Events

Events are included with the cost of admission unless otherwise noted.

Tropical Tuesday Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory Tuesday, February 22, 5:30–8 pm (music 6–8 pm)

Looking for a way to beat the winter blues? Escape to warmer climates by joining us for our new event, and enjoy tropical themed music provided by Mark Lavengood and accompanying musicians, as well as specialty tropical cuisine and drinks. We will also be offering an additional hands-on activity in conjunction with this event in that will leave you with something to take home.

Books in Bloom! Peter M. Wege Library Friday, March 18

This series of creative and unique floral displays is created by our talented Horticulture team, inspired by books in the library collection. If you enjoy the beautiful floral displays that grace the admissions and information desks, check out our first quarterly display, on view for about a week. Italian artist Oliviero Rainaldi, well known for his artwork focused on the human figure in a post-war and contemporary setting, takes a linear approach that emphasizes humanity’s most ideal and essential qualities. Rainaldi’s sculpture The Tribute, installed at Meijer Gardens in 2006, tells the stories of a diverse group of Meijer Gardens guest experiences, as facilitated by our many knowledgeable volunteers. The Tribute was temporarily removed to accommodate the redesign of our Volunteer Tribute Garden. This spring, we welcome The Tribute back with two new interior panels, focusing on the love between Fred and Lena Meijer and the importance of water in our West Michigan and Great Lakes communities. Hear Rainaldi share his work and inspirations, in a conversation with David Hooker and Amber Oudsema. Registration is required and will be available online at MeijerGardens.org/calendar on March 1. Note: Oliviero Rainaldi lives and works in Europe. This event may be cancelled due to travel restrictions or other concerns related to COVID. Please direct questions to Amber Oudsema at 616-975-5225.

Read & Explore: Art and Gardens Book Group Burgess Classroom, Covenant Learning Center Tuesday, May 3, 1–2:30 pm

Join our chat about a fascinating journey in Bicycling with Butterflies: My 10,201-Mile Journey Following the Monarch Migration. In this beautiful and engaging story, Sara Dykman weaves together her love of nature, the science of butterfly migration, and the hazards of bicycling from Mexico to Canada and back. Whether you’re a nature lover, bicycling enthusiast or fan of a good travel book, we hope you’ll join us for a lively discussion. Registration required. Limited to 20 guests. RSVP to skilroy@meijergardens.org or call 616-975-3144. Japanese Tea Ceremony in the Teahouse The Richard & Helen Devos Japanese Garden Saturdays: May 21, June 18, July 16, August 20, September 17, October 15, 11:30 am or 2 pm $70 members | $80 nonmembers

Witness the Japanese art of chanoyu, or tea ceremony, on the third Saturday of the month from May to October. 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 program, all guests will utilize and enjoy original works of Shigaraki pottery from Meijer Gardens’ personal collection. Each object is a work of art, especially commissioned from some of Japan’s leading ceramics masters. This contemplative ceremony appeals to all five senses and is best observed quietly. Guests will be asked to remove their shoes before entering the teahouse. Registration required at MeijerGardens.org/calendar.

Inside the Japanese Teahouse The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden Sundays: May 22, June 19, July 17, August 21, September 18, October 16, 1–4 pm

Experience the tranquil ambience and exquisite architecture of our authentic Japanese Teahouse on the third Sunday of the month from May to October. Take special note of the master carpentry, contrasting woods, patterns, textures, and numerous distinctive details. This opportunity is included with admission on a firstcome, first-served basis. Guests will be asked to remove their shoes before entering the teahouse.

Annual Meeting, May 25, 6 pm Everyone is welcome to attend the annual meeting at Meijer Gardens.

The Art & Architecture of Lansing Bus Trip Thursday, May 19, 8:30 am–6 pm $90 members | $100 nonmembers

