We commonly use innovative as an adjective in today’s world—somewhat ubiquitous for the forward-thinking, cutting-edge, even risk-taking. When one asks ChatGPT 4o the definition, it states “introducing new ideas, methods, or products; characterized by originality and creativity.” It describes something “groundbreaking, pioneering, or ahead of its time, often leading to significant improvements or changes in a particular field or industry.” Creativity serving as a common thread for innovation.
Going down the contextualization rabbit-hole, it’s interesting to study the difference between innovative and inventive—commonly considered interchangeable, vastly different when examined. Inventive is more about the ability and talent to create something that didn't exist before. It emphasizes the act of creation itself. Innovative often involves improving or combining existing concepts in novel ways, applying “creativity” as one brings new value or improvements to existing systems or ideas.
As I’ve noted many times, I spent a significant amount of my career as a conductor, waving my arms wildly with the goal of inspiring life into ancient dots on the page. A conductor is more an innovator: Following a prescribed pattern of predetermined notes, sounds, rhythms, dynamics, and instrumentation, one has the ability—within the historical context of the composer’s intent—to interpret outcome and develop an innovative aural experience. Perhaps it’s highlighting different aspects of voicing, shifting tempos, pacing, drawing attention to secondary or tertiary parts. All innovative, combining different and unique qualities to build a fresh perspective.
The composer is inventive—creating something entirely new. Such as Beethoven crafting a new symphonic form with his mighty 9th Symphony. Stravinsky with his revolutionary Rite of Spring. One of my favorites, George Crumb, and his unique annotation that captured natural sounds through unusual instrument and material uses. These representative composers changed the landscape, the trajectory, of all music after their inventive approach. They pulled something from the heavens—capturing it for humanity to ponder, consider or be inspired by, even 200 years later.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park has been at the forefront of this thought exercise over several months, especially as we chart our North Star future: Cultivating wonder at the intersection of art, culture and nature. Understanding that our innovation lives in the intersection of the disciplines of art, culture and nature; yet aware we have the ability to highlight the wonder of the individual inventive moments. In some ways, we’re combining innovation and inventive elements—perhaps even creating the new concept (and adjective) InnoVentive: Describing a quality encompassing innovation and inventiveness, characterized by the ability to create new ideas, methods, and solutions in a creative, effective manner. You might say Meijer Gardens is known for its InnoVentive approach to exhibitions and visitor experiences, blending creativity with cutting-edge experiences.
As you ponder the thematic pulse of this Seasons, we invite you to examine it through the lens of that new InnoVentive approach. Consider the importance of American artist David Smith and his new world-class exhibition, curated aptly by Suzanne Ramljak, Vice President of Collections & Curatorial Affairs. See and experience an interesting, innovative combination of art and nature while simultaneously learning of David’s inventive birth of a new artistic idiom: the sculpture park. Please discover more about this InnoVentive scholarship with our latest catalogue, in partnership with Hirmer/University of Chicago Press.
Always remember: If not for our donors’ generous spirit, our members’ regular attendance and our volunteers’ selfless hours of service, our InnoVentive spirit would lack the necessary elements to grow. And without the spirit of Fred and Lena—and their prescient vision of joy, welcoming to all, world class in all we do—we’d be unable to reach for that next InnoVentive concept, plan for that InnoVentive event, dream of that world-changing InnoVentive moment. The intersection of all these facets allow us to cultivate wonder, where we all grow.
Gratefully,
Chuck
Shannon
Charles Burke, President & CEO, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Facing page, right photo: Stuart Padnos, Multi-Colored Rings, (detail) 1998. Steel, 94 1/2 x 89 x 24 in. Gift of the Artist. Nic Sagodic
The adventurous approach of David Smith (1906–1965) to three-dimensional form has permanently expanded the vocabulary and range of sculptural practice. The first American artist to make welded metal sculptures and incorporate industrial means in his work, Smith was equally innovative in his enlistment of nature as material and setting.
As critic Peter Schjeldahl declared, “Every contemporary sculptor owes him an enormous debt, but not one can claim his inclusive vision of a natural world in which man still plays the ancient, heroic role of sentinel-artist.” Indeed, it would be difficult to find another artist of Smith’s period who was so deeply nature-bound.
The exhibition David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture is the first exploration of Smith’s intimate engagement with the natural world, spanning 33 years from his very first sculptures comprising mounted coral pieces on bases. Following a loose chronological order, the exhibition will feature Smith’s nature-based work realized in every decade—from the 1930s constructions with stones, shells, coral, and wood, along with his biomorphic cast metal sculptures; to pictorial sculpture landscapes during the 1940s and ‘50s, the mid-1950s bronze reliefs depicting botanic motifs including Rose Garden and Wild Plum, and avian sculptures of the late ‘50s and early ‘60s with a series focused on ravens; to a selection of large outdoor works that find their completion in the company of sky, wind, and earth.
Among Smith’s many contributions to the sculptural repertoire— including the introduction of industrial techniques, outdoor siting, grand scale and polychrome surfaces—is his development of landscape sculpture. The sculpture-landscape was a format of Smith’s own invention and he transformed this traditionally pictorial subject matter into complex three-dimensional form. Smith would enlist this newly devised sculpture genre to address an array of themes—from autobiography, House in a Landscape, 1945 (below); to color theory, Helmholtzian Landscape, 1946; to social norms, Cloistral Landscape, 1946 (both on page 5).
