Tiger. Graceful gliders like the Emperor, Ruby-spotted and Tropical Swallowtails command attention as well. We dare you to spot each one. Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming is made possible by

DTE Energy Foundation The Meijer Foundation

Botanic and Sculpture Societies of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation

Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts HORTICULTURE EXHIBITION 5

Mimmo Paladino. Senza titolo (Untitled), 1993. Bronze, 43 x 20 x 26 inches. Photo courtesy of Mimmo Capone.

SCULPTURE EXHIBITION

MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS: Society Preview and Annual Dinner Wednesday, February 24, 6–8 pm Invitation only.

Member Opening Thursday, February 25, 6–8 pm

PROGRAMMING Perspectives Friday, March 11, 12 pm John VanderHaagen, Public Relations Specialist Rebecca Hofmann, Education Assistant Melissa Bush, Membership Manager

Explore the artwork of Mimmo Paladino with three different staff members. Meijer Gardens has a wide variety of dedicated employees; from Horticulture to Hospitality and Accounting to Audio Visual, who bring their own distinct ideas about the exhibitions and artwork on display. First to admit they may not be art experts, they still find meaning and inspiration in sculpture. If they can do it, so can you!

Lecture: Michelangelo to Paladino: Figure and Form in Italian Sculpture Sunday, April 17, 2 pm Joseph Becherer, Vice President and Chief Curator

Italian art offers one of the richest and most in-depth traditions in the history of art. This lecture examines Mimmo Paladino’s critical role in the ongoing development of the figurative tradition that stretches from the Classical Period, through the Renaissance and continuing to the present day.

Lecture: Paladino: Art of Memory and Dreams Tuesday, May 17, 7 pm Suzanne Eberle, Kendall College of Art and Design

Mimmo Paladino’s art is grounded in a distant Mediterranean past, yet it is provocative and thoroughly modern. His use of symbols and metaphor asks questions of our various states of consciousness. This lecture will place Paladino’s work within a larger tradition of art that focuses on memory, dreams and nostalgia, while highlighting the work of Caspar David Friedrich and Antony Gormley, among others.

Sculpture Walk and Talk Join working artists and art historians on a walking tour of the sculpture of Mimmo Paladino and selected artwork in the Sculpture Park. Enjoy their distinctive views and insights into the artistic process, historical context, and interpretation. This program begins in the exhibition galleries and continues out of doors. Prepare for some walking, rain or shine. Participation is limited to the first 25 guests.

Tuesday, June 21, 6 pm Jon McDonald, Chair of Illustration, Kendall College of Art and Design

Saturday, July 9, 10:30 am Nick Antonakis, Chair of Visual Art, Grand Rapids Community College

Sunday, July 17, 2 pm Amanda Lahikainen, Assistant Professor of Art History, Aquinas College

Wednesday, August 3, 10:30 am Craig Hanson, Professor of Art History, Calvin College

MIMMO PALADINO: PRESENT INTO PAST February 26–August 14, 2016

After an extensive period of the 20th century, when abstraction and non-representational imagery reigned supreme, the human figure re-emerged as a vital form of inspiration and creative expression in the late 1970s and 1980s. Foremost among those artists making a conscious decision to investigate the figure was the Italian sculptor, painter, printmaker and installation artist Mimmo Paladino. Born in the southern Italian city of Paduli near Benevento, he established himself in Milan at the very center of the Transavantguardia movement—one of the most important and influential art movements of the era. Literally meaning “beyond the avant-garde,” its artists, like Paladino, sought a return to the use of the figure in art but in highly individual and expressive ways. Visitors to Meijer Gardens know well Paladino’s large-scale bronze sculpture Tana (1993), installed in the Sculpture Park near the waterfalls. In keeping with the master’s style, this figure is not a likeness of a given individual, but an elegant and elongated vision of a generalized human form. The far-off gaze and swooning position call to mind the dreamlike imagery for which the artist became so well known across Europe and the United States. Mimmo Paladino: Present into Past is a major exhibition organized by Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in exclusive partnership with the artist and his studio. Iconic sculptures from across the artist’s critically acclaimed repertoire and new, never before seen work will be on view in the Sculpture Galleries and the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory. Visitors can survey the master’s career as well as explore his most recent artistic activities including a very special project inspired by the ideas and research of the Horticulture Department at Meijer Gardens. Central to the exhibition is a massive installation, Dormienti, or The Sleepers (1999), which fills the main exhibition space of the Balk Gallery. The work is composed of 32 life-size terra cotta figures that are spread across the gallery floor. Each is shown in a fully reclined position referencing a sleeping human being. A dream-like mood is suggested by continual play of an original soundtrack by the British musician and sound designer Brian Eno—a close friend and collaborator of the artist. Another smaller scale installation, Crocodiles (1999), will feature several of Paladino’s creatures carefully situated in the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory. Equally well known for his two-dimensional imagery, Paladino has contributed two major works to the exhibition and as gifts to the permanent collection of Meijer Gardens. First, is a large and powerful print, Untitled, which features a generalized figure surrounded by a cosmology of symbols and forms. Made at a surprisingly cinematic scale for a print, the work is a gift from Paladino in honor of Fred Meijer. The second is a one-ofa-kind, 12-part mixed media calendar of imagery and ideas the artist has created. Inspired by the horticulture collections and displays at Meijer Gardens, Paladino asked each member of the Horticulture staff to submit photographs of plants in their areas that held particular meaning to them. The images served as the touchstone for this month-by-month investigation of the calendar year. Both works have never before been shown publicly and will debut as part of the exhibition. Mimmo Paladino: Present into Past is an extremely important and highly original event for Meijer Gardens and the American art community. As the master’s first major exhibition in the United States in more than 15 years, it offers a unique opportunity to begin to understand the depth and breadth of Paladino’s accomplishments and the forward momentum of his career. His use of the human form, physically and symbolically helped to redirect the history of art in late 20th and early 21st century, reminding us all that the figure could be a source of inspiration and vision—even a source of dreams. Lead Sponsor

Mimmo Paladino: Present into Past is made possible by

Margy Kaye and Bill Padnos

The Meijer Foundation

The Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation

Botanic and Sculpture Societies of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts SCULPTURE EXHIBITION

SPRING IN THE JAPANESE GARDEN The crispness and subtlety of winter is an elegant prequel to spring in the Japanese Garden. These past months have provided our gardens with a dose of rejuvenation. The new season offers transitions that are sometimes explosive, often understated, and commonly more intricate than they first appear. The landscape, now swept clean of last year’s leaf, flower and fruit, transitions for the annual fresh start that is spring in the garden. Winter twigs are characteristically bare at first glance, but as days pass, a spring story begins to unfold. Within the stems, energy was stored in the form of starches. These starches are converted to sugars that fuel spring’s new growth. On the tip of each stem is a terminal bud, waiting for a series of requirements to be met in order to burst forth for a new season. This bud formed in mid-summer, long before the leaves fell in an autumn finale. The ability for this bud to lie dormant is essential to the survival of the tree. Inside is an embryonic shoot, complete with leaves and flower buds, protected by overlapping bud scales. These buds need the cold of winter to break dormancy. A long period of cold, followed by the slow lengthening of days, causes the buds to swell and burst with new growth at the appropriate time. Many trees and shrubs flower in the early spring before producing any leaves; this new growth relies on the energy stored during the previous growing season. This will be the first spring experience for The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden. This garden awakens to spring in a subtle transient nature. Blooms come and go with the spotlight shifting as the ebb and flow of the season unfolds. Some of the most significant blooming this first year will come from the widespread plantings of Juneberry. The flowers of this 8

