Quality over quantity might be a theme for this year’s ArtPrize as several of the large institutions are featuring a single artist’s work.
This is the observation we saw as we pulled together the releases of several groups on their ArtPrize entries this year.
Grand Rapids Art Museum
The work of Mark Chatterly is featured at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. (Grand Rapids Public Museum/Mark Chatterly)
The Grand Rapids Art Museum‘s ArtPRize 2022 contribution is Andrea Dezsö’s “Family and Friends.” The large-scale mural on th eMuseum’s exterior and in the Museum’s lobby is comprised of imaginative creatures created by the artist during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the pandemic, Dezsö conserved materials by cutting leftover scraps of handmade Japanese paper creatures she saw as protector sand companions during the pandemic. In total, she created 117 unique characters, which she has continued to explore over the past few years through woodblock print, wood carving, and now mural installation. The ArtPrize piece by Dezsö will be up through Jan. 14, 2023. The Grand Rapids Art Museum is located at 101 Monroe Center St. NW.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum
This year, the Grand Rapids Public Museum is featuring the work of sculptor Mark Chatterly for its ArtPrize exhibit. Chatterly specializes in large-scale figurative sculptures in ceramic that focus primarily on the figure with a metaphysical theme.
Chatterly’s “The Wall” is located outside of the museum on the north lawn. The Grand Rapids Public Museum is at 272 Pearl St. NW.
John Ball Zoo
The John Ball Zoo is hosting Disc Art, an interactive disc golf course featuring nine scrap metal features. Guests are invited to play the course for free and explore the large-scale art works. Discs will be provided or guests may bring their own.
Artist Stacy Rhines said she had the idea for about fives years and this winter, she actually had enough time to work on the piece. Each of the five goals are metal art sculptures made from repurposed. Rhines said she placed the tee and the goal about 80 feet apart, much less than a normal course, so that everyone could enjoy the activity. The John Ball Zoo is located at 1300 W. Fulton St.
Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
A piece for the upcoming ArtPrize exhibit featuring the work of Mark Mennin. (Supplied)
The work of Mark Mennin will be featured as the Meijer Garden’s ArtPrize 2022. The exhibit, entitled “Embedded,” features three oversized stone beds situation outdoors on the Frey Foundation Plaza leading into the Welcome Center. This trip plays with perception of hard and soft, heavy and light.
Mennin’s ArtPrize piece will be up through Oct. 2. Mennin’s work is also featured in a fall exhibition at the Gardens, entitled Mark Mennen: Written in Stone which runs through Nov. 27. Frederik Meijer Gardens is located at 1000 E. Beltline Ave. NE.
ArtRat
ArtRat, located at 46 S. Division, will be hosting several free events throughout ArtPrize. Upcoming are The Hai-Cuu Experience, which features poet and hip-hop musician Cuu JoSama, from 6 – 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22 and 29. On Friday, Sept. 23, will be a hands-on reception for Dean Hunt’s “evolutionARy,” an ArtPrize entry. The event is from 7 – 9 p.m. Sunday. Sept. 25, will be am music and dance performance from 5 to 6 p.m.
On Sunday, Oct. 2, will be the ArtRat’s ArtPRize wrap party will be from 2 – 5 p.m
Eric “Ricky” McKinnie was only four years old when he met The Blind Boys of Alabama. His mother was in a gospel group, and he had a chance to meet the legendary Clarence Fountain and other original members on the road.
The Blind Boys of Alabama perform with Marc Cohn on Sunday, June 12. (Supplied)
“I never knew that one day I would be part of The Blind Boys,” said the soft spoken singer, who joined the group as a drummer and road manager 34 years ago.
Today his band backs up The Blind Boys of Alabama, a Grammy award-winning and pioneering gospel group that began in 1939 that is revered in the industry. Over the decades it has appeared on recordings with many artists, including Lou Reed, Peter Gabriel, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Marc Cohn and others.
They help kick off another magical season of concerts on Sunday (June 12) at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. The band opens for good friend Marc Cohn, who recorded an album with the Blind Boys in 2019.
McKinnie said they will play about a 75-minute of Gospel standards and some of their best-known songs, before giving way to Cohn. They might even join him on a song or two.
“We had the opportunity to meet Marc a few years ago; we got together, we did some recordings, we did some tours…it’s good to be back again,” said McKinnie in a phone call with WKTV Journal. “It’s just like family.”
The collaborative album with Cohn, titled “Work to Do,” features new and older material, including Cohn’s best known hit “Walking in Memphis,” as well the Blind Boys’ version of “Amazing Grace.”
McKinnie said it’s a special relationship with Cohn. They love him because he’s “an exceptional singer and keyboard player,” but more so because he’s a good person.
“He’s genuine,” McKinnie said. “What you see is what it is. He doesn’t change. We like his style. He’s just a good guy.”
Cohn said of the venerated gospel group:
“My collaboration with the Blind Boys of Alabama has been a thrilling chapter in my musical life,” he said in a release. “We’ve performed dozens of shows together and I was honored to co-write three songs for their previous album. Now, with the release of our new album, my early love and feeling for gospel music has come full circle. It was wonderful to both write new songs with their heavenly voices in mind, and to capture the joy that they bring to some of my older songs in a live setting.”
The Blind Boys have had a changing roster of musicians over its history, but got their name because a majority of the singers were vision impaired. McKinnie lost his eyesight to glaucoma in 1975.
Marc Cohn along with the Blind Boys of Alabama will kick off the Meijer Gardens concert series on Sunday. (Supplied)
The collaborations and accolades grew over the years and led to some prestigious awards, including five Grammy awards, induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) Lifetime Achievement Awards.
The group also was invited to the White House during the Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations.
McKinnie said “it’s always a privilege” to play for dignitaries and collaborate with other artists because “it’s good to know that someone likes your music and that someone cares.”