Smith’s first post-war landscapes combined volumes and slabs to impart a sense of interior and exterior spaces, while during the 1950s his landscape sculptures morphed from planar to more linear. Open compositions like his Hudson River Landscape of 1951 (see page 4) both imply outdoor space and actually fold it into the viewing experience.
While not Smith’s largest work, this landscape has great magnitude and has become one of his most celebrated sculptures. Reflecting his shared allegiance to painting, drawing, and sculpture, this work also contains the factors of time and motion in its dynamic composition. Although relatively flat, its swerving diagonals convey receding space and multiple entry points, leading the eye on a linear rollercoaster ride.
Invariably photographing his art against the sky, Smith embedded his sculptures outdoors in the land. As such, his work could be called plein air sculpture. Like painters working in the open air, Smith used the land as his studio, working outof-doors or with the mountains in view, integrating nature into the sculpture’s very being.
Smith’s own writing about landscape (on facing page) reveals the play of free association he cultivated throughout his work. This open associative method is found in Liquid Landscape (below) of 1955, which presents itself like a Rorschach blot, ready for the viewer’s own projections.
—Suzanne Ramljak, exhibition curator and Vice President of Collections & Curatorial Affairs
I have never looked at a landscape without seeing other landscapes
I have never seen a landscape without visions of things I desire and despise lower landscapes have crusts of heat-raw epidermis and the choke of vines
the separate lines of salt errors—monadnocks of fungus the balance of stone—with gestures to grow the lost posts of manmaid boundaries—in molten shade a landscape is a still life of Chaldean history it has faces I do not know its mountains are always sobbing females
it is bags of melons and prickle pears its woods are sawed to boards
its black hills bristle with maiden fern its stones are Assyrian fragments
it flows the bogside beauty of the river Liffey
it is colored by Indiana gas green
it is steeped in veritable indian yellow
it is the place I’ve traveled to and never found
it is somehow veiled to vision by pious bastards and the lord of Varu the nobleman from Gascogne in the distance it seems threatened by the destruction of gold
Excerpt from, “The Landscape; Spectres Are; Sculpture Is, 1947,” by David Smith, reprinted in, David Smith: Collected Writings, Lectures, and Interviews, ed. Susan J. Cooke (Oakland: University of California Press, 2018), 68-69
Exhibition Catalogue
David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture will be accompanied by an exhibition catalogue co-published by Meijer Gardens and Hirmer/ University of Chicago Press. The publication will feature contributions by the artist’s daughters, reflecting on Smith’s lived domestic experience of nature; an essay by curator Suzanne Ramljak surveying Smith’s engagement with nature as material source, subject matter, and preferred site for his sculpture; appreciations by contemporary artists Beatriz Cortez and Mark di Suvero, addressing Smith’s contributions and connections to current art practice; and an illustrated artist’s chronology highlighting key nature-based events in David Smith’s life and art. Available in the DeVos–Keeler Gift Shop.
Exhibition Programming
Member Preview Event, September 19
Fee: Included with admission
Member Lecture, 6:30-7:30 pm Galleries open following the lecture
Highlights of the evening will include the unveiling of the exhibition David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture and a conversation with the artist’s daughters. RSVP by email at youareinvited@meijergardens.org or by calling 616-974-5258. Please respond by September 5, 2024.
Moving Out:
David Smith & Outdoor Sculpture Wednesday, October 9, 2–3 pm Fee: Included with admission
Meet at the indoor Sculpture Galleries to join Suzanne Ramljak, exhibition curator and Vice President of Collections & Curatorial Affairs, and Amber Oudsema, Curator of Arts Education, on a walk to explore the lasting legacy of famed Modernist master David Smith. Discover his influence on sculpture parks as we know them and the many successful artists who followed in Smith’s creative footsteps.
Visit MeijerGardens.org/calendar for a full listing of classes, events, registration information and cancellation policies.
Applies toward Certified Green Industry Professional Continued Education Unit (CEU).
Downtown Sculpture Walk (Adults)
Thursday, September 12, 5:30–7:30 pm
$25 members | $35 nonmembers
Scan to register and discover more Meijer Gardens learning opportunities at MeijerGardens.org/ Calendar
Join us for a walking tour of downtown Grand Rapids sculpture. Discuss interpretations, visual elements and design principles. Expect walking and standing, bring water, and dress for weather. We’ll meet at a central downtown location.
Botanical Illustration with Watercolor Pencil (Adults)
Wednesdays, September 18 and 25, 5–7:30 pm
$90 members | $100 nonmembers
Nancy Hart
Join Nancy Hart, Illustration Program Chair at Kendall College of Art & Design, for this two-part botanical rendering class. Learn layering, blending and color mixing techniques to create your own botanical watercolor pencil illustration. Prior drawing experience required.
Floral Chinese Ink Drawing (Adults)
Wednesday, September 18, 5:30–8:30 pm
OR Sunday, September 22, 11 am–2 pm
$45 members | $55 nonmembers
Lotus Liu
Learn ink drawing techniques from teaching artist Lotus Liu, using traditional Chinese methods and brushes. Explore fall blooms on our grounds, then return to the classroom for a guided painting activity of floral designs on rice paper.