HORTICULTURE ESSAY

Eastern U.S. native are borne in pendulous clusters 2–4" long, typically in late May. The Japanese Garden is also home to more than 30 varieties of azaleas and rhododendrons. Some of the azaleas will flower in early May before any leaves form. The latest rhododendrons will flower into midsummer. The Leslie E. Tassell English Perennial & Bulb Garden is more explosive in its spring changeover. This garden is home to tens of thousands of spring bulbs. A bulb is a large bud and just like the bud on a tree, it contains the embryonic shoot complete with leaves and flowers. Tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are all bulbs that provide brilliant spring color; these have to be prepared for spring long before their color peaks. Planted in the fall, bulbs root out into the cool moist autumn soil before going dormant for a long winter rest. As days lengthen and soil temperatures warm, the dormant flower buds and shoots emerge, providing some of spring’s first color and fragrance. Most of the bulbs here have been allowed to naturalize, or form large unencumbered groupings of color. As the sun reflects off the glass building, the soil warms more quickly, providing some of the earliest daffodil blooms in West Michigan. Change is in every garden this spring. Our grounds are full of wonder and anticipation as plants transition with color and life. A long-standing order of occurrences has lead to this moment: a circular pattern of starches being stored, new growth hardening off, buds being set, fruit ripening and seeds being dispersed. Each season setting the stage for the next, spring offers a glimpse into the wonderful examples of these subtle complexities throughout the gardens. Essay by Steve LaWarre, Director of Horticulture

Juneberry flowering in the The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden.

HORTICULTURE ESSAY

Specialized farms in Central America raise tropical butterflies for sale and export like our supplier Heliconius Butterfly Farm in Ecuador. Photos courtesy of Heliconius Butterfly Farm, Ecuador.

THE FASCINATING WORLD OF BUTTERFLY FARMING Each spring, thousands of these winged wonders come to us from our farming suppliers in butterfly-rich regions of Costa Rica, Ecuador and the United States. See how their journey begins with this insider’s look into the curiously captivating science of butterfly farming. Their presence is an indicator of biodiversity and a healthy ecosystem, and their transformation from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis is one of the wonders of nature. Butterflies are precious yet powerful, and the process of farming them is nothing short of spectacular. On a farm, a butterfly’s lifecycle begins in an expansive, enclosed structure that allows for free flying and plentiful sources of nectar—a sanctuary of sorts. A typical flight area measures 25 square meters by three meters high. After pairing with the male butterfly, the female lays upwards of 100 eggs. Butterfly farmers must remove eggs daily from the flight area and place them in secure containers free from predators like ants, spiders and wasps. Each species of butterfly prefers a specific host plant that provides a source of food to newly emerged caterpillars. Depending on temperature, caterpillars hatch from eggs in three to five days, entering the world with voracious appetites. For the following two to three weeks, these tiny larvae eat continuously, requiring butterfly farmers to plant sufficient food sources and harvest ample cuttings. Containers must be meticulously maintained daily, as cleanliness is key during this critical life stage. Once they’ve grown to full size, caterpillars find BEHOLD OUR an ideal spot to pupate, often recognized BUTTERFLY BUNGALOW by the formation of a chrysalis, before their adult butterfly form emerges in Get up close with emerging seven to ten days. butterflies as they make their Because butterflies are in the pupal big entrance into the Lena stage just two to three weeks, farmers Meijer Tropical Conservatory have a very small window to collect, March 1 through April 30. package and ship them to their final destination. This March and April, more than 60 species will come to Meijer Gardens from our farming suppliers in butterfly-rich regions of Costa Rica, Equador and the United States. All butterflies are shipped to us as pupae (chrysalides) wrapped in cotton wool in insulated polystyrene boxes with ice packs, to keep them cool and in partial dormancy. The import of our butterflies and our exhibition, Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming, is regulated by the USDA. All pupae are carefully handled and nurtured by our horticulture experts, to ensure the safe transition from caterpillar to chrysalis to adult. It’s a fascinating metamorphosis that unfolds for all to see in our highly controlled emergence area, fondly known as the Butterfly Bungalow. Be sure to witness its wonder during your visit.

SEASONAL HIGHLIGHT

Winter view of Teahouse through niwaki, or garden trees, in the Japanese Garden. Photo by Dean Van Dis.

SEASONAL HIGHLIGHT

Photo courtesy of Daniel H. Janzen.

SAVING TROPICAL FORESTS: AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH Join us for an engaging evening with groundbreaking biologist, ecologist and conservationist Daniel H. Janzen. This internationally celebrated scientist visits Meijer Gardens from the University of Pennsylvania, where he is a professor of conservation biology. Janzen and his wife and research partner, Winifred Hallwachs, have dedicated their lives to studying, restoring and protecting tropical forests. Their groundbreaking work pioneered a new era in ecological restoration, most notably in the creation of the Area de Conservacion Guanacaste in northwestern Costa Rica. At 410,000 acres, this reserve is one of the largest protected areas in Central America and contains four distinct ecosystems. Through stunning images, Janzen will share his great passion for conserving the intricate caterpillars and breathtaking butterflies that live in the reserve. By studying these insects in their natural habitat, Janzen and Hallwachs have discovered hundreds of new species, including Porphyrogenes peterwegei, a butterfly they named after

The Master Lecture Series WEGE ENVIRONMENTAL LECTURE Tuesday, March 22, 7 pm Speaker: Daniel H. Janzen

MASTER LECTURE SERIES

fellow conservationist and West Michigan philanthropist Peter Wege, for his friendship and ardent support of their work. Another major contribution to science is a digital library Janzen is building to catalog all known species from the Area de Conservacion Guanacaste. This epic undertaking involves his team of Costa Rican colleagues and international partners, who are exploring the technique of genetic fingerprinting, or “DNA barcoding” through an innovative device that quickly identifies organisms by DNA. All species inventoried in Costa Rica are then added to the International Barcode of Life (iBOL), which is housed at the University of Guelph in Canada, and serves as a window to the world’s biodiversity and its ever-present threats. Janzen will conclude his Master Lecture with his poignant perspectives on the future of biodiversity conservation, the role of social integration with complex tropical wildlands and both the opportunities and challenges of managing a globally significant biological hotspot. FEE: Free for members, general admission for non-members. RSVP: 616-975-3144 or skilroy@meijergardens.org Captioning service will be provided. This annual lecture is made possible by The Wege Foundation.

This hexagonal yukimi-style lantern stands as a sentinel over the stone beach that recalls the famous Amanohashidate feature at Katsura Villa, Kyoto. Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle, Washington. Featured in Kendall Brown’s award-winning book Quiet Beauty: The Japanese Gardens of North America. Photo courtesy of David M. Cobb.

JAPANESE GARDENS HERE AND THERE: ESSENCES AND EVOLUTIONS The Master Lecture Series SECCHIA GARDEN LECTURE Tuesday, April 26, 7 pm Speaker: Kendall Brown, Ph.D. If The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden intrigues and inspires you, then don’t miss this equally thought-provoking talk, Japanese Gardens Here and There: Essences and Evolutions, from one of the leading figures in Japanese gardens in North America. Dr. Kendall Brown is visiting West Michigan from Long Beach California, where he serves as professor of Asian Art History at the School of Art at California State University. His insightful Master Lecture is a rare walk through the history of gardens in Japan, with special attention bestowed on their meanings and functions and how they have changed dramatically in the modern era. Brown explores the adaptation of Japanese-style gardens in North America, tracing their story from the nationalism of the first gardens created for 19th century World’s Fairs to Cold War-era gardens and their

meaningful messages of international friendship and universalism. The lecture concludes with a discussion of the dynamic changes taking place in 21st Century Japanese gardens, both in Japan and around the world, including our own Japanese Garden. As you’ll discover, this transformative era returns Japanese gardens to some of their most basic functions, which Brown delves into with great detail. A recent curator of collections, exhibitions and programs at Pacific Asia Museum and a widely published author, Brown is currently writing a monograph on the social history of Japanese gardens. His Quiet Beauty: The Japanese Gardens of North America, details the treasures found within 26 Japanese gardens in the United States and Canada, and is the 2014 Gold Medal Winner of the Benjamin Franklin Award for Home & Garden from the Independent Book Publishers Association. Copies of this keepsake book will be available for sale and signing at the event. FEE: Free for members, general admission for non-members. RSVP: 616-975-3144 or skilroy@meijergardens.org Captioning service will be provided. This annual lecture is made possible by Peter and Joan Secchia. MASTER LECTURE SERIES

Dean and Kristie Wall won a Mackinac Bridge Behind-the-Scenes Tour courtesy of The Mackinac Bridge Authority at the 2015 Great Gardens Party. This is what they said of their experience:

“It was awesome—a once in a lifetime experience. It was our first time attending a Great Gardens Party and we really enjoyed it. We are planning on attending the 2016 event and look forward to seeing what adventures the auction will offer.” —DEAN AND KRISTIE WALL, DEAN’S EXCAVATING

Photo courtesy of Dean and Kristie Wall.