Performing songs “that reach the heart” has been a big part of their success, as well as their mission, he said.
“Throughout the years the Blind Boys have always tried to let people know that they are important,” he said.
“They show people that a disability doesn’t have to be a handicap because we learn that it’s not about what you can’t do that’s important, it’s about what you do. A handicap is a limitation, and we all have limitations.”
Most of all, the Atlanta native said, fans can expect to have a good time at Meijer Gardens when he takes the stage to perform with founding member Jimmy Carter, as well as Joey Williams, Ben Moore and Paul Beasley.
“We’re going to sing some songs that will make you feel good, if you feel bad, and we’re going to have you clap your hands and do a little dance. We’re going to have a great ol’ time when we get there,” McKinnie said.
Tickets are still available for the Marc Cohn + Blind Boys of Alabama, which are $52/public and $50 member. Many of the Meijer Garden shows are sold out. Shows with tickets available are:
June 24 – Trombone Shorty’s Voodoo Threauxdown featuring Tank and the Tan Bangas, Big Freedia, Cyril Nevil: The Uptown Ruler, George Porter Jr. and Dumpstaphunk (performing the music of The Meters and the The Soul Rebels, $93/member, $95/public
June 27 – Bluegrass Happening featuring Bela Fleck & My Bluegrass Heart, Sam Bush & The Jerry Douglas Band, $65/member, $67/public
July 6 – Corinne Bailey Rae with The War & Treaty, $53/member, $55/public
July 15 – Lyle Lovett and his Large Band, $68/member, $70/public
July 20 – Rick Springfield with the Grand Rapids Symphony, $75/member, $77/public
July 21 – Buddy Guy + John Hiatt, $80/member, $82/public
July 28 – Arturo Sandoval with the Grand Rapids Symphony, $53/member, $55/public
Aug. 4 – Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Nicole Atkins, $102/member, $104/public
Aug. 10 – The Dead South with Tejon Street Corner Thieves, $51/member, $53/public
Sept. 12 – Australian Pink Floyd, $61/member, $63/public
Sept. 16 – She & Him, $72/presale, $75/,member, $77/public
John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
Tickets still remain for 12 of this season’s 33 concerts, including opening night with Marc Cohn and The Blind Boys of Alabama.
It’s Super Bowl weekend, and the entire state of Michigan is rooting for the LA Rams and Matthew Stafford. Are there any Bengals fans out there?
Well, the big game is not until 6:30 p.m. Sunday, which means you have plenty of time to get out of the house and enjoy the snow. We have a few ideas in this weekend’s Gonzo’s Top 5, exclusively on WKTV Journal.
Here we go.
Gonzo’s Top 5
John Gonzalez sits down with singer Scotty McCreery (John Gonzalez)
5. Scotty McCreery at The Intersection
I can’t believe it’s been more than 10 years since teen star Scotty McCreery won Season 10 of “American Idol.” It’s been watching him grow as an artist, and as a person. He’s released several hits, got married and even endured loss. Through it all we have we’ve stayed in touch. In fact, I got to spend some time on his tour bus last summer when he performed at an outdoor concert in Grand Rapids. Over the years he has carved out a solid career after his meteoric rise to fame, topping the country charts with hits such as “This is It,” “Five More Minutes,” “You Time” and his most recent video, “Damn Strait.” It’s a classic country song that pays homage to the legendary George Strait. If you’re a fan, you already know he’s in town tonight (Feb. 11) at The Intersection in Grand Rapids as part of his “Same Truck Tour.” Tickets are $39.50 at the door. I guarantee it’s going to be a great show. More info at www.sectionlive.com.
Disney On Ice returns this weekend. (Supplied)
4. Disney On Ice presents Mickey and Friends
Why not celebrate the Disney character we know and love by taking the kids to see “Mickey and Friends” at Van Andel Arena? You’ll spend time with Moana and Maui, Woody and the whole “Toy Story” gang, Anna and Elsa of “Frozen” and so much more! Performances are at 7 tonight (Feb. 11); 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday. Ticket information at www.vanandelarena.com.
More than 100 some ice sculptures will be heading to Grand Rapids this weekend. (Supplied)
3. World of Winter in Grand Rapids
It’s a busy weekend in downtown Grand Rapids as World of Winter has several events, including:
ICE-Breaker from noon-5 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 12) at Rosa Parks Circle to witness the live carving of the publicly voted 5,000-pound ice sculpture by the Ice Brigade‘s Randy Finch. Also, check out a gallery of ice sculptures all throughout Downtown Grand Rapids. You can also join one of the several guided ice sculpture walking tours led by Grand Rapids Running Tours.
Movies on the Piazza: The Princess Bride, 1-3 p.m. Sunday at Studio Park. It’s a free showing, but ring your own chair and warm up by the fire pits.
Learn more about all of the events taking place now through March 6 at www.worldofwintergr.com.
Winter fun at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. (Supplied)
2. Winter Family Day at Meijer Gardens
If you can’t make it downtown, Meijer Gardens is offering several activities as part of a Winter Family Day from 1-4 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 12). The kids can watch a sculptor transform a block of ice into a piece of ice art; create a winter-inspired craft; and discover how birds play and eat. The special activities are included with your admission to the gardens. Get more info at www.meijergardens.org.
What is there to say? I think everyone knows that “Hamilton,” created by Lin-Manuel Miranda about American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, is a groundbreaking Broadway show. It has been selling out since it first debuted in 2015, and tickets for the touring shows remain in high demand. A few tickets still remain for performances through Feb. 20 at DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids. Check the latest ticket availability at https://broadwaygrandrapids.com/.