Eco-Friendly Papermaking (Adults)
Friday, October 11, 6–8 pm
$60 members | $70 nonmembers
Taylor Scamehorn
Enjoy wildflower seed papermaking with 100% postconsumer paper. Create something beautiful from recycled paper, natural dyes, dried flowers or wildflower seeds collected from our grounds. Turn it into a work of art, notecards, or a unique gift. Paper must be dried overnight and could be mailed or picked up later.
Art and Nature Tram Tour: Fall (Adults)
Thursday, October 17, 5–6:30 pm
$15 members | $25 nonmembers
Eve Boyer and Amber Oudsema, Meijer Gardens
Immerse yourself in the harmonious blend of art and nature, on a guided tram tour showcasing the stunning beauty of our grounds in autumn.
Ceramic Tea Bowls (Adults)
Sunday, October 20, 11 am–3 pm
$70 members | $80 nonmembers
Harmony Nguyen
Begin with an exclusive look inside our masterfully crafted Japanese Teahouse to hear about the art of chanoyu, or tea ceremony. View unique original Shigaraki pottery from our permanent collection. Afterward, learn how to create your tea bowl, using hand-building techniques. Projects will be kiln-fired off-site and returned to Meijer Gardens for pickup.
Fall Zentangle (Adults)
Saturday, October 5, 10 am–1 pm
$35 members | $45 nonmembers
Marjorie Goosen
Discover easy methods for creating stunning images using structured patterns, guided by a certified Zentangle expert. Explore the Mums at Meijer Gardens exhibition for inspiration, then return to the classroom to create your own personalized design inspired by the autumn blooms. All levels welcome.
Horticulture and Environment Classes and Events
Fabulous Native Plants for Fall (Adults)
Tuesday, September 10, 1:30–4 pm
$30 members | $40 nonmembers
Amy Heilman, The Living Garden
Discover trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and grasses that produce attractive flowers, fruit, and seeds that add beauty to the landscape and benefit wildlife.
Ask an Expert Drop-In: Topiary
Thursday, September 26, 1-2:30 pm
Ian Warnock, Meijer Gardens
Free to Public
Topiary are delightful, whimsical and something only the pros can create … Or are they? Stop by the Peter M. Wege Library to ask Lead Horticulturist Ian Warnock your questions about making your own topiary and how best to care for these surprisingly doable and fun creations.
MUMS
October 1-31, 2024
Michigan’s largest display of Chrysanthemums
The season of abundance comes alive in Mums at Meijer Gardens, back for a 26th year at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. The largest of its kind in Michigan, this perennially popular exhibition is an over-the-top extravaganza of fall’s finest colors, patterns and textures.
Autumn’s favorite flower takes center stage: Thousands of garden and specialty mums—which include daisy, daisy spoon, decorative, and spider potted mums— provide fresh pops of red, orange, bronze, blush, and warm white to our gardens and grounds. New this year are elevated plantings in containers, mum walls, and trellises, which add dimension and visual continuity throughout the exhibition.
The Grand Entry Garden makes a bold statement, with bronze and orange mums in a color-blocking pattern offset by sweeping contrasts of white mums backed by red Pennisetum fountain grass. Indoors, the Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse takes center stage. From the traditional to the unexpected, the mighty mum creates an abundant oasis of earthy hues and lively patterns.
Catch our captivating curated displays of seemingly endless blooms, complemented by cabbage, kale and fall grasses. Look for artful trellises, serving as modern cornucopias overflowing with the finest of fall’s harvest.
The BISSELL Corridor too overflows with floral displays aplenty. Designed by local florists, these daring arrangements are sure to inspire the gardener in us all. Each week in October local florists will create arrangements featuring the chrysanthemum specifically for Meijer Gardens, on display in the BISSELL Corridor. Special thanks to the florists for their generous donations.
The Earl & Donnalee Holton Victorian Garden Parlor also fascinates with bursting beds of color. Notice the intriguing use of disbuds in the reflex, irregular incurve, decorative, spider, intermediate incurve, and quill classes, tied together by intermingled ribbons of potted mums and blue kale.
View daily or late night with family and friends every Tuesday until 9 pm, including the return of the Glow Garden and an abundance of new activities like food trucks in Michigan’s Farm Garden, unplugged entertainment in the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater, and so much more. Join us for all the fall fun!
Free to members or included with paid daily admission.
Horticulture and Environment Seasonal
Autumn at Meijer Gardens
Classes
Visit MeijerGardens.org/calendar for a full listing of classes, events, registration information and cancellation policies.
Applies toward Certified Green Industry Professional Continued Education Unit (CEU).
Birding for Beginners (Adults)
Thursday, September 12, 2–4 pm
$35 members | $45 nonmembers
Caitlyn Strikwerda, Outdoor Discovery Center
Learn identification techniques, how to use a guidebook, basic terminology and more before a guided walk around our grounds, weather permitting.
Prepare Your Garden for Winter (Adults)
Tuesday, September 24, 12–2 pm
$30 members | $40 nonmembers
Tony England, Meijer Gardens
Learn the essentials of autumn gardening and take home a checklist and surprise plant.
Fall Vegetable Gardening 101 (Adults)
Wednesday, October 9, 3:30–5:30 pm
$30 members | $40 nonmembers
Joanna Walters, New City Farms
Explore techniques to extend your growing season and ensure success and efficiency in spring!
Tuesdays in October, Until 9 pm
Save the date: Each Tuesday in October, we’ll be open late. Take a peek at what we have in store. So much is new this year! Visit MeijerGardens.org for details.