GREAT GARDENS PARTY

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016, 6–9 PM Looking for a fun way to spend an evening with friends, promote your business and support Meijer Gardens’ mission at the same time? The 2016 Great Gardens Party may be just the ticket! Join us on May 11 for cocktails, hors d’ oeuvres, a great sit-down dinner, and an opportunity to bid on unique silent and live auction items. In addition, Meijer Gardens will once again raffle two reserved-seat concert tickets for all of the 2016 Fifth Third Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens! Raffle tickets are $100 each and the winner need not be present to win. 14

DEVELOPMENT/MEMBERSHIP

There are many ways in which you can participate: • Become a sponsor at the Gold ($10,000), Silver ($5,000) or Bronze ($2,500) level— benefits vary by level • Donate a silent or live auction item—unique or experiential items welcome • Purchase tickets to the event for yourself, friends and customers at $100 each • Purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win two reserved-seat concert tickets for the entire 2016 series

For more information, please contact Molly Campbell, Fundraising Events Manager, at 616-975-3168 or mcampbell@ meijergardens.org. You may also find information on our Web site at MeijerGardens.org/calendar/ great-gardens-party.

Great Gardens Party Committee Roster: Co Chairs Elisa J. Lintemuth Eileen DeVries Ping Liang Mary McLoughlin Sam DeVries Joy Fossel

Neil J. Marchand Bruce Matthews Lindsay Slagboom Lon Swartzentruber Jorie Sligh Susan Wright Miller

QUARTERLY TRIBUTES The following gifts were received between October 1 and December 31, 2015. Those honored or memorialized are shown in bold type, while the donors are in regular type.

IN HONOR William & Evelyn Kruse Rhonda Bonett Ann Morin Mike Morin

IN MEMORY Fran Baird Nebraska Book Company

Emerson Lockrow Nancy Albers Larry & Nancy Branagan John & Heather Findeisen First Church Of Christ—Scientist Larry & Nancy Goff Fredrick & Linda Homrich Larry & Bonnie Johnson Tera O'Meara & Sharon Bradt Callista Potter

Mary & Sheldon Hedges Dale & Ellen DeHaan Bob & Jane Hedges Michael Hedges Thomas Hedges

Nancy Orr Laurence & Genevieve Bratschie Charles & Bette Fuller Diane Hall John & Gwen Hibbard Ross Hoezee Thomas & Margy Jones Mary Ann Keeler Hank & Liesel Meijer Lena Meijer Valerie Nelson Michael & Barbara Pemberton Phoebe Phelps

Iris Henwood Lois Feichtenbiner

John Schaff Jim & Heidi Goodspeed

Wilma King Thomas & Kathleen Fitzpatrick Larry & Barb Grasman Terrance & Deborah Merriman

Miller & Leslie Siegel Doug & Kate Bandos Morris & Sally Kleiner Lurie & Morris Families Adam Siegel & Family Ari Siegel

Mr. & Mrs. Conwell Duane Conwell June Craft Judy Baer Mitchell Harris Howard Wirt

Ray Slayton Richard & Pauline Jones & Family Rosalynn Stuart Kathryn & J.A. Cragwall Lena Meijer Parson’s Walk Association Phoebe Phelps Jarvis & Mary Spreng Margaret Taylor Susan Thoits Ann & Harold Workman Colleen Todish Melissa Bush & Scott Dittenber Michael Domers Karen Flory Brent & Karen Kemmer Barry and Martha Lewis Marilyn Nott Paul & Marjo Prinzing Suzanne Richards Tim Todish Keith & Kathy Wolverton Robin & Bonnie Yamamoto Robert Tupper Tom & Colleen Tupper Abigael Van Kempen Cornelius & Leigh VanKempen Marilyn Wilson

TYPES OF TRIBUTE GIFTS Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park offers two different types of Tribute gifts: Un-named and named. Un-named Tributes include gifts of any amount. Those honored, or the family of those memorialized, will be notified of the gift by letter and will be recognized in Seasons magazine. Named Tributes require a higher monetary investment, but give individuals and organizations an opportunity to place their name on items such as bricks, bookplates, stepping stones, tree plaques, benches and more. To request a Tribute brochure, please contact our Annual Funds Manager, at 616-975-3143 or download the brochure at MeijerGardens.org/involved/ donate and select the tributes link.

CHRISTMAS CABARET More than 420 guests attended the inaugural Christmas Cabaret holiday gala on December 3, 2015. This wintertime fundraising event supports Meijer Gardens’ unique mission of sculpture and horticulture. Guests enjoyed the Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World exhibition during cocktail hour, and were then treated to a fabulous dinner and entertainment. President & CEO David Hooker shared interesting and important facts about our 20th Anniversary year, followed by heartwarming stories of the joy that Meijer Gardens brings to so many. 2015 event photos may be viewed at http://bit.ly/FMGXMasCabaret15 The event’s success was made possible by the following generous donors: ASSOCIATE SPONSOR Steelcase POINSETTIA SPONSORS Gilson Doug Meijer and Kendall Meijer Warner Norcross & Judd LLP MISTLETOE SPONSORS Anonymous Deloitte Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation J.C. and Tammy Huizenga HOLLY SPONSORS Anonymous Berends Hendricks Stuit Insurance Cascade Engineering Peter C. and Emajean Cook Foundation Bill and Marilyn Crawford

HOLLY SPONSORS (cont.) Ellis Parking Company Grand Valley State University Herman Miller Cares Lacks Enterprises, Inc. Macatawa Bank Hank and Liesel Meijer Lena Meijer Northpointe Bank Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. Jim and Marie Preston RDV Corporation Rothbury Farms Sandy Point Beach House SoundOff Signal Universal Forest Products, Inc. Sharon VanDellen Vicky and John Weller Wilson Pietryga

Christmas Cabaret Committee members Linda Chamberlain, Marie Preston, Jill Walcott, Vicky Weller and new member Mimi Cummings invite you to next year’s Christmas Cabaret holiday gala, to be held Thursday, December 1, 2016. Mark your calendars!

Photo by Dusty Brown.

DEVELOPMENT/MEMBERSHIP

EVENTS

HOURS Tuesday, 9 am – 9 pm Monday – Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm

May 17, 2016 Tuesday, 4–5:30 pm

2015 LOESCHNER ART COMPETITION WINNER

READ & EXPLORE: ART AND GARDENS BOOK GROUP

FEE: Included with admission Discover why The Forest Unseen: A Year’s Watch in Nature has been described as “a new genre of nature writing, located between science and poetry.” Join us in the Gwen Frostic Woodland Shade Garden as we explore the secret world contained within one square meter of our forest floor. Bring a magnifying glass or use one of ours to get a snail’s eye view of the wildflowers, mushrooms, insects and more that call this woodland home. Share favorite passages from this book and discuss observations with Bobbi Sabine, consulting ecologist, who will join us. On the way, pass by the newest addition to the sculpture collection, Lee Ufan’s Relatum Forest Path, and see how this artist employs time, space, and stillness to draw attention to the ever-changing world around us. “The Forest Unseen” has won several national book awards and was a Finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction. The book will be available for purchase in the Meijer Gardens Gift Shop. Limited to 25 adults, reservations required. RSVP to 616-975-3144 or skilroy@meijergardens.org

Wednesday, May 25 6 pm

ANNUAL MEETING

Everyone is welcome to attend the annual meeting at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

Saturday, May 28, 1–5 pm Sunday, May 29, 11 am–5 pm

IRIS SHOW

FEE: Free View a lovely variety of irises, from old favorites to some of the newest hybrids, all grown by iris enthusiasts in our area. Grand Valley Iris Society members will be on hand all weekend to answer questions and provide tips. Vote for your favorite iris and enjoy creative floral arrangements.