Also, listen to an interview with new Broadway Grand Rapids President and CEO Meghan Distel, who was a guest on my inaugural “Then By All Means, Lead the Way” theatre podcast. In the interview she said the show is “emotional,” “inspiring” and “the lyrics are so brilliant.” “I sobbed the first time I saw it,” Distel said in the podcast. “I was so moved. And you just want to see it again.” She also talks about the remainder of the Broadway Grand Rapids season and her new role. Please listen.
Well that’s it for this weekend’s Top 5.
Go Bengals!
As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
Have a great, safe weekend.
John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
A former WKTV Journal contributor was one of two artists to win the 2021 Ray and Nancy Loeschner Art Competition hosted by the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
Lynn Strough. The Conversation, 2021. Photograph printed on acrylic. (Supplied)
Painter and photographer Lynn Strough shared her travels with WKTV Journal readers from 2016-2017. Strough took home the top prize for photography. Muskegon-based artist Lee Ann Frame won for two-dimensional art.
“Nature and art are food for the soul, hence my spending so much time feasting at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, where I find an abundance of both,” Strough said in an artist statement. “It inspires my creativity and refreshes my mind and spirit, soaking in all the beauty of the plants, animals, and sculptures. My current medium is photography, and each time I visit, which is almost weekly, throughout all the seasons, I find new visuals to capture. Some are from far away, like vistas from above the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden, while others, my favorites, are from up close, discovering and sharing things that most people don’t even notice, like a single drew drop on a whorl of green leaves, or a raindrop continuing a world of its own dangling from a twig, of a milkweed plant in conversation with a distant sculpture.”
Strough has a bachelor’s degree in art from Grand Valley State University. Her work has been exhibited in regional exhibitions and has won several awards, including top prizes at West Michigan Regional Competition and Celebration of the Arts. For her book design, she was included in the top 50 children’s books of the year in Smithsonian magazine. Her work is in collections in more than 60 cities and five countries.
Lee Ann Frame. Spring, 2021. Etching. (Supplied)
For a little over a year, she shared her travels through out Europe in Travellynn Travels, reprinted by permission in the WKTV Jounral, visiting such places a Pompeii, Montenegro, Croatia, Italy, and France,
Frame, who has a master of fine arts in printmaking from Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University and a bachelor of fine arts in painting from Grand Valley State University, has taught printmaking and ceramics at Muskegon Community College for many years. Her work has been included in many regional and national juried competitions. She has exhibited in group exhibitions such as Boston Printmakers Members Exhibition. Society of Graphic Artists and Southwest Michigan Printmakers.
“Intaglio is an age-old process that I find to be an engaging and creative process,” Frame said in her artist statement. “I use two copper plates, altering the surface with aquatint and an etched line. For this print, I was engaged with the view of the stone sculpture and bridge from across the waters as they emerge from the surrounding deciduous greens and the steady rocks that sat at the edge of the water creating dynamic textures and composition.
The Ray and Nancy Loeschner Art Competition is an annual event that welcomes artists from around the globe to respond to Meijer Gardens in their work. The wining entries receive a $5,000 purchase award in addition to becoming a part of the Meijer Gardens permanent collection. The competition is open to all artists 18 years old and older who are working in a two-dimensional format.
Since 2002, the Loeschner Art Competition has sought artwork inspired by Meijer Gardens, with the objective of collecting high-quality work that celebrates the beauty and inspiration Meijer Garens provides. To view the winners, click here.
Celebrating its 19th year, the annual competition welcomes artists from around the globe responding to Meijer Gardens in their work. Through the generosity of the Loeschner family, two $5,000 purchase awards (one for two-dimensional and one for photography) will be paid for the winning entries in addition to becoming a part of Meijer Gardens’ permanent collection. The competition is open to all artists who are 18 years old and older working in a two-dimensional format.
Artists are encouraged to submit original two-dimensional (e.g. drawing, print, pastel, painting or photography) works inspired by Meijer Gardens. To participate, artists may register online at meijergardens.org/award by Friday, October 23. If selected as a finalist, Meijer Gardens will request delivery of the original artwork on Friday, November 20. The winner will be chosen and announced by Friday, January 29.
Since 2002, the Loeschner Art Completion has sought outstanding artwork inspired by Meijer Gardens. The objective is to collect high-quality work that celebrates the beauty and inspiration that Meijer Gardens provides. For more information and to view past winners, visit www.meijergardens.org/award
There are many sights to see from Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s just opened Stuart and Barbara Padnos Rooftop Sculpture Garden, sights both artistic and natural.
The flora of the rooftop gardens itself and the view of a wetland area from its heights are impressive. But the sculpture — four works on loan from the famed Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., including three by artists already in Meijer Garden’s collection — each offer their own unique story.
Works by Alexander Calder, Henry Moore and Marino Marini, while unique, will be familiar to visitors of the garden.
David Smith Cubi XII 1963 (Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden/Lee Stalsworth)
One of the sculptures, however, David Smith’s 1963 work titled “Cubi XII”, is not only new to the garden but was of particular interest to Laurene Grunwald, Director of Sculpture, Art Collections, Exhibitions & Installations.
“David Smith was an abstract expressionist,” Grunwald said to WKTV. “He died quite young in a car accident, (so) his work is not widely available. … (Cubi XII) is an abstract piece. It is stainless steal. And it is very iconic of his work.”
In a recent WKTV Journal newscast segment, we talked with Grunwald about Smith’s work, about the history of Meijer Garden’s relationship with the Hirshhorn, now and (hopefully) in the future, as well as how size and weight of the artwork plays into the discussion and decisions on which artwork came to Grand Rapids.
Getting up close and personal with the butterflies at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is Charlotte Chase from Shelbyville. (Meochia Nochi Thompson)
By Meochia Nochi Thompson WKTV Community Contributor
The fluttering you hear at Meijer Gardens this time of year isn’t your heart beating with excitement. It is the butterflies! They were on full display since March 1 and will stay until April 30 during the 24th Annual Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition. Seven thousand tropical butterflies and fifty different species from all over the world are featured. It is the largest, temporary tropical butterfly exhibition in the nation. Also, there is a new and improved Observation Station which allows visitors to see the butterflies arise from their chrysalides and cocoons before being released into the conservatory.