Expanded Glow Garden
Explore our popular Gwen Frostic Woodland Shade Garden, an illuminated forest of majestic trees and mystical meadow grasses and logs. Featured are incredible glowing hand-etched pumpkins by local artist Alynn Guerra, of Red Hydrant Press. Joining the pumpkin-carving fun this year are artists Rebecca Rodriguez, of Foiled Again Press, and Lisa Lin Olsen.
Michigan’s Farm Garden
Down on the farm family fun awaits, including food trucks, pumpkin carving demonstrations, music, and a vibrant harvest of heirloom vegetables, herbs, gourds, and larger-than-life pumpkins.
Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater
Enjoy local music, seasonal snacks, adult beverages and hot cider.
DeVos Van Andel Piazza
Pull up a seat and enjoy the sights.
Scarecrows and Fall Surprises
Search for scarecrows in the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden and other fun fall surprises.
NEW! Autumn Music in the Amphitheater
Enjoy a more intimate experience with local artists.
October 1 | The Jordan Hamilton Trio
October 8 | The Mark Lavengood Band
October 15 | Hatchwing Rider
October 22 | Whorled
October 29 | Full Cord
Lena Meijer Children’s Garden
Lena Meijer Children’s Garden activities are included with admission. Registration not required. Please dress for the weather. All activities take place outdoors.
Fall Storytime
September 2–October 21 | Mondays, 10:30 am
Join us for fun fall-inspired interactive stories and experience how awesome autumn is in the Children’s Garden!
Backpack Adventures
September 4-October 30 | Wednesdays, 10:30 am
Join us for awesome backpack adventures with themes such as Amazing Animals, Read It, Map It, Super Seeds or Animal Tracking! Don’t forget to check our website each week to learn what to bring in your backpacks!
Fall Family Day
Saturday, September 28, 1-4 pm
Visit the Children’s Garden for fabulous fall family fun.
Hallowee-Ones: No Tricks. No Treats. Just Fun! Monday, October 28, 10 am-12 pm
Dress yourself and your child as a character that highlights the Children’s Garden. Come celebrate Halloween with your wee ones, with a host of Halloween-themed activities. Parade at 10:30 am!
9 Nic Sagodic
In Honor of Bonsai
Aself-made artist who traveled the world to develop his craft, Bruce Baker held a lifelong fascination with the beguiling bonsai. His legacy endures at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
Bruce first encountered bonsai while attending law school in 1977, on a visit to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Instantly intrigued by this curious tree’s artistry and rich culture, he immersed himself in learning all he could about the delicate discipline. It originated more than 2,000 years ago in the Chinese Empire, where the practice of “Pen-jing” involved emulating trees and other elements of the landscape in miniature. The Japanese later adapted and refined the art they renamed “bonsai,” which translates to “planted in a container.” Bruce admired the quiet contemplation of carving bonsai, layered with the interconnectedness he felt with both the trees and the larger community of collectors.
“Bonsai, like Bruce, is inherently innovative,” notes Senior Vice President Steve LaWarre.
“He was particularly dedicated to doing things differently—he even invented and patented a few types of bonsai garden tools. Bruce intimately understood that enhancing his own skills came from collaborating with other clubs and collectors. These connections translate throughout his beautiful collection.”
Within a decade of honing his craft, Bruce won several awards for his work, including Best of Show at the Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition at the Chicago Botanic Garden. The recognition created quite a following.
Bruce soon found himself writing a regular bonsai column, teaching at dozens of bonsai clubs, demonstrating at bonsai conventions, and serving on the board of directors for prestigious organizations such as the Ann Arbor Bonsai Society, Bonsai Association of Michigan, Bonsai Clubs International, and World Bonsai Friendship Federation.
Meijer Gardens held a special place in Bruce’s heart. Our original bonsai trees were a gift from Eunice Corp, founder of the Traverse City Bonsai Club where he regularly attended. Bruce was a mentor to Dean Bull, who has visited Meijer Gardens monthly for 23 years to care for our bonsai trees alongside our Horticulture staff.
mFor the last few years of his life,
Bruce accompanied Dean on those visits. “Bruce fell in love with Meijer Gardens and naturally aligned with our philosophy,” Steve said. “Prior to his passing, we discussed his wish to donate his significant collection. We are lucky that his legacy will live on here with us.”
Bruce’s generous gift to Meijer Gardens spans more than 25 bonsai trees of various types, including his favorite yew.
Several trees in his collection are large-scale yews, with extensive trunk carvings. During warmer months, they’ll be in rotation alongside the rest of our permanent collection in The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden.
“We are committed to fulfilling Bruce’s wish that his beloved bonsai will thrive beyond his lifetime and continue to inspire future generations of artists and collectors to pursue their own passion for bonsai,” Steve elaborates. “It’s truly an honor and privilege.”
Fall Bonsai Show, Classes and Events
Visit MeijerGardens.org/calendar for a full listing of classes, events, registration information and cancellation policies.
Applies toward Certified Green Industry Professional Continued Education Unit (CEU).
Fall Bonsai Show
West Michigan Bonsai Club
Saturday, October 5, 10 am–5 pm
Sunday, October 6, 11 am–5 pm
See a variety of bonsai on display, from trees in early stages of training to lovely older trees. Watch bonsai artists at work and shop for bonsai trees as well as bonsai tools and supplies.