Photo by Diedrich.

EVENTS

Photo by Jim Tardio.

Wednesday, June 1 OR Wednesday, September 7 7:30 am–9 pm

BUS TRIP: A DAY OF CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE

FEE: $155 members, $165 non-members Explore the architecture of Chicago, from the world’s first skyscrapers to modern day marvels. Begin on the bus with an expert’s insight into the highlights and the significance of the Nickerson Mansion, now a stunning decorative arts museum. Be amazed as you enter this astonishing Gilded Age home with its opulent floors, elegant walls and illusionistic hand painted ceilings. Notice the finely crafted details in wood, stone, tile and metalwork and view breathtaking examples of Tiffany glass. This banker’s home was once the grandest home in all of Chicago! Next, walk over to nearby Osteria Via Stato for a relaxing Italian feast. Enjoy a spectacular fourcourse meal of homemade breads, your choice of gourmet antipasti and entrée, topped off with ricotta cheesecake with caramel sauce. After lunch enjoy an extraordinary river cruise presented by the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Gain insight into the historical and architectural details of the city and understand the importance of the river itself. In the 90-minute guided tour which features dozens of buildings, you will see firsthand the historical transformation of the city and fully understand both the devastation of the fire of 1871 and how the city maintains the spirit that it took to rebuild. The fee includes transportation, the talk on the bus, a snack en route, museum admission, river cruise fee, Italian gourmet lunch and gratuities. Expect a fair amount of walking and stairs.

CONTACT Main 616-957-1580 Toll free 888-957-1580 MeijerGardens.org

The winner of the annual Ray and Nancy Loeschner Art Competition (for two-dimensional art) is artist Rachel VanWylen with her Linocut on paper titled Japanese Garden. In her artist’s statement VanWylen explains she felt the medium, “with its crisp black and white lines and shapes, would allow me to capture the clarity and calm of the place and also reference the aesthetic traditions of Japan. When designing the composition, I consciously drew on pictorial formats common in Japanese prints, such as asymmetry, so that I would be working within the established conventions of the form even as I allowed myself to be inventive with a variety of different types of line work and mark making. Scale was also an important consideration for me. I was struck by the vastness of the new Japanese Garden, and I wanted my image to have a similar effect, so I made the piece 24 x 36 inches— considerably larger than most relief prints!” VanWylen joins other recent winners including Colleen O’Rourke, Diane Shullenberger and Stephen Duren. The Loeschners established the prize to encourage artists working in a two-dimensional format—painting, drawing, pastel, print and photography—to create work inspired by the grounds and collections of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. The 2016 competition is open to artists nationwide. Deadline for the next competition is November 1, 2016. Artist’s work is on view in the Wege Library.

EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS Saturday, May 21 11:30 am or 2:00 pm

JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY IN THE TEAHOUSE

Photo courtesy of the Grand Rapids Ballet.

FEE: $50 member, $60 non-member (Space is limited.) Registration required at MeijerGardens.org/calendar or call 616-975-3147. Witness the Japanese art of chanoyu, or tea ceremony. Graceful Japanese tea masters in elegant kimono, will perform the ceremonial cleansing of the utensils, thoughtful preparation and quiet presentation of a bowl of matcha (finely ground green tea), with commentary by a representative from the Japanese Consulate. After the presentation, savor the sweets and matcha green tea. As an integral part of this experience, all guests will utilize and enjoy original works of Shigaraki pottery from Meijer Gardens’ permanent collection. Each object is a work of art especially commissioned from many of Japan’s leading ceramic masters. This contemplative ceremony appeals to all five senses and is best observed quietly.

Saturdays, March 12 or 19 10 am or 12:30 pm

Tuesdays in July & August, 7 pm

In collaboration with Grand Rapids Ballet

FEE: Included with admission Save the date for Tuesdays in July and August—join us in the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater for the best live, local performances. The full lineup will be announced in mid-April.

WHO AM I? A BUTTERFLY BALLET FEE: $5 members, $8 non-members Free for ages 2 and younger General admission fees apply to see the butterfly exhibition

Choreographed by Attila Mosolygo and performed by members of the Grand Rapids Ballet Junior Company.

Don’t miss this thoroughly delightful butterfly ballet. Told through the eyes of a newly emerged butterfly, the story will captivate young and old alike. With colorful costumes, spectacular music and exquisite choreography, this enchanting performance will provide a unique and memorable experience. Participate in interactive dance activities before the performance and take advantage of photo-ops on stage with the dancers afterward. Direct questions to classes@meijergardens.org. Register online at meijergardens.org/calendar or call 616-975-3144. There will be an American Sign Language interpreter for the 10 am performance on March 19—reservations for this service are REQUIRED; call 616-975-3144 by March 17.

Saturday, April 30

FIFTH THIRD BANK SUMMER CONCERTS AT MEIJER GARDENS TICKETS: MEMBERS ONLY PRESALE Presale ends, Friday, May 13 at 5 pm Public on sale: May 14 at 9 am As winter settles upon West Michigan we invite you to look forward to warm weather and beautiful sunsets in the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater. The full line up for Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens will be announced in mid-April.

TUESDAY EVENING MUSIC CLUB

UNIQUE EXHIBITION BRINGS AI WEIWEI’S VISION TO MEIJER GARDENS I am looking forward to the exhibition at Meijer Gardens and to share my work and ideas in this unique place. —Ai Weiwei

January 27—August 20, 2017

AI WEIWEI AT MEIJER GARDENS: NATURAL, STATE

Courtesy the artist’s studio and AW Asia. Photographed by Ted Alcorn.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is honored to announce a landmark exhibition with internationally renowned artist and activist Ai Weiwei. This large-scale presentation, the first of its kind for the artist at a botanic garden, will allow Ai Weiwei the opportunity to utilize the diverse environments of Meijer Gardens’ galleries, conservatories, public spaces and grounds. Ai Weiwei at Meijer Gardens: Natural, State will open next January 27. Ai Weiwei has emerged as one of the definitive cultural voices for the 21st century. Known to work in a wide variety of contexts and scale, his ability to transform materials to share his ideas, concerns and vision has given rise to a critically acclaimed and widely appreciated body of work. Iconic among recent work is his colossal Iron Tree, acquired and installed in 2015 in honor of Meijer Gardens 20th anniversary. Ai Weiwei at Meijer Gardens: Natural, State is made possible by “I appreciate that they are so committed to my work; they even acquired Iron Tree last year. This The Meijer Foundation opportunity to bring an exhibition to Michigan is Botanic and Sculpture Societies of something I greatly anticipate,” states Ai Weiwei. Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

EVENTS

EVENTS Friday, May 13, 9 am–5 pm Saturday, May 14, 9 am–5 pm Sunday, May 15, 11 am–5 pm

MICHIGAN ALL STATE BONSAI SHOW AND ”BONSAI IN THE GARDEN LEARNING SEMINARS”

FEE: Free admission to the Bonsai Show; pre-registration required for the Bonsai in the Garden Learning Seminars This year’s Bonsai Show will be larger, more inspiring and exciting than ever before. The American Bonsai Society will be joining us to present Bonsai in the Garden Learning Seminars during our show. This national gathering will attract bonsai artists, enthusiasts, and some of the nation’s top presenters. More than 100 stunning bonsai will be on display in the Grand Room, from Friday through Sunday. On Friday only, a New-Talent Contest will feature a special display of bonsai by emerging bonsai artists. A large selection of bonsai trees and pots as well as an assortment of bonsai soils, fertilizers, tools, books and wire will be available for purchase from vendors coming from across the country. Free demonstrations will take place in the Atrium; Saturday’s demonstrations will feature nationally recognized bonsai artists while Sunday’s will showcase talented Michigan artists. A variety of Meijer Gardens workshops will be offered on Sunday (register early as workshops fill quickly). On Friday or Saturday, Meijer Gardens members may sign up for one class or workshop, offered as part of the Learning Seminars. The lineup includes sessions for all levels of experience, include a four-part beginner series. Contact Pauline Muth at Pauline@pfmbonsai.com for more information or to register for the Friday and Saturday workshops. For more information or to register for The American Bonsai Society’s Bonsai in the Garden Learning Seminars visit www.absbonsai.org. Photo by Tim Priest.