The butterflies roam freely amongst visitors intrigued by their bright colors, size variations and beautiful patterns unique to each kind. They all seem to have their own personalities and appear just as excited to see their visitors, including one that landed on the ground to apparently, show off. It appeared injured as it stood in the middle of the crowd but after Charlotte Chase, age 6, looked closer, she knew better. The butterfly, peacefully, climbed onto one of her welcoming finger, flapped its wings for a bit and flew away. Then, it came back again and playfully landed on another visitor. Charlotte and her father Randall came all the way from Shelbyville to see the butterflies, and this time, their little family tradition really proved worth it.
Charlotte Chase of Shelbyville makes a new friend at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. (Meochia Nochi Thompson_
“We have come to the Gardens every year since my daughter was a little girl around one or two years old,” said Randall Chase. “We make it a habit as a part of our daddy daughter bonding time. We check out the butterflies, take a bunch of pictures and keep a bunch of memories.”
If you plan on visiting the butterflies, remember to wear bright colors to attract them. Also, dress light because the exhibit is 85 degrees with a humidity at 70 percent.
There is plenty of educational programing about the butterflies throughout Meijer Gardens including butterfly-themed activities in the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden. Don’t miss your chance to see the butterflies. Meijer Garden will stay open late during Spring Break, Monday, April 1 to Friday, April 5, 9 a.m. -9 p.m.
For more on the Butterflies Are Blooming or the Fredreik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, visit meijergardens.org.
I believe that education is all about being excited about something. Seeing passion and enthusiasm helps push an educational message.
Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter
Take a Pass
The Kentwood Justice Center which houses the 62-B District Court (WKTV)
Have a court fine you forgot to pay? Or an outstanding ticket that you just found in the drawer? Well head straight to Kentwood’s 62-B District Court or the 63rd District Court located on the East Beltline, both of which have announced they will offer individuals a waiver on further penalties or incarceration for taking care of their debts before March 31. The courts are even willing to work with those unable to pay in full. For more information, call the 62-B Court at 616-698-9310 or the 63rd Court at 616-632-7770.
Welcome to the Neighborhood
Andronaco moves its subsidiary Conley Composite to Kentwood.
The next Concerts Under the Stars at the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Chaffee Planetarium is Thursday, Feb. 28. The concert, which is at 7:30 p.m., features the dark-electronic pop of Bronze Wolf. Tickets are $12 for members and $15 for non-members. For more info, visit grpm.org or click here. Or snag some tickets for tonight’s Grand Rapids Symphony concert featuring 19-year-old bass virtuoso William McGregor. The concert is at 8 p.m. at DeVos Performance Hall.
Fun fact:
750
That’s how many different species of butterflies in the world. Come March 1, you can check out about 60 of them as the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park opens its über popular “Butterflies are Blooming” exhibit. The butterflies roam free in the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory. Best times to see the butterflies: late afternoon or early morning when the Gardens opens early every Tuesday. So keep thinking spring!
"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas."
- President Calvin Coolidge
Holiday traditions at Meijer Gardens
Scenes from Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World exhibition and events. (Supplied/Dean VanDis)
Experience the joy of the holidays at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park with the annual Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World exhibition on display through Jan. 6, 2019. Guests from all over the world visit Meijer Gardens to experience 42 Christmas and holiday trees and displays representing countries and cultures from across the globe. For the complete story, click here.
A winter’s night hike at Blandford
Nothing is quite as crisp as a sunset in December.
Enjoy a crisp, evening hike through Blandford’s woods. Practice using your nocturnal senses of hearing and night vision while enjoying a winter’s night at Blandford Nature Center Trails on Saturday, Dec. 1. For the complete story, click here.
Are you ready for some floor checks?
The high school hockey season is now in action.
The high school hockey season is just starting, for one of the best Wyoming/Kentwood teams will be on the side this weekend as East Kentwood hosts a tournament. Drop the puck! For the complete story, click here.
Fun Fact:
25 percent
The historic chance of snow (or rain) on Dec. 1 in Grand Rapids is 25 percent. Average high and low temperatures? 40 and 29 degrees. (Source)
Creating colorful and breathtaking abstract paintings was never Wesley DeVries’ plan. He was a hardworking Grand Rapids area resident who took art classes for fun. But after getting diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy in 1996, he needed a way to loosen up and stay active.
Art became more than just a pastime, it became a journey of discovery.
The public can join in the journey at the Frederik Meijer Gardens And Sculpture Park “Process and Presence: Contemporary Disability Sculpture” exhibit. Opening as part of the latest ArtPrize regional show, artists from around the world are featured in the show that’s set to last until Jan. 6, 2019.
The show, among other aspects, is meant to highlight how a person can change while a disability progresses. And DeVries’ entry is a perfect example of that.
DeVries’ artistic transition and discovery, in part, was that the tools of his artistic trade became, surprisingly, part of his continuing journey. As part of the DisArt Project for ArtPrize, which teamed with Meijer Gardens for the exhibit, DeVries submitted the tools he uses to make his abstract paintings: credit cards.
Because of his disease, DeVries only has a little bit of time to paint before he has to rest. So quick and sporadic movements are used to start and finish a painting. And because paint brushes are too difficult for DeVries to use because of his disability, he decided he would adapt a trick from a family member who used playing cards to paint his mailbox. While playing cards became soaked too quickly, the plastic credit cards worked perfect.
But what he had found was that the colorful cards became, and continue to be, an unexpected artistic byproduct.
“I’m not looking to finish a credit card,” DeVries said in a video interview with WKTV “… My paintbrushes are my happenings.”