Hidden Artistry: The Bonsai Collection (Adults)
Saturday, October 5, 10 am–12 pm
$20 members | $30 nonmembers
Ted Bentley, Meijer Gardens
Gain exclusive behind-the-scenes insight into our world-class bonsai collection as Ted shares his expertise on how Meijer Gardens sources, nurtures and styles these exquisite miniature masterpieces
Juniper Bonsai Workshop | Beginner (Adults)
Saturday, October 5, 2–4 pm
$85 members | $95 nonmembers
Scott Zomerlei
Learn the basics of bonsai, starting from scratch working with an untrained juniper in a 3-gallon nursery pot.
Known for its small glossy leaves, delicate flowers in spring, vibrant berries in fall, and year-round visual interest, the cotoneaster is a popular choice for bonsai enthusiasts.
Quarterly Tributes
IN HONOR
Taylor Cooley
Susan and
Stephen Bishop
Jim Corbett
Jamie Corbett
Mike Sue Cronin
Patricia Hall
Bruce DeWindt
Michelle and Dave DeWindt
Judith Eyde
Melissa Eyde
Frederick Lindquist
Andrew Lindquist
Janice Oros
Shannon Oros
Jan and Rich Marshall
Rae Ann Contreras Evans and Antonio Contreras Jr.
Reese Rusco
Julie and Marshall Rusco
Tripp Salmon
Amy Salmon
Jane Santman
Gary and Sue Renkema
Peggy Lou Serulla
Laura and Kyle Homits
Dan and Jan DeHaan
Darrel and Kalani DeHaan
Janice Wicklund
Kristina Wicklund
IN MEMORY
Laura Abeli
Jennifer Hennigan
Roger and Willa Bauer
Kenneth and Kristin Bauer
Linda Boyer
Cindy Long
Michael Sue Cronin
Linda Hellstedt
Carlos Curtis
Ja’Cari Merrill-Curtis
Bobbi Fredricks
The Padnos Family
Elaine Harper Anonymous
Marguerite Hill
Jane Edwards
Earl Holton
Alan and Debbie Abraham
Martin Allen
Patti and Karl Betz
Gary and Sam Bouma
Angela Contreras and Richard Urbane
Peter C. and Emajean
Cook Foundation
Martha Dalton
Andrew and Pamela H. Daugavietis
Judy and Dave Eckrich
Henry Fox
Mary Caroline “Twink” Frey
Michael Gaudino
Harbor Hospice and Palliative Care
Marguerite Jones
Michael and Sara
Julien
Gayle McCorkle
Thomas Merchant
Mary Ohm
Joe and Marie Parzych
Barbara June Prein
Mark and Marti Prein
Sydney Ross
Sharpe Cars
Mark Sherwood and Saralyn Coupe
Mike and Kim Slager
George and Kerstin Trowbridge
Vanfossen Family
Richard and
Barbara Young
Don Johnson
Kathy and Bill Laidlaw
Haydn Johnson
Brad Zonca and Meijer Team
Ralph and Cynthia Johnston
Patrick and Diana Moore
Nancy Knapp-Schilke
David Schilke and Kyleigh Thompson Schilke
Donald Koster
Norwood Avis
Carolyn Bloodworth
Susan Brace
Deborah and James Devoe
Lisa and Bill Polzin
Fred and Jennie Kuperus
Henriet, James, Kristen, Daniel, and Timothy Meyers
Suzanne Marie Langlois
Alan Langlois
Emerson Lee and Geraldine “Gerry” L. Lockrow
Janet, Barbara, David Lockrow, and Their Families
The Village of Heather Hills
Marjorie Maas
Anonymous
Lynn Martin
Linda Dodge
Donald Kelley and Ann Avery Kelley
Cindy Mader and Pamela Olsen
Shirley McArdle
Richard and Mary Stevens
Dorothy Whitehouse
George and Karen Minnis
Anonymous
Max Strotz
Mary and David Tobin
Ken Wenger
Jack and Joanne Hulst
These gifts were received between April 1,2024, and June 30, 2024. Those honored or memorialized are listed in bold type, while donors appear in regular
Nurturing Nature
F or more than a decade, MJ Keating and her husband, Michael, have been pillars of support for Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Their dedication extends beyond longtime membership: They actively engage in promoting environmental stewardship and enhancing botanical diversity across our 158 acres.
The Keatings’ relationship with Meijer Gardens began in the early 2010s, when they were drawn to our unique blend of horticulture and art. Recognizing the potential for this duality to inspire and educate the community about natural beauty and conservation, the couple became ardent supporters as both members and advocates.
One of their most notable initiatives is the successful campaign to introduce three giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) at Meijer Gardens. Captivated by the grandeur and ecological significance of these ancient trees, MJ and Michael spearheaded efforts to secure and plant the sequoia, aiming to create a living testament to resilience and growth.
The journey to plant the sequoia was marked by challenges, from sourcing suitable specimens to ensuring the successful adaptation of these desert-loving trees to the unpredictable West Michigan climate. The Keatings collaborated with the advocates at Archangel Ancient Tree Archive and our own Horticulture team to overcome logistical hurdles and environmental concerns. The couple’s persistence paid off this past June, when three young sequoia trees were planted in a carefully prepared section of Meijer Gardens—a moving symbol of hope and unwavering environmental commitment.
They hope, in time, “folks will be amazed” by the Giant Sequoia at Meijer Gardens and have an increased appreciation for all trees and plants.