BONSAI WORKSHOPS SUNDAY, MAY 15, 2016 10:30 am–1 pm

BEGINNERS ‘TIGER BARK’ FICUS

INSTRUCTOR: Bill Struhar EXPERIENCE LEVEL: Beginner FEE: $50 members, $58 non-members Gain hands-on experience pruning, wiring and repotting a ‘Tiger Bark’ Ficus, a tropical tree with small leaves and interesting bark, that can be grown indoors year-round. Learn how to select a tree with bonsai potential, how to determine its style, and what it takes to keep it healthy. All materials provided.

11:30 am–1:45 pm

CONSTRUCT A RAFT-STYLE FOREST PLANTING USING ‘SHIMPAKU’ JUNIPER

INSTRUCTOR: Ken Huth EXPERIENCE LEVEL: Intermediate and Beyond FEE: $75 members, $83 non-members Learn the steps and techniques needed to transform a ‘Shimpaku’ juniper into a lovely raft-style forest planting. All materials are provided and include a ‘Shimpaku’ juniper, plastic bonsai tray, soil, moss, rock and wire.

12:30–2 pm

BONSAI BASICS FOR KIDS

INSTRUCTOR: The Growco Guys EXPERIENCE LEVEL: Beginners, ages 10–14 years FEE: $45 members, $53 non-members Learn how to select, prune, and repot a bonsai in a workshop specifically designed for kids— with lots of encouragement and fun included. Kids will discover how to keep their new bonsai healthy. An adult may attend but the kids should do the work.

12:30–3:30 pm

CREATE A CRABAPPLE BONSAI

INSTRUCTOR: Jim Beck EXPERIENCE LEVEL: Intermediate and beyond FEE: $70 members, $78 non-members Create a one-of-a-kind crabapple bonsai, a tree with lovely spring flowers and attractive fruit. Learn how to care for crabapples year-round and then begin the initial styling by pruning and wiring your tree. Workshop trees have been field grown for 15 years, have 1½–2½ inch trunks and are 18-36 inches tall. Trees will not be repotted. Bring your own tools if you have them and be prepared to have fun! 18

EVENTS

2:30–4:30 pm

JAPANESE YEW BONSAI

INSTRUCTOR: Mark Fields EXPERIENCE LEVEL: Intermediate and beyond FEE: $75 members, $83 non-members Discover why the Japanese yew is such a great choice for bonsai, whether you’re a bonsai novice or more experienced. These cold-hardy trees have attractive evergreen leaves and interesting trunks and offer many styling options. With the instructor’s guidance you will determine the best style for your tree and then begin pruning and wiring. Trees will not be repotted. Bring your own tools if you have them.

2–4:30 pm

CREATE A JUNIPER BONSAI: A BEGINNER’S WORKSHOP

INSTRUCTOR: Jon Holwerda FEE: $45 members, $53 non-members Gain hands-on experience pruning, wiring and repotting a juniper, a great choice for beginners. This hardy evergreen should be grown outdoors and offers many styling options. Learn what to look for when selecting a tree with “bonsai potential,” how to determine its style, and what to do to keep it healthy. All materials provided.

3–5 pm

BRING YOUR OWN TREE: SPRING SHAPE UP!

INSTRUCTORS: Michigan Bonsai Artists EXPERIENCE LEVEL: Beginner to Intermediate FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members Bring a bonsai that you have previously purchased or styled at a workshop and now needs attention. Work with a Michigan bonsai artist who will provide suggestions and guidance as you prune, wire, and repot it (if needed). Each artist will work with up to 4 students so you will not only receive individual attention, you will have an opportunity to learn by observing other participants at work. Bring your own tools if you have them.

CL ASSES

REGISTER ONLINE AT MEIJERGARDENS.ORG/CALENDAR E-mail classes@meijergardens.org to ask questions. Pre-registration and prepayment required. Scholarship assistance available, 616-975-3184 or 616-975-3147. Non-member class fees include admission to Meijer Gardens for class participants on the day of the class. (*) Applies toward MSU Extension Master Gardener education credit. Fee for extra participant in Child/Adult pairs classes: $17.50 each member, $21.50 each non-member

PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES Check meijergardens.org/calendar/ to see full descriptions of each photography class or contact classes@meijergardens.org to make a reservation.

Tuesday, March 8 (Adults) 6:30–8 pm

VEGETABLE GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS: FROM THE GROUND UP!*

INSTRUCTOR: Dusty Brown FEE: $30 members, $38 non-members

INSTRUCTOR: Sean Barnes FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members Learn how to successfully grow your own vegetables, whether you have a large yard or a small space. Discover which method is right for you, from raised beds to the traditional garden plot. Learn how to select the proper location and receive tips on how to create the perfect soil. Find out which crops should be started from seeds, which to grow from transplants, and when to plant them outdoors—you may be surprised!

Saturday, March 12 (Adults) 10 am–3 pm

Tuesday, March 8 and 15 (Adults) 6–8 pm

Sunday, March 13 (Adults) 9–11 am

BUTTERFLY PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTOGRAPHY BOOT CAMP

INSTRUCTOR: Ed Post FEE: $65 members, $73 non-members

Saturday, March 26 (Ages 8-12) 9-11 am

KIDS’ BUTTERFLY PHOTOGRAPHY INSTRUCTOR: Dianne Carroll Burdick FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members

Saturday, March 26 (Adults) 10 am–12 pm

INTRODUCTION TO LIGHT ROOM INSTRUCTOR: Ed Post FEE: $30 members, $38 non-members

Tuesday, May 3 (Adults) 6–7:30 pm

IPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY

INSTRUCTOR: Terry Johnston Fee: $25 members, $33 non-members

Saturday, May 21 (Adults) 9 am–12 pm

DOCUMENTING SPRING: CLOSE-UP PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE JAPANESE GARDEN

INSTRUCTOR: Ed Post FEE: $40 members, $48 non-members

MOSAIC TRAY

INSTRUCTOR: Sue Kirkwood FEE: $55 members, $63 non-members Get your inspiration from colorful spring flowers and butterflies in the Seasonal Display Greenhouse and Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory. Sketch your ideas, then use ceramic pieces, colored glass or feel free to bring your own items from home to create a lovely mosaic design on a 14" x 10" sturdy wooden tray that you can paint or stain afterwards. Come back the second evening to grout your tray.

Tuesday, March 15 (Adults) 6:30–7:30 pm

SUCCESS WITH SEEDS*

INSTRUCTOR: Julie Francke FEE: $20 members, $28 non-members Learn how easy it is to start your own flowers and vegetables from seeds. Discover how to set up the perfect indoor environment, receive tips on how and when to plant seeds, and the best way to harden them off. Also learn which seeds should be sown outdoors. Everyone will plant seeds and pot up seedlings to take home. Bring your own seeds if you have favorites or choose from our selection.