And what is happening next for DeVries? He said he hopes to do a special demonstration for ArtPrize 11.
“(Maybe I can be) suspended from a ceiling with bungees and then swooping around and painting on a large canvas for (the next) ArtPrize,” he said, joking, maybe; but maybe not.
For more information about Meijer Gardens visit meijergradens.org . For information about DisArt’s 2018 Process and Presence season of events, visit disartnow.org .
Experience the joy of the holidays at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park with the annual Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World exhibition on display from Nov. 20 through Jan. 6, 2019. Guests from all over the world visit Meijer Gardens to experience 42 Christmas and holiday trees and displays representing countries and cultures from across the globe. The always favorite and enchanting Railway Garden and the holiday wonderland that encompasses it will once again wind its way through three lush indoor garden spaces, including the recently renovated Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse.
Guests are invited to ring in the holiday season with our most beloved winter exhibition. It’s the season of joy! This year Meijer Gardens celebrates how our community and communities around the world joyfully commemorates the diverse and generations-old traditions that remain vibrant today. Visitors will experience a world of cultural celebrations, represented across 42 different displays that explore folklore and fact, past and present.
In many cultures, the holidays bring people together in distinct and memorable ways that are difficult to capture in a display. New this year, Meijer Gardens is presenting a wonderous original film, joy, that explores the diverse festive fabric that is holiday life across our local communities. This film will be shown continuously in the Hoffman Family Auditorium and is available on the Meijer Gardens YouTube channel as well.
“This year we take note of how our community joyfully commemorates the diverse, generations-old traditions that remain vibrant today though joy, a new film exploring the festive fabric that is holiday life across our local community.” said Maureen Nollette, Annual Exhibitions Assistant Designer.
Each winter, Meijer Gardens transforms into a botanic wonderland with fresh poinsettias, orchids and amaryllis. The smell of evergreens as visitors enter the building and the sounds of carolers make it a place to reflect and enjoy the holiday season. Indoors and out, trees sparkle with 300,000 colorful lights. More than 500 volunteers lovingly decorate the trees and displays.
The unique horticultural artistry of the beloved Railway Garden complements the model trolleys, trains and handcrafted buildings replicating 30 Grand Rapids landmarks. Visitors will find familiarity in the Fifth Third Ballpark replica building with its light posts made of willow, as well as striking hydrangea petals that make up the iconic glass tower of the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Five landmarks from Grand Rapids sister cities around the world are also represented in the Railway Garden.
“This holiday season, guests have a special opportunity to see how our community joyfully celebrates a variety of traditions from centuries ago that remain vibrant today,” said Steve LaWarre, Director of Horticulture. “These traditions are wonderful, celebratory aspects of West Michigan’s diversity and community.”
Mainstays of the exhibition include the Germany tree, adorned with handmade glass ornaments and homemade springerle cookies, the England tree—with antique Christmas cards and mistletoe—and the beautiful Eid ul-Fitr display, which celebrates the end of Ramadan.
A variety of family-friendly activities are offered throughout the exhibition.
Exhibition Activities
Extended Holiday Hours: Open until 9 p.m. on December 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28 and 29. (Meijer Gardens is CLOSED on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day).
The Original Dickens Carolers: Tuesdays: Nov. 20 and 27, Dec. 4, 11, 18, 6-8 p.m.
Santa Visits: Tuesdays: Nov. 20 and 27, Dec.4, 11, 18, 5-8 p.m.
Rooftop Reindeer: Saturdays: Nov. 24, Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22, 1-4 p.m.
Winter-Time Walks: (Nov. 20-Jan. 5, 2019) Tuesdays 10:15 and 11:15 a.m., Saturdays 11:15 a.m. Winter in the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden can be chilly, but fun! Bundle up and join us on an outdoor interactive discovery walk to investigate the Children’s Garden in new ways. We’ll explore different winter themes and gather in a cozy spot to learn about winter with stories, kid-friendly conversation and other activities.
And Christmas and Holiday Themed Classes: Enjoy festive learning opportunities for adults and families. Fees apply.
In honor of ArtPrize: “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” — Pablo Picasso
ArtPrize venues you
might not think about
ArtPrize 10 is here which means for the next two and half weeks much of the community will be focused on and discussing art. A few of the venues which you might automatically think about reached out to us with information about who will be at their venue. To get the details, click here.
Picking time in local orchards,
and who’s doing the work
The Grand Rapids based Migrant Legal Aid organization visited WKTV Journal: In Focus recently to discuss the continuing and confusing mess that is current federal immigration policies, including the separation of families and sometimes separate deportation of suspected illegal immigrants — many of them seeking work as part of America’s migrant labor force. For more information, click here.
Stories from the road
with Kentwood bicyclist
Kentwood resident and bicyclist-on-a-mission Ken Smith, last week, took a wrong road in Canada but ended up with an unexpected meal and a donation for his cause — his 3,500-plus coast-to-coast trip to raise funds for his grandson, Jakob, and awareness of all persons with neurological damage. For more information, click here.
And today’s fun fact
(bicyclist history):
268.8 km/h
Fred Rompelberg from Maastricht, Netherlands, was the holder of the motor-paced speed world record cycling with 268.831 km/h (166.9 mph) from 1995 to 2018. He used a special bicycle behind a dragster of the Strasburg Drag Racing Team at the Bonneville Salt Flats. (Wikipedia)
“Without music, life would be a mistake.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche
WKTV offers marathon of local concerts on cable
Delilah DeWylde’s shows are always a blast, as her visit to Wyoming this summer proved. (Supplied)
WKTV community media will once again host its Wyoming Concerts in the Park Marathon this Labor Day, Sept. 3. The program will air on WKTV Comcast Channel 26 and AT&T Channel 99, starting at 9:30 a.m. and ending after midnight. For more information, click here.
