Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is honored to host Dietrich Klinge at the 11th Annual Charles Schoenknecht & Ward Paul Sculpture Lecture. This is an unusual event for the internationally renowned sculptor and printmaker, who rarely speaks publicly and has never accepted such an opportunity in the United States. An Evening with Dietrich Klinge will offer an intimate and personal public appearance as part of a conversation with Chief Curator and Vice President of Collections and Exhibitions, Joseph Becherer.

Born in 1954 in Heiligenstadt, Germany, six miles within the eastern border of a then-divided nation, the Klinge family made the dangerous decision to flee to the west in 1958. The family settled in Stuttgart, where Klinge had his earliest exposure to art in the city’s block housing projects. He went on to study printmaking and sculpture at Stuttgart’s renowned art academy, and supported himself doing manual labor.

Although he initially worked in stone, critical acclaim came by the early 1990s in a series of roughly carved wooden sculptures. Throughout the decade, he solidified a highly personal approach to sculpture involving long periods of quiet contemplation on a subject and material, carving in wood through the bold actions of chainsaws, and ending with an exacting bronze cast. Iconic works like Grosser Trefree (2000), acquired by Fred and Lena Meijer for the Sculpture Park, helped establish Klinge’s international reputation. Today, his works are found in important public and private collections across Europe, Russia, Korea and the U.S.

Meijer Gardens is fortunate to have numerous graphic works and models by Klinge. Along with Grosser Trefree, we are proud to showcase two outdoor bronzes in the permanent collection. The colossal Model for Big Sculpture II (2004), a gift from Fred and Lena Meijer, greets visitors at the edge of the Tassell English and Perennial Bulb Garden near the main entrance (another wonderful gift from Fred and Lena Meijer). A recent addition is the majestic Stele Garuge (2000), recently installed in the Woodland Shade Garden, an endearing gift to the collection from Hank and Liesel Meijer.

For Meijer Gardens, the artist has generously agreed to share his biography and the development of his career through both illustrations and dialogue. He will discuss his early history and offer personal insight on the evolution of his technique and career. Klinge also will bring audiences up to date on current projects and provide a look at some of his most acclaimed installations in historic castles and cathedrals across Europe. Please join us for this unforgettable evening.

RSVP: 616.975.3144 or skilroy@meijergardens.org. Captioning service will be provided. This annual lecture is made possible by Charles Schoenknecht and Ward A. Paul.

Location: Grand Room
Fee: Free for members, general admission for non-members.