Wednesday, March 16 (Adults) 6:30–8 pm

SUCCESS WITH RHODODENDRONS*

INSTRUCTOR: Linda Charvat FEE: $20 members, $28 non-members It really is possible to grow gorgeous rhododendrons in West Michigan! Linda will reveal tips on selection, which varieties are the hardiest, where to plant them, and how to care for them to keep them looking beautiful.

Tuesday, March 29 (Adults) 7–8 pm

SUCCESS WITH DAHLIAS WORKSHOP*

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Richard Peters FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members Discover the amazing variety of dahlias, from small pompon and water lily types to huge dinner plate varieties. Find out which ones make great additions to any garden and learn how to grow them. Receive tips on how to harvest and store the tubers and plant a dahlia tuber to take home.

Wednesday, March 30 4-5:30 pm

PLANT ”SMART” FOR POLLINATORS* INSTRUCTOR: Rebecca Finneran FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members Discover why pollinators are so essential to our environment as well as the food we eat (did you know they are responsible for pollinating ⅔ of the world’s crops?) Explore a wide palette of plants that support native bees and other beneficial insects and then learn how to adopt “Smart Gardening” behaviors that will help our native bee and insect populations thrive.

Spring Gardening Classes are made possible by

CANCELLATION POLICY

Withdraw from a class at least 30 days in advance, a refund is issued minus a $5 processing fee. Withdraw 7 to 29 days in advance and receive a 50% refund. Less than 7 days, no refund. Call 616-975-3147 for class cancellations due to severe weather. CLASSES

CL ASSES

Monday, April 11 (Adults) 4–5:30 pm

Saturday, April 16 (Ages 8+ with an Adult) 10–11:30 am

Friday, April 22 (Adults) 10 am–12 pm

VERTICAL GARDENING

GRANDMA AND ME: PRINTMAKING

IKEBANA-INSPIRED FLORAL DESIGN

Tuesday, April 19 (Adults) 4-6 pm

Saturday, April 23 (Ages 4–5 with Adult) 10–11:30 am

PRUNING: A CUT ABOVE*

GRANDMA AND ME: CHERRY BLOSSOM ART

INSTRUCTOR: Rick Margo FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members Discover how vertical gardens can serve many purposes, from creating private spaces using trellises and vines to growing your own food using living wall systems. Learn which vines produce beautiful flowers, attractive seed heads or attractive foliage. Get ideas on how vertical gardens can allow you to grow an abundance of herbs, lettuce or flowers in a small area, such as on a deck or patio.

Tuesday, April 12 (Adults) 6:30–8 pm

GROWING VEGETABLES: BEYOND THE BASICS*

INSTRUCTOR: Mary Lamson-Burke FEE: $35 member pairs, $43 non-member pairs Take a short walk through the tranquil Japanese Garden and become inspired by its waterfalls, trees and boulders. Back in the classroom learn the process of printmaking from etching an image into a foam plate to “pulling” a print. Take home several prints that will be suitable for framing. All materials provided.

INSTRUCTOR: Sean Barnes FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members Go beyond the basics and learn how to grow more vegetables with less effort. Discover some of our favorite varieties, how to grow more by growing up (use trellises!), and ways to extend the harvest. Learn techniques that will reduce insect and disease infestations, such as crop rotation, and what to do when problems do arise.

INSTRUCTOR: David Rettig FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members Bring out the natural beauty of your trees and shrubs and learn how to prune with confidence. Discover when to prune, the proper techniques and best tools. Then venture outdoors and use your newly acquired knowledge to “coach” the instructor (Which pruning tool should he use? Which branches must go?) as he prunes a tree and shrub.

Wednesday, April 13 (Adults) 4–6 pm

Wednesday, April 20 (Adults) 6–8 pm

THE ELEGANT EDIBLE LANDSCAPE*

INSTRUCTOR: Stacey Hirvela FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members Make your yard do double-duty by landscaping with plants that are both edible and beautiful. Learn how to easily select plants that fill the necessary landscape roles like groundcover, hedges and foundation plantings and also offer you something to literally bring to the table. Receive a plant to take home.

ESSENTIAL OILS: THE BASICS

INSTRUCTOR: Lisa Rose FEE: $35 members, $43 non-members Join botanical expert, herbalist and author Lisa Rose to explore the benefits of aromatic plants and how they can be used for relaxation and everyday wellness. Botanical preparations such as teas, aromatic steams, essential oils and hydrosols will be explored. Prepare one aromatherapy herbal blend to take home.

Thursday, April 21 (Adults) 6–8 pm

MAD ABOUT MUSHROOMS

INSTRUCTOR: Chef Amy Sherman FEE: $35 members, $43 non-members Learn from professional chef Amy Sherman the many techniques for preserving mushrooms, including drying and freezing. Explore which Michigan mushrooms work best in recipes, then sample a few mushroom dishes. 20

CLASSES

INSTRUCTOR: Anne-Lise Whitescarver FEE: $65 members, $73 non-members Create a lovely, seasonal floral arrangement based on principles of ikebana, the Japanese art of floral design. Learn about the equipment that is needed; how to select branches, flowers and other plant material; and how to arrange them to create a composition that reflects the beauty found in nature. No previous experience is necessary. All materials provided.

FEE: $35 member pairs, $43 non-member pairs Spend time together in the Japanese Garden with a spring search-and-find: flowering cherry blooms appearing, buds starting to open, fiddlehead ferns unfurling, early spring flowers blooming, robins and chickadees exploring. Then use your imagination to create an artwork using tissue paper and paint.

Wednesday, April 27 (Adults) 4–6 pm

THE COLOR OF HONEY: A BEGINNERS GUIDE

INSTRUCTOR: Elizabeth Pitzer FEE: $35 members, $43 non-members Go beyond your basic knowledge of honey. Find out about the fascinating process, from acquiring bees to extracting the honey. Learn about the many colors and flavors and which varieties are best to cook with or use right out of the jar. Tasting samples included.

Tuesday, May 3 (Adults) 6–7:30 pm

FORAGING FOR MUSHROOMS*

INSTRUCTOR: Trevor Clark Fee: $25 members, $33 non-members Learn tips and strategies on how to discover native Michigan mushrooms such as morels, chanterelles, oyster, reishi and more. Find out where they grow, how to identify and cultivate them and proper storage.

APRIL 2016 Wednesday, May 4 (Adults) 6–7:30 pm

Saturday, May 21 (Age 3 with an Adult) 10–11:30 am

THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF ORGANIC GARDENING*

GRANDMA AND ME: FARM FUN

INSTRUCTOR: Greg Dunn FEE: $20 members, $28 non-members Get the basics in this introductory class on five critical organic practices: composting, companion planting, crop rotation, beneficial insects and cover crops.

FEE: $35 member pairs, $43 non-member pairs Pretend you live on a farm and make and taste butter, search for and collect eggs and create a paper quilt square. View the animal sculptures that make their home at the farm and have fun with songs, finger plays and movement.

INSTRUCTOR: Jeremy Windemuller FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members Discover some of the very best perennials for sunny or shady gardens. Explore some of the most exciting new varieties such as Russian Sage ‘Denim 'n Lace’ and Hibiscus ‘Starry Starry Night.’ Also rediscover tried-and-true varieties including Allium ‘Millennium’ and Shasta Daisy ‘Daisy May.’ Be inspired with ways to use them and receive tips on how to keep them looking great.

INSTRUCTOR: Amy Heilman FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members Learn about woodland wildflowers from an expert. Discover how to plant for maximum effect, which plants continue to grow all season and which are short-lived, what type of soil is needed and how much shade is required. Weather permitting, we will take a walk out to the Gwen Frostic Woodland Shade Garden to see a variety of woodland wildflowers and get ideas about how to incorporate these types of plants into a garden setting.