Labor Day weekend music at Founders
Looking for a little live music, and maybe a brew or two? Jam out at Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids this Labor Day weekend with live performances on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, click here.
Last Meijer Gardens summer concert is Monday, Labor Day
+Live+ is alive and kicking out the jams. (Supplied)
The Meijer Gardens Summer Concert Series finishes its season Monday, Sept. 3, and the +Live+ concert still has tickets available. The multi-platinum band from Pennsylvania have sold over 22 million albums worldwide and earned two number one albums. +LIVE+ has been and remains today a global concert juggernaut. For more information, click here.
And today’s fun fact:
14,320,000
Rounded to 14.32 million, the number of vinyl albums sold in 2017, a Nielson Music-era high, up 9 percent from the previous one-year high — 13.1 million in 2016.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is honored to host 16 contemporary sculptors in an innovative exhibition jointly organized by DisArt, a Grand Rapids based arts and cultural organization promoting the full participation of disabled people in and through the arts. The exhibition is titled “Process and Presence: Contemporary Disability Sculpture”.
Through examples of three-dimensional practice including sculpture, performance, installation and video art, this exhibition emphasizes the relationship between disability and the fundamental human experiences of change and embodiment. The exhibition offers audiences a survey of contemporary disability sculpture through artists whose work represents local, national and global perspectives on the experiences of living with disability.
Cornerstone to this exhibition is the Sister-State relationship between the State of Michigan and the Shiga Prefecture in Japan, a region long celebrated for its commitment to artists with disabilities. A survey of contemporary disability sculpture, it also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Sister-State relationship and expands globally in a dynamic collection of objects contextualized by both contemporary and legacy artists from Michigan, Europe, Australia and Japan, including works by the world-renowned Judith Scott.
“Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is honored to collaborate with DisArt in this landmark exhibition,” said Joseph Becherer, Chief Curator and Vice President of Collections and Exhibitions. “Three years in the making, the curatorial team has sought to organize a broad-based and enlightening exhibition featuring artists from across the globe.”
Officially beginning the Friday prior to ArtPrize, “Process and Presence: Contemporary Disability Sculpture” will be on display as Meijer Gardens’ fall exhibition from Sept. 14 through Jan. 6, 2019. ArtPrize runs from Wednesday, Sept. 19 through Sunday, Oct. 7.
“This exhibition presents some of the finest examples of contemporary disability sculpture in a wide variety of media, from ceramics to video installations and traditional sculptural techniques to performative works,” Becherer said. “The depths and dimensions of this exhibition are both enlightening and rewarding.”
Visitors will be welcomed into the exhibition by several accessibility measures carefully designed by DisArt and Meijer Gardens to encourage the full participation of all visitors, including audio descriptions, altered installation practices and other digital resources.
This exhibition coincides with DisArt’s Process and Presence 2018 season of events which includes a fashion show (Sept. 22), an international conference (Oct. 27-28) and multiple educational opportunities and artist engagements, all to be held at Meijer Gardens.
“The objects in this powerful collection speak to the global experience of disability, offering visitors new understanding of how creativity and identity are directly linked,” said DisArt Co-Director Christopher Smit.
“The exhibition is a collection of art objects that are both intriguing and relatable to the experienced art lover and those new to the gallery setting. When displayed together, the work strengthens our understanding of disability as a cultural identity and successfully challenges commonly held negative assumptions about the Disabled experience.” said Jill Vyn, Co-Director of DisArt.
As part of the tenth annual ArtPrize competition, Meijer Gardens is an official ArtPrize venue. Visitors can register to vote and purchase official ArtPrize merchandise at Meijer Gardens.
“Process and Presence: Contemporary Disability Sculpture” will be free of charge during ArtPrize (Sept. 19 – Oct. 7). The exhibition areas will be open to the public during Meijer Gardens’ regular business hours. All other areas of Meijer Gardens observe regular hours and standard admission fees.
Exhibition Programming
Exhibition programs are included with admission, drop-in, and do not require advanced tickets or registration.
Artist Demonstrations: See process and presence first hand! Before or after you see the artwork in the galleries, observe and interact with an artist in the exhibition. Each artist will be working on a piece similar to their complete artwork on display. Feel free to take a seat and enjoy watching an artist at work or get a bit closer and ask the artist questions directly. Norimitsu Kokubo, paper installation artist, will be the guest Sept. 15 at 11 a.m.; Wesley DeVries, credit card installation artist, will be the guest Oct. 14, at 1 p.m.
Gallery Chat: Sandie Yi, will talk Wednesday, Sept. 26, 1-2 p.m. Sandi Yi is both an artist and activist. Stop by the gallery to view her artwork and listen to her speak about how she envisions her own body as an artistic medium for advocacy, creativity, and identity. This chat is informal — the artist will be stationed near her artworks and available for conversation.
Curators Lecture: Nov. 4, 2 p.m. Join Dr. Lisa VanArragon as she highlights and interprets much of the artwork in the exhibition. She will explore themes of disability cultural identity through the artistic methods, meaning, and materials present in the galleries. This lecture will be closed captioned.
Film Screening: Nov. 6, 6 p.m. “ART21 Episode 9: San Francisco Bay”. In the latest installment of the Peabody Award winning series on art happening in the 21st century, several artists in the San Francisco Bay area are highlighted for their thoughtful and critical practice. Among them are several artists working with the Center for Creative Growth, a disability arts organization also featured in the exhibition Process and Presence: Contemporary Disability Sculpture. The film will be closed captioned.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is honored to announce the 2018 Physician as Writer lecture speaker, Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee. Dr. Mukherjee will appear at Meijer Gardens on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 7 pm.
Dr. Mukherjee’s accomplishments as both a physician and author are compelling and powerful. Winning a Pulitzer Prize for his book, TheEmperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, Dr. Mukherjee’s new book The Gene: An Intimate History, debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It is a magnificent history of the gene and a response to the defining question of the future: What becomes of being human when we learn to “read” and “write” our own genetic information?