In Tribute
We’d love to help you leave a legacy too. Please contact Julia Van Fleet, Vice President of Advancement, at jvanfleet@meijergardens.org or 616-975-3177
MJ and Michael’s unique interest in Meijer Gardens has helped shape our evolution. Their vision and advocacy foster an ongoing appreciation for the interconnectedness between art, nature, and community, leaving a lasting legacy sure to inspire generations to come.
Make Your Own Gifts
Herbal Gifts from the Garden (Adults)
Wednesday, November 13, 12–1:30 pm | $45 members, $55 nonmembers
Elizabeth Pitzer
Using herbs and other natural ingredients, craft four herbal kitchen gifts to keep or give away this holiday season. For more information or to register visit: MeijerGardens.org/Calendar
In the
DeVos-Keeler Gift Shop ...
Shop Talk
Have you heard? The DeVos–Keeler Gift Shop is ready for autumn and beyond!
This popular shopping destination is transformed with a reimagined aesthetic brimming with refreshed merchandise—more than 90% of inventory is making its debut this season alone. New items are rolling out around every curated corner, waiting for you to stop by and get your shop on.
Next time you visit, check out our handpicked themed displays featuring unique apparel, home accessories, foodie favorites, art, pottery, garden tools, books, jewelry and more. Our family-friendly shop promises something for all ages.
Kids will enjoy exploring darling clothing and educational toys and books as you peruse our expanded collection of live perennials, annuals,
succulents, bonsai, and other plants under an inviting new pergola.
You asked. We delivered! By popular demand, we’ve grown our collection of Meijer Gardensbranded items by leaps and bounds. Find our logo on dozens of new exclusives throughout the DeVos–Keeler Gift Shop. Coming this fall, look for the launch of an online presence, letting you shop and ship from anywhere to anywhere in the United States.
As always, members enjoy a 10% discount on all purchases.
We’re unwrapping new selections every week. Shop now and get a jump on the holidays! Follow us on social media for early looks at the season’s hottest new gifts.
Get ready to see what’s new!
Must-Have Merch!
Let theses top picks pique your interest as you shop our reimagined DeVos–Keeler Gift Shop this season.
Balcony Mobile— For Calder
Inspired by iconic Alexander Calder designs, these tabletop mobiles are handmade in Korea and double as oil diffusers. (Oil sold separately.)
Acrylic Abstract Art
These whimsical sculptures are composed in acrylic and available in several distinctive shapes and colors. Matching knots in the same hue make an unforgettable wedding gift.
Plants and Garden
Goodies
Galore
Our fresh selection of flowers, houseplants, succulents, airplants, bonsai and more rotate regularly, so there’s always something new to see.
Axiom Glass Bowls
The nonfunctional Thorn Series balances playfulness and sophistication. It exemplifies a distinctive concept, juxtaposing the elegant, pristine vessel above a textured field of light and form. Each piece is signed and dated by artist Andrew Madvin.
Meijer Gardens Gear
We’ve leveled up on logo items! Look for new sweaters, bucket hats, reusable water bottles, garden pot mugs, and other products, such as a tree-inspired notebook, nestled in our themed displays.
NOVEMBER 27–JANUARY 4
Our Gardens in a New Light
See It First
Experience the debut of ENLIGHTEN on select evenings November to January. Visit MeijerGardens.org for complete event details.
We’re Kicking Off Our 30 th Anniversary with a new Holiday Spectacular!
This holiday season, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is poised to dazzle the world with the ENLIGHTEN experience, an unparalleled holiday light spectacle promising to position Grand Rapids on the global stage of must-see holiday destinations. Produced by the visionary teams at Lightswitch and Upstaging, ENLIGHTEN is set to rival the world’s most iconic holiday displays through an immersive experience that’s nothing short of magical.
Over 30 nights from November 27 to January 4, ENLIGHTEN takes visitors on a breathtaking 1-mile journey through the Sculpture Park. No ordinary walk, it’s a transformative adventure through a wonderland where art, light and nature meld in spectacular harmony. Cutting-edge light installations, choreographed to captivating music and enhanced by interactive elements, invite visitors to control the magic surrounding them.
Guests traversing this illuminated path will encounter masterpieces by legendary artists such as Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Auguste Rodin and Ai Weiwei. The iconic The American Horse by Nina Akamu, alongside works by Mark di Suvero and Beverly Pepper, will be showcased in dynamic light, creating a breathtaking fusion of fine art and advanced technology. This spectacular interplay of light and sculpture will redefine the boundaries of artistic expression and holiday celebration.
The ENLIGHTEN experience culminates with a walk indoors through our University of Michigan Health-West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition, where you’ll experience a vibrant celebration of cultures and holiday traditions from around the world. The Garden Pavilion, conservatories, and indoor spaces will be transformed into festive marvels, showcasing decorations, performances, and exhibits honoring global holiday customs. This immersive cultural journey adds a rich layer of global appreciation to the world-class visual ENLIGHTEN experience.
Ticket Information
Timed tickets are available every half hour from 5:30–9:30 pm. Tickets go on sale September 9 at 9 am.
Sparkle! and Shine
Mark your calendar for the soirée of the season: Sparkle! returns Thursday, December 5, 2024, to ring in the holidays.
Kick off December by delighting in the sights, sounds, and joy of the holidays—in Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park style. This must-see event wraps 27 years of holiday traditions into one enchanting evening you won’t want to miss.