Tuesday, May 17 (Adults) 5–8 pm

PLANT-BASED COOKING BOOT CAMP INSTRUCTOR: Chef Sue Stauffacher FEE: $45 members, $53 non-members Interested in giving the plant-based lifestyle a try? Join veteran plant-based chef Sue Stauffacher for an evening of strategizing. Explore delicious textures and tastes that will leave you satisfied and how to transition your pantry. Sample key recipes that provide healthy alternatives at mealtimes.

CANCELLATION POLICY

5 6

12 13

15 16

19 20

22 23

26 27

29 30

Tuesday, April 5 OR Wednesday, April 6 (Ages 6-9) 9 am–2 pm

PERENNIALS WITH PIZZAZZ*

NATIVE PLANTS: GARDENING WITH WOODLAND WILDFLOWERS*

SPRING BREAK CLASSES

Thursday, May 5 (Adults) 6:30–8 pm

Tuesday, May 10 (Adults) 6–8 PM

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

SPRING BREAK SENSATION

FEE: $50 members, $58 non-members Spend five fun hours experiencing Meijer Gardens through art, horticulture and music. Create a clay creature and its habitat, participate in a musical jam session, make a snack and start a seed project to take home. Bring a lunch and water bottle.

Photo courtesy of JW Marriott.

Tuesday, May 24 (Adults, 21 and over) 6:30–8 pm

COCKTAILS AND MOCKTAILS FROM THE GARDENS

INSTRUCTOR: Kellie Rowland FEE: $35 members, $43 non members Kellie Rowland, the award-winning bartender at the JW Marriott, will share her love of unique cocktail combinations using herbs, flowers, and plants in this demonstration class. Learn to make infused syrups and bitters from plants in your garden that can be used in alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks alike. Participants will taste three original cocktails including Kellie’s award-winning sweet nectar. Take home recipes to use all summer long. Includes recipes, 1oz tasting portions.

Tuesday, April 5 OR Wednesday, April 6 (Ages 10–12) 9 am–2 pm

SPRING BREAK SPECTACULAR

FEE: $50 members, $58 non-members Spend five fun hours experiencing Meijer Gardens through art, horticulture, cooking and music. Learn fascinating details about carnivorous plants and create a carnivorous plant art project. Participate in music and cooking activities and a gallery walk with docent guidance. Bring a lunch and water bottle.

Thursday, April 7 (Ages 4–5 with Adult) 10–11:30 am

GRANDMA AND ME: SURPRISING SEEDS

Tuesday, June 7 (Adults) 4–7 pm

FEE: $35 member pairs, $43 non-member pairs Compare sizes of seeds from tiny to huge and find out how seeds travel. Participate in a seed tasting activity, make a colorful seed art work, then plant five different seeds in a plastic glove and watch them grow at home.

LANDSCAPE PASTELS IN THE JAPANESE GARDEN

Thursday, April 7 (Ages 8–10) 10–11:30 am

INSTRUCTOR: Kathleen Kalinowski FEE: $50 members, $58 non-members Capture the uniqueness and beauty of the Japanese Garden as you learn how to layer and blend chalk pastels from award-winning artist Kathleen Kalinowski. Choose to focus on a landscape or a close-up of flowers and plants. Receive plenty of one-on-one help at your easel. All materials provided.

INTRODUCTION TO ZENTANGLE

FEE: $25 members, $32 non-members No experience necessary to participate in this engaging drawing experience and make beautiful, unique images! Learn simple, repetitive patterns from a trained Zentangle instructor, then add your own flair using a Sakura pen, which is yours to take home. CLASSES

C L A S S E S 2016 SUMMER CAMPS ONE-DAY CAMPS Tuesday, June 7 (Ages 4–5 with Adult) 10–11:30 am OR 2–3:30 pm

GRANDMA AND ME: PLANT PALS

FEE: $35 member pairs, $43 non-member pairs Hunt for plants used to make gum, chocolate, baskets, flooring and musical instruments. Make an edible sculpture out of colorful vegetables. Then take home a tomato plant in your own decorated pot and tend to it all summer long.

Monday, August 8 (Ages 6–9) 9 am–2 pm

Wednesday, August 10 (Ages 10–14) 9 am–2 pm

FABRIC FUN

FEE: $50 members, $58 non-members Use fabric as a medium to create a unique 12" x 16" wall hanging. Explore the beauty of Meijer Gardens with sketchbooks and colored pencils in hand—from interesting patterns in leaves and trees, to delicate colors in the Wildflower Meadow and shades of blue in water and wetlands. Then translate your sketches into cardboard patterns to trace onto fabric and iron onto your background. Add fine details with permanent marker, and your artwork is ready to display!

EXPLORE THE JAPANESE GARDEN: AGES 6–9

FEE: $50 members, $58 non-members Get to know the Japanese Garden with fun “curiosity stops.” Walk along winding paths, over wooden bridges, around surprising sculptures, past gigantic boulders and into small enclosures. Notice trees, plants, stepping stones and waterfalls. Then head back to make (and eat) Udon noodles, create a mini-Zen garden and paint a scroll with brush and ink. Tell your parents all about what you learned! Bring a lunch and water bottle.

Monday, August 8 (Ages 10–14) 9 am–2 pm

INVESTIGATE THE JAPANESE GARDEN: AGES 10–14

FEE: $50 members, $58 non-members Start the day with a visual scavenger hunt to look for unique features in the Japanese Garden—a 20,000 pound boulder, a zigzag bridge, a sculpture that turns your reflection upside down, cascading waterfalls and a tree that looks like it has clouds. Then head back to the classroom to create a mini-garden with a Japanese influence, work on wiring a demonstration bonsai tree with a bonsai artist, try your hand at calligraphy and watercolor and make a small bamboo easel to display your creations. Bring a lunch and water bottle.

Wednesday, August 10 (Ages 6–9) 9 am–2 pm

PLENTY OF ART

FEE: $50 members, $58 non-members Tap into your creative energy! Using a variety of art materials work on engrossing projects focusing on color. Walk to the Japanese Garden to work in oil pastels, create an animal with colored clay, and work with recyclables and patterned duct tape to create a sculpture all your own.

CLASSES

FOUR-DAY CAMPS June 13–16 (Ages 4–5) 9:30 am–12 pm

BUCKETS OF PAINT

FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Follow paths, bridges and hills to see patterns, textures and colors. Then use this inspiration to create a fun paint project every day. Assemble sculptures out of wood and embellish with paint, use tempera on plexiglass to make prints and use scented paints to create your own garden artwork.

June 13–16 OR July 11–14 (Ages 6–7) 9:30 am–12 pm

AMAZING ANIMALS

FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Explore animal habitats to look for turtles, snakes, mink and more. Compare animal features and create a dazzling artwork each day, from a colorful windsock fish to fun stick animals.

June 13–16 (Ages 8–9) 9:30 am–12 pm

TWO HORSES: DRAW, SCULPT, PAINT TWO-DAY CAMPS Monday and Tuesday, July 18 AND 19 (Ages 6–9) 9 am–2 pm

CURIOUS AND CREATIVE KIDS

FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Solve a “Critter Clues” mystery, build a waterwheel and experiment with the energy of falling water. Then think like an artist and scientist while observing intriguing sculptures and create a unique piece of art using a variety of media such as foil, string, clay, paint and wire.

Monday and Tuesday, July 18 AND 19 (Ages 10–14) 9 am–2 pm

BUILD A MODEL TREEHOUSE

FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Explore Meijer Gardens to gather ideas from animal habitats, sculpture environments, the sculptures themselves and our own Treehouse Village. Make sketches, discuss ideas and problem-solve together. What will your treehouse be made of, how will it be attached to a tree, how will it be balanced? And if you were two inches tall and lived in it, where would you eat, sleep and play? Experiment with a variety of materials such as wood, metal and vinyl to come up with the most creative solution. Campers will create an 18-inch model to take home.

FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Look at the sculptures The American Horse and Cabin Creek in exciting new ways. Do a close-up drawing of each horse as well as an impressive full view. Use driftwood and clay and experiment with painting to show each horse in its natural setting. Learn the fundamentals of each technique and take home several variations.

June 20–23 (Ages 4–5) 9:30 am–12 pm

HAPPY FEET

FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Have fun with dance games, dance stories, creative movement and art projects, and practice stretching, tapping rhythms and learning dance positions. Then compare dance movements to kid-friendly sculptures. Invite your family in for a one-of-a-kind performance.

June 20–23 (Ages 6–7) 9:30 am–12 pm

COLOR!

FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Open your eyes to color! Go on a color hunt each day. Make a unique color wheel and tissue paper rainbow. Mix and name your own color, work with pastels on textured paper and use colored clay.

CANCELLATION POLICY

2016 SUMMER CAMPS June 20–23 (Ages 8–9) 9:30 am–12 pm

July 18–21 (Ages 6–7) 9:30 am–12 pm

August 1–4 (Ages 6–7) 9:30 am–12 pm

ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

ROCKS AND FOSSILS

CLAY EVERY DAY

June 20–23 (Ages 10–14) 9:30 am–12 pm

July 25–28 (Ages 4–5) 9:30 am–12 pm

OUTDOOR WATERCOLOR

JEEPERS CREEPERS

FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Use your imagination and a variety of materials such as wood, clay, cardboard, stones and wire to create a house, bridge, sculpture and public building. Discuss landscape design and work together to create a minicity, complete with green space and roads.

FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Enjoy the hills, waterfalls, shady paths and colorful gardens as perfect spots for painting. Learn about brushwork, layering colors and creating the illusion of depth to paint what you see. A kid-friendly camp for serious young artists.

June 27–30 OR August 8–11 (Ages 4–5) 9:30 am–12 pm

SILLY SCULPTURE

FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Play silly games and take wacky walks through the gardens. Create new sculptures every day using plaster, clay, recycled products and more.

June 27–30 (Ages 6–7) 9:30 am–12 pm

EXPLORE THE GREAT LAKES

FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Have fun constructing a variety of little boats such as foil boats, canoes, and “glass bottomed” boats and testing their seaworthiness in the Children’s Garden. Then learn about the importance of lighthouses to the Great Lakes and make a mini-lighthouse of your own.

July 11–14 (Ages 4–5) 9:30 am–12 pm

CREATURE FEATURE

FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Get to know the animals at Meijer Gardens—turtles, frogs, birds and horses. Take mini-walks, listen to stories, play games and create unique art projects using colored clay, yarn and paint.

July 18–21 (Ages 4–5) 9:30 am–12 pm

STORYTIME KIDS

FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Listen to a new story each day! Sit under a sculpture, inside a barn, near the woods and elsewhere. Participate in finger plays, games and activities and create a unique work of art based on the book of the day. Books include Bear Sees Color, The Very Quiet Cricket and others.

FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Every rock has a story! Learn about rock “families,” fossils, Petoskey stones, rock hardness, rock identification and sculptures made from rocks. Start a rock collection that rocks! Food activities included.

FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Learn about weird and wonderful insects through activities such as the Ladybug Munch, the Flea Jump and the Flyswatter Relay. Examine the insect zoo and make a honeybee from clay and a butterfly from jigsaw puzzle pieces.

July 25–28 (Ages 6–7) 9:30 am–12 pm

EVERYDAY EXPLORERS

FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Investigate woods, wetlands and meadows with your own explorer kit and learn to identify birds, bugs and intriguing plants. Create fun, nature-inspired artworks every day!

FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Roll, squeeze and shape your way through the week as you work with a different type of clay every day. Learn about chocolate trees in the Conservatory and make your own chocolate clay sculpture, visit the farm orchard and make a bowl of fruit using scented clay, experience the textures in the Rock Quarry, then make your own creature out of sandy clay and use colorful sparkly clay after viewing the Dale Chihuly sculpture, Lena’s Garden.

August 1–4 (Ages 12–14) 9:30 am–12 pm

FRENCH CULTURE AND COOKING II FEE: $90 members, $98 non-members Take your skills up a notch by learning to use a pastry bag and cook en papillote (in paper). Prepare French recipes for a main dish, appetizer, bread and dessert while discovering French culture, French words and French sculptors.

July 25–28 (Ages 8–9) 9:30 am–12 pm

DYNAMITE DRAWING

FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Sharpen your drawing skills as you sketch live animals, landscapes and sculptures, still-life arrangements and each other. Use pencil, charcoal and colored pencils to create a finished work of art each day.

July 25–28 (Ages 10–12) 9:30 am–12 pm

FRENCH CULTURE AND COOKING I

FEE: $90 members, $98 non-members Develop your cooking skills as you learn about French sculptors, French words and French culture. Make delicious French dishes and sample all your delicacies!

August 1–4 (Ages 4–5) 9:30 am–12 pm

LITTLE DIGGERS

FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Dig in a vegetable patch, pot a plant, pick a vegetable and look at soil with magnifying glasses. Participate in games, stories and a colorful seed project.

Camp Kaleidoscope. Photo by Peter McDaniel.

FIVE-DAY CAMP June 27–July 1 OR July 11–15 (Ages 6–9) 8:30 am–4:30 pm

CAMP KALEIDOSCOPE: A WACKY WEEK OF FUN

FEE: $225 members, $250 non-members Explore the Japanese Garden, Children’s Garden, Farm Garden and Sculpture Park with a kaleidoscope of kid-friendly activities. Make butter, design boats, play a survival game, take a wetlands walk, build a 6-foot arch, and create a collection of unique works of art. Get to know Meijer Gardens in a whole new way with new skills, new experiences and endless fun. Bring a lunch and water bottle. A snack is provided each day. Call 616-975-3147 or 616-975-3184 with questions, and register at MeijerGardens.org. Space is limited. CLASSES

Mark di Suvero. Model for Ben Webster, 2000. Steel. Gift of the Artist. Beverly Pepper. Model for Galileo’s Wedge, 2009. Steel. Gift of the Artist. Richard Hunt. Maquette for Column of the Free Spirit, 1999. Bronze. Gift of Fred and Lena Meijer.

Thinking Big: Models and Maquettes from the Permanent Collection On view in The Commons, January 18, 2016—August 14, 2016

The Meijer Foundation Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation Botanic and Sculpture Societies of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

24 16-10067

HORTICULTURE EXHIBITION

SPRING 2016 Volume 7, Issue 2

Thinking Big: Models and Maquettes from the Permanent Collection is made possible by

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Working with maquettes is a traditional practice for both Richard Hunt and Beverly Pepper who use a variety of techniques from casting to welding to fabrication in order to realize their large-scale sculptures. For di Suvero, who creates through construction like an architect or engineer, the use of a maquette is rare. Both his work and Pepper’s have never been shown publically and now join Hunt’s as a part of the permanent collection of Meijer Gardens. The ability to examine and appreciate a maquette along with the finished piece is exceptional for any institution, offering audiences a highly unparalleled opportunity to consider the initial stages of a creative journey by some of the most important sculptors of our time.

If so, please contact the Development/Membership Office at 616-977-7689 or membership@meijergardens.org.

For many sculptors, creating a model or maquette is the critical first step on the journey to create a work of art, and can be especially critical when the goal is creating a large-scale sculpture. The unique display here presents three maquettes for major works in the permanent collection of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Iconic American sculptors Mark di Suvero, Richard Hunt and Beverly Pepper have each created small-scale models specific to colossal works now installed across the grounds. Each maquette enabled the respective artists to imagine, on a small scale, ideas that would eventually be transformed into something quite monumental. Although each of the works on display is measurably small, they successfully convey the sense of a grandscale work of art that would have a strong visual impact in the landscape.

1000 East Beltline Avenue NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525

JAN 18– AUG 14

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park promotes the enjoyment, understanding and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment and the arts.

ONGOING