A cancer specialist, Dr. Mukherjee has devoted his life to caring for people affected by cancer, a disease that sickens and kills millions of people around the world each year. As a researcher, his laboratory is on the forefront of discovering new cancer drugs using innovative biological methods. Dr. Mukherjee is equally devoted to and effective in communicating the “story” of cancer through his writings. In his engrossing book, The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, Dr. Mukherjee gives readers a fascinating look into the origins and causes of cancer, its deadly effect on the human body, how it has virtually enveloped modern civilization, and the epic battles that are taking place to control, cure, and conquer it. As he notes, the disease now touches in some way the lives of every man, woman and child in the world, while scientists and physicians work tirelessly to bring new treatments and hope to its victims.
Dr. Mukherjee has been published in Nature, New England Journal of Medicine, Neuron, Journal of Clinical Investigation, The New York Times and The New Republic. His words both on the stage and on the page are powerful, illuminating, and inspiring.
The Master Lecture Series brings world-renowned gardeners, artists, authors and speakers to Meijer Gardens each spring and fall. The Physician as Writer lecture features doctors who are also highly accomplished writers and speakers, as we explore the parallels of writing and medicine and the power of art—in this case the written word—to heal. Held in the Huizenga Grand Room, lectures are free for members and included with admission for non-members. Pre-registration is required. For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/FMGLecture
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is excited to announce the bloom of a rare Amorphophallus titanum, commonly known as a corpse flower, a bloom 18 years in the making.
Lovingly named “Putricia” by the Meijer Gardens horticulture staff, peak bloom is expected between Thursday, July 12, and Saturday, July 14, inside the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory. Guests can experience the sights and smells of this rare event during Meijer Gardens’ normal hours of operation.
The corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) – also called titan arum – is one of the largest and rarest flowering plants in the world. It can take up to a decade to produce a flowering structure and when it blooms is open for only 24 to 36 hours.
“As a professional horticulturist, this is incredibly exciting,” said Steve LaWarre, Director of Horticulture at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. “Many people go through their entire careers never seeing an example like this in person. We are thrilled that something that we started as a seedling here at Meijer Gardens 18 years ago is coming to fruition and that the public is showing such great interest.”
The name corpse flower comes from the nauseating smell that the plant emits when it opens. This feature attracts carrion beetles and flies that are the natural pollinators of Amorphophallus titanum.
The plant was first reported in Sumatra, Indonesia, in 1878. Its distinctive odor attracts pollinators that feed on dead animals and is at its most pungent during peak bloom.
Amorphophallus titanum is the largest unbranched inflorescence (a cluster of flowers on a spike) in the plant kingdom, growing up to 12 feet tall in its natural habitat and about six to eight feet tall in cultivation. Although the enormous plant in bloom resembles one giant flower, it actually comprises a fleshy central spike called a spadix that holds two rings of male and female flowers, wrapped by the frilly spathe, a modified leaf that resembles a petal.
For more information on Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park visit meijergardens.org .
If you know the work of Japanese artist Masayuki Koorida exclusively from the polished, yet unfinished, stones of “Existence”, located in the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park’s Japanese Garden, you are in for a surprise.
Masayuki Koorida. (Supplied/courtesy of the artist)
WKTV had the opportunity to meet with Joseph Antenucci Becherer, vice president and chief curator, to discuss the latest exhibition at the garden’s indoor exhibitions space, Koorida’s “Beyond Existence”, which was unveiled late last month.
Becherer said that the new exhibit is really focused not only on the artist but on the audience’s interaction with the exhibit.
“What makes this exhibit unique we really tried to keep the text and information we share with the audience to a minimum,” he said. “So that the people have a greater opportunity to experience, whether the piece is in marble or granite or stainless steel or the drawings, just to take in the work, to understand the shape and understand the form.”
The idea behind this was to give the visitors a fully immersive experience; delving deep into what Koorida is truly about by first viewing the indoor exhibition then making their way outside and contemplating “existence” while viewing his permanent piece in the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden.
Following last year’s exhibition of the works of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, and asked if it was a conscious decision to present diversity in modern Asian art and artists, Becherer said that the conscious decision on the Garden’s part was to “take the opportunity to host a sculptor who has a work in the permanent collection” and feature them with their own exhibition.
Koorida is relatively new to the American art scene; Becherer said the Gardens was first made aware of his artwork between 2010 and 2011. So it has been “a long journey” with the artist for the Gardens. Interestingly, though, he said he did not first notice Koorida’s work in his native country of Japan.
“Ironically having been born in Japan, and working in China today, we actually first saw his work in Germany,” Becherer said. “So there was a global path of what he is doing.”
His global path has now led Koorida to being prominently featured in one of his first major solo exhibitions here in the United States.
Masayuki Koorida’s “Alteration”. (Supplied/courtesy of the artist)
Although Koorida is relatively unknown to American art enthusiasts, Becherer believes that the “caliber of the work, the quality of the thought and the diversity of materials (used in his artwork) will really draw the attention of the visitors of Meijer Gardens.”
Sculptors physical requirements are much higher than most other art forms. They need a lot of space and adequate material which contributes to Koorida’s main base of operations now being in Shanghai, China, which, according to supplied material, is very close to some of that country’s stone quarries.
Becherer went on to explain the importance to sculptural artists of proximity to quarries is historic, even going so far as to mention the great Michelangelo in the same conversation and point out similar tendencies when he moved to Italy to be close to the stone quarries.
Koorida is also often inspired by nature and its simplicity. Having both his indoor exhibition and outdoor displays to witness allows guests to really contemplate both, as well as simply to contemplate “existence”.