Join us as we explore amazing architecture and artwork in nearby Lansing! We’ll begin with a tour of the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University, learning about MSU Broad’s architecture and history before touring the exciting exhibition: Kahlo Without Borders. Curated by Cristina Kahlo—Frida Kahlo’s grandniece and an artist in her own right, Javier Roque Vázquez Juárez, and MSU Broad Art Museum Executive Director Mónica Ramírez-Montagut, Kahlo Without Borders will include photographs and facsimiles from family archives, from the Cristina Kahlo collection, and from the Oaxaca Museum of Stamp Collecting, and never-before-seen archives from Medical Center ABC, where Frida Kahlo was interned. Afterward, enjoy a delicious lunch at the historic Lansing Brewing Company in the heart of downtown Lansing. We’ll then head to the Michigan State Capitol for a guided building tour, followed by a meeting with the lead decorative painter to learn about how he keeps 19th-century art practices alive to maintain the building’s nine acres of hand-painted art. We’ll finish the trip with a scenic stroll down ArtPath—a public art and mural walk created by Michigan artists and located along the Lansing River Trail. Fee includes bus transportation, snack, lunch, admission, guided tours and all gratuities. Expect a significant amount of standing and walking. Dress for the weather! Register at MeijerGardens.org/calendar or call 616-975-3147.

Yinka Shonibare CBE: Planets in My Head

Shonibare CBE, Yinka. Moving Up, 2021. © Yinka Shonibare CBE RA. Courtesy the artist and James Cohan Gallery, New York.

Ekphrastic Poetry Workshop with Mursalata Muhammad Saturday, April 16, 1:30–3 pm

Walk through the galleries with Amber Oudsema, Curator of Arts Education. Explore common themes of Yinka Shonibare CBE’s work, including postcolonialism, environmental justice and Victorianism. Then spend an hour with GRCC professor of English, Mursalata Muhammad, who will guide you in an ekphrastic poetry writing activity. Registration required at MeijerGardens.org/Calendar.

Gallery Walk Saturday, May 14, 11 am–12 pm Amber Oudsema, Curator of Arts Education at Meijer Gardens and Adjunct Professor of Art History at Grand Valley State University

Join a guided discussion in our newly opened galleries. Explore layered meanings in the work of artist Yinka Shonibare CBE. A self-described “post-colonial hybrid,” Shonibare explores themes of migration, food and environmental justice, and the complex relationship between Europe and Africa.

Fashion in Contemporary Art Saturday, June 18, 11 am–12 pm Suzanne Eberle, PhD, Professor Emerita, Kendall College of Art and Design

Abundance and Scarcity: Yinka Shonibare CBE and Food Justice Saturday, July 16, 11 am–12 pm Jochen Wierich, PhD, Assistant Curator & Researcher at Meijer Gardens and Associate Professor of Art History at Aquinas College

Complex Embodiment: Yinka Shonibare and Disability Saturday September 3/10, 11 am–12 pm Jessica Cooley, PhD candidate in the art history department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Yinka Shonibare and the Pan-African Imagination Saturday, October 1, 11 am–12 pm Antawan Bryd, PhD candidate in the art history department at Northwestern University, Weinberg Fellow, associate curator of photography and media at the Art Institute of Chicago

Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming

SMART Gardening to Support Monarchs* Sunday, March 13, 2–3:30 pm Dr. Erwin ‘Duke’ Elsner, Extension Educator, Michigan State University

Learn how landowners and gardeners can make an impact in supporting monarch populations at home! Dr. Elsner will highlight how lawns, gardens, and landscaping make a significant “green space” in urban and residential areas. He’ll then demonstrate how easy it is to make monarch-friendly choices in plant selection, garden design and pest management practices that help make a difference for the future of monarchs—one garden at a time.

Flower House Detroit Sunday, March 27, 2–3:30 pm Lisa Waud, Botanical Artist, Flower House Detroit

In October 2015, 37 floral designers and more than 100 volunteers from across North America came together to fill an abandoned Detroit house with American-grown fresh flowers and living plants. In this lecture, botanical installation artist Lisa Waud describes her extraordinary project from idea to exhibition, discussing what about the installation was so magnetic to so many people across the world—exploring her thoughts on beauty, blight, and nostalgia, and the themes of risk-taking, logistics, and collaboration through the lens of the large-scale installation. Lisa Waud will present virtually through Zoom to the audience at Meijer Gardens.

Flower Power Exploration Stations Sunday, April 24, 2-3:30 pm

Take a closer look at flowers and butterflies at a variety of stations in this self-guided drop-in program. Use microscopes and iPads to explore the powerful connection between flowers and their insect pollinators, as well as observe their striking adaptations and diversity.

Full descriptions for all events can be found at MeijerGardens.org/calendar. *Applies toward Michigan State University Extension Master Gardener education credit.

Classes and events will be subject to COVID-19 guidelines in place at the time of the event.