Join us for a scrumptious strolling dinner and decadent signature drinks from our award-winning Culinary Arts & Events team, topped off by a festive soundtrack put together by AB is Adrian Butler—a versatile artist and DJ whose curated experiences have earned first place in the annual Best of the West Revue Readers Poll an incredible five times. Stay tuned on social media for exciting updates regarding Sparkle! entertainment.
Make your holiday party plans sooner than later, as seats are limited. Save yours today by securing a sponsorship or purchasing tickets at MeijerGardens.org/sparkle
Please contact Fundraising Events Manager Maggie Scogg at 616-287-1950 or mscogg@meijergardens.org if you have questions.
All are welcome to Sparkle! with us. The more the merrier!
Jessica Harris, Wildcrest Studio
On the Huizenga Grand Room
Horizon
Your favorite grand space is being refreshed and refuribished! Stay tuned for enhanced views and the new look, in 2025
Holidays and Beyond!
START THE NEW YEAR IN OUR NEWEST SPACE
Plan Your 2025 Holiday Event Today
Looking for extra WOW?
Launch your holiday party with a stroll through our ENLIGHTEN experience, then move indoors to a private event adorned with festive fun. get started.
inter is a most wonderful time for our recently opened North Event Room, where guests can enjoy the frosty scenery outside its windows.
January, February and even later also pose promise for an event, with many people and organizations looking to host their festivities after the flurry of the season.
The North Event Room with its 150-person maximum is a wonderful space for cozier celebrating and mingling, honoring the holidays and beyond.
Complimentary parking is only one of your party perks. The Meijer Gardens Culinary Arts & Events team handles
you with care. We’ll tailor your special occasion with custom lighting from our inhouse audiovisual staff and other bespoke offerings—food and drink at the forefront.
Revel in the mood you’ve set as you partake of delicious delights, brought to you through our exclusive catering and bar services. Fancy something festive? Seeking all that glitters? Dreaming of an event in a worldclass setting that makes folks feel at home?
Let our Executive Chef and talented staff design and create a magical InnoVentive experience for you!
Call 616-975-3146 today to inquire about December and January dates still available in this newly reimagined space.
Jumping for Joy!
Acommon thread in the Fred and Lena Meijer legacy is the inspiration behind the newest addition to our volunteer opportunities. If you've noticed the green aprons recently, you've probably noticed we rolled out our Joy Ambassador program.
The concept for creating this delightful new program came directly from our Volunteers during a quarterly “Chat with Charles,” where they shared with President & CEO Charles Burke and his executive staff their ideas to help guests unfamiliar with Meijer Gardens find their way around our 158-acre campus. From this discussion, the Joy Ambassadors program was born.
Volunteers are at the heart of our guest experience. They spend the most time interacting with the more than 750,000 visitors who come to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park each year. Their service helps our gardens thrive and grow. We simply couldn’t be—and wouldn’t be—who we are without our beloved volunteers. Last year alone, our volunteers donated over 71,000 hours of service among our 700 participants.
One of the dozens of volunteer roles at Meijer Gardens, our Joy Ambassadors focus on spreading joy through lending a helping hand. Our Joy Ambassadors carry on the spirit of our founders with this renewed focus to spread joy.
From wayfinding and taking guest photos to helping with guest mobility and guest assistance, count on Joy Ambassadors to provide little moments of surprise and delight that put a smile on your face or—better yet—make you jump for joy! The pleasure is ours. Find out more about Meijer Gardens’ other volunteer opportunities at: MeijerGardens.org
Join the Fun
What does it take to be a Joy Ambassador? Simply a love of Meijer Gardens and a passion for helping others. Does this sound like you? With the holidays quickly approaching, we’re looking for hundreds of inaugural Joy Ambassadors and weekend volunteers. Please contact Volunteer Manager Tony England at volunteer@meijergardens.org to get started.
Earl D. Holton (1934-2024)
Undercurrents of caring and consideration were constants in Earl’s life. His legacy is profound and his humbleness legendary.
Ebeyond as an astute businessman, innovator, philanthropist, and supporter of the arts. Within Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, his and his wife’s names introduce the Earl & Donnalee Holton Arid Garden, Earl & Donnalee Holton Victorian Garden Parlor, and Earl & Donnalee Holton Gallery.
Earl, an Honorary Member of the Meijer Gardens Board of Directors and Emeritus Director of the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation, was a Trustee for Albion College and Grand Valley State University, received an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from GVSU, is ensconced in the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame of West Michigan, and indefinitely serves others through the LemmenHolton Cancer Center on the Corewell Health Butterworth Campus and the Holton-Hooker Learning Living Center on the Allendale Campus of GVSU—a few of the indelible impressions he leaves upon our world.
The memorial plaque at Earl’s burial site bears a brief description of a mighty tenure: Earl Holton joined Meijer as a clerk in Cedar Springs in 1952, the year he married his high school sweetheart, Donnalee.
As his career progressed, Earl was instrumental in launching a new retailing concept: the Meijer Thrifty Acres supercenter. He became Meijer’s president in 1980 and, among many initiatives, oversaw the company’s expansion beyond Michigan into Ohio and surrounding states. He was a close confidant and enduring friend of Frederik Meijer, who relied on Earl’s wisdom throughout their years together. Business and personal relationships were closely intertwined as Earl became a trusted mentor to future generations of Meijer family and professional leaders. Together for 72 years, Earl and Donnalee shared a passion for service and philanthropy evident throughout our community.
Among so many roles, Earl led fundraising for the Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center, chaired the board of Steelcase Inc., and was indispensable in bringing to life Frederik Meijer Gardens legacy is a continuing inspiration.
Undercurrents of caring and consideration were constants in Earl’s life. His legacy is profound and his humbleness legendary. Charles Burke, Meijer Gardens President & CEO, is among those honored to have known Earl— and places him in the pantheon of those who shaped his life.
Earl Holton is survived by his wife, Donnalee Holton; two sons, Michael (JoAnne) Holton and Brian (Jackie) Holton; two daughters, Elizabeth (John) Dolce and Kimberly Holton; eight grandchildren, Nick (TuAnh) Holton, Katy Jo Holton, Sara (Mike) Irwin, Russell Holton, Kyle (Kayla) Dolce, Alexandra Dolce, Austen Weaver and Lauren Weaver; and great-granddaughters Addison and Mackenzie Irwin. Also surviving are a step-grandson, Jason Maki; a step-great-granddaughter, Alaina Maki; and many nieces and nephews. A grandson, Brandon Weaver, preceded him in death.
At right: Earl Holton, Fred Meijer, Harvey Lemmen.
Meditations on Humble Greatness by Charles Burke
There are three humble leaders who have shaped my life ...
Every Monday afternoon until age 40, I had a standing phone call with Charles E. Ray, aka Pappap. He was a war hero, factory worker, man of faith, husband, father, my grandfather. I was proudly named after him and the promise of his spirit. Pappap worked hard, never gave up, always learned, listened intently and was a man of hard-earned wisdom. He faced the beaches of Normandy, sacrificed for family and honored his Mildred for more than 71 years. They don’t make them like that, anymore ….
Another powerfully humble leader was Clyde Wu, MD: mentor, friend, thought partner, philanthropist, idea shaper, husband, father, world-class cardiologist and global medical doctor. Clyde and his wife, Helen, are the sole reason our family rooted ourselves in Michigan at the end of my time at University of Michigan, having personally served as the Helen Wu Conducting Fellow. Clyde singlehandedly paved the way for a visionary runway of music education in downtown Detroit. He was a curious leader—always wanting to learn more, speaking quietly, leading by example, seeing an innovative opportunity to scale the goodness at the heart of Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He was a loving, deeply caring husband, taking care of his dear Helen until the end. They don’t make them like that, anymore ….
I walked into the Hauenstein & Pfeiffer Rooms, immediately greeted with “Charlie, it’s great to meet you!” Truthfully, I’ve never been called Charlie in a professional environment. But it immediately grounded me and reminded me of Pappap. Permission granted. Earl D. Holton sat next to me, quietly asking wise questions for others to discover what I think he already knew: Our paths were meant to cross. From then on, I knew Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park was my new home. Earl was a special man to many people.
For me, he was a simple, humble leader who brought out the best in your spirit—in many ways, an echo of two other pillars of my life. He was an expert in taking a back seat and getting things done: Scaling Fred’s vision, mentoring board colleagues throughout the region, growing the idea of a contemporary Grand Rapids. He’s been in every important room, listening, motivating, instilling curiosity and possibility, seeing the value in all aspects of an idea—knowing how to blossom and nurture that idea for scale.
A most meaningful conversation I had with Earl, only recently, was around grace. He shared about his early days with Fred. How as a young leader he made mistakes. How Fred was filled with grace, understanding, possibility for growth. It was clear the brotherhood of grace still permeated deeply, mere months before Earl’s passing.
Earl would not be Earl without Donnalee; his partner, confidant, soulmate. Kimberly and I had dinner with them in January, in Florida. We enjoyed a long evening of crabs, wine, laughter and tales. We left happily exhausted, knowing our 30 years of marriage was truly chapter one in Earl and Donnalee’s epic love story. Donnalee stood for hours at Earl’s visitation, greeting, hugging, smiling—not letting her grief get in the way of welcoming all of Grand Rapids to pay their final respects. She selflessly gave way to others—allowing all to mourn, remember and honor, while she quietly hurt. They don’t make them like that, anymore ….
These three men and their heroic spouses. They don’t make them like that, anymore ….
Watching from above, smiling with wisdom. They don’t make them like that, anymore ...
Godspeed, Earl.
Above: John Nowak, Betsy Borre, Tom Gleason, Fred Meijer, Earl Holton, Ray Loeschner.
a profound legacy
Looking Back
Earl Holton and Fred Meijer in 1987.
David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture
September 23, 2024–March 2, 2025
Organized by Meijer Gardens, David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture will be the first exhibition and catalogue to explore the artist’s deep engagement with the natural world as source, subject, and site for his art.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment, and the arts.
am |
9–11 am. The DeVos-Keeler Gift Shop, James & Shirley Balk Café and Peter M. Wege Library open at regular hours. Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Hours may change seasonally or during special exhibitions. Visit MeijerGardens.org for details. Meijer Gardens receives funding from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
of
where we all grow™ We value your input! Respond to our content or submit your own to hello@meijergardens.org. Seasons is produced quarterly and mailed to Meijer Gardens members. If you prefer to receive your copy digitally, contact Membership at 616-977-7689 or membership@meijergardens.org. Meijer Gardens is a proud member of Museums for All. Show your EBT/WIC card for a reduced admission of $2 per person for up to four people.