The exhibit runs through August 19, for more information visit here. And see more of the interview with Becherer on the next WKTV Journal newscast on cable television and YouTube.
There is no plan to change its name to Frederik Meijer Gardens, Sculpture Park & Summer Concert Amphitheater, despite the growth of the Gardens music venue from its modest beginning with modest expectations in 2003 to a 30-concert-a-year, 90-plus percent sellout annual attraction.
But there is no doubt that the Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens is a promotional and financial success story for one of West Michigan’s premier cultural attractions.
While David Hooker, President and CEO at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, did not come to his position until three years after the amphitheater opened, he recently told WKTV that few in leadership at the Gardens really expected the venue and the concert series to grow into what it has become.
David Hooker, President and CEO at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. (Supplied)
“By virtue of what has happened since then, it is proof that we didn’t have any idea. We had high hopes … (but) there has been a wonderful reception of our series by the community,” Hooker said. “I forget the exact year, but we did a major expansion on the amphitheater, five or six years ago, by the generosity of Fred and Lena Meijer we were able to do that. … low and behold, a few years later, we outgrew that. So now we are at it again.”
The “at it again” Hooker is referring to is the two-year makeover of the amphitheater currently at mid-stage, with upgrades to back stage area and the amphitheater’s distinctive acoustic bandshell, and a complete makeover of the venue’s handicapped, sponsor and VIP seating sections. (After this summer’s concert season is complete, a significant alteration and expansion of the venue’s outside entrance, concession area and restroom layout will begin to be ready for the 2019 season.)
While the sponsor and VIP seating area has increased capacity from 242 portable chairs in the past to 410 permanent seats, high and in the back of the amphitheater, and there has been a slight expansion and reconfiguration of the general admission grass seating area, the total general admission capacity has remained at 1,900.
The capacity is both intentional on the part of management of the Gardens and important to the concert promoter who has worked with the venue from its first year — when Art Garfunkel and the Charlie Daniels Band headlines a 10-concert series that was not always well attended.
A probably sold-out crowd that comes to Meijer Gardens Summer Concert series. (Supplied Meijer Gardens/Tony Norkus)
“What Meijer Gardens has out there is pretty unique,” Chris Mautz, who now runs his own concert promotion company out of Salt Lake City, Utah, said to WKTV. “We have developed based on the success of not just of the attendance numbers but also the success of the connection between audience and artist. We have been very fortunate to develop a positive reputation there as being one of the cool, dynamic places to play on the summer tours.”
Mautz, echoing Hooker, points out that the concert series — deciding which acts are booked — is also a unique collaboration between venue and promoter: “In a lot of ways I see myself as part of an overall team at the Gardens where, over the last decade plus, we have formed a connection and a commitment to really trying to present a diverse and compelling lineup of shows,” Mautz said. “It is much more of a collaborative effort.”
That collaborative effort includes understanding that the musical venue is, first and foremost, at a family-friendly botanical garden and sculpture park, with residential property nearby — neighborly noise concerns and a mostly rigid early “final encore” requirement are often a consideration in booking.
But those requirements have not proved to be an obstacle to either attracting top-talent year after year or prevented the concert series’ growth from its less-than-overwhelming numbers in the early 2000s to being the success it is today.
The concert series, over the years
From 2003 through 2009, the venue booked between 10-13 concerts, but many years had less than half of concerts being sell-outs, according to information provided by Meijer Gardens.
Lyle Lovett is always a favorite. (Supplied)
2010 seemed to be a watershed year as far as popularity, with 10 of the 16 concerts being sellouts and featuring a lineup that opened with a capacity crowd for the Doobie Brothers, and included sellouts from Indigo Girls, Chris Isaak, Lyle Lovett and Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion.
When the series expanded to 22 concerts in 2011, and 25 in 2012, it also added a few more concerts to appeal to a younger audience, including Guster, Fiona Apple, Andrew Bird, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, The Head and the Heart, and OAR.
In 2013, the series climbed to 29 concerts and has stayed at 29-31 concerts through this year, with there being sellouts numbering in the mid-20s each year — and each year there seems to be a mix of classic rock, folk, some alt/modern rock, with a jazz or two, as well as something for a more, shall we say, “traditional entertainment” crowd such as Harry Connick Jr., Dancing with the Stars, and the still much-talked-about visit by Tony Bennet in 2015.
The venue and the mix of musical genres and audiences has not only been a success, the summer concert series has benefitted Meijer Gardens on several levels: promotional, financial and patron inclusiveness.
The entrance to Meijer Gardens. (Supplied)
“A couple of really important things that we tried to accomplish with the amphitheater is that we looked at it as portal to the organization,” Hooker said. “A lot of people … may become a member so they get first dibs on the tickets, and then they sit in that beautiful amphitheater and off to the distance they see … (various gardens and works of art) … and they say maybe I should check out the rest of the organization.
“The second thing we try to accomplish is that we are very intentional about reaching out to all walks of life, to have them come to Meijer Gardens. We want this to be a place were everybody is welcome. There is some intentionality in the artists we select, to attract people from all walks of life.”
And when it comes to the financial benefit to the Gardens, Hooker diplomatically said the concert series has brought in important “cash.” But “that needs to be put into context,” he adds.
“As the Meijer Gardens amphitheater was built, and added onto, and added onto, 100 percent of the dollars that has gone into the amphitheater events has been charitable dollars. So we are able to present the concert series without having to pay for the venue, which is really important.
“If you have to account for that cost out of ticket (costs) it would add a significant amount of money to the cost of the tickets. … The generosity of the Meijer family and the community has done that. And since we don’t have to do that, we do make what I call cash from the amphitheater, which helps, then, to cover the maintenance costs, depreciation costs, so forth, of the amphitheater.”
And the future of the concert series? The 30-concert season seems to be a pretty stable number and, as Hooker said, “We are very committed to the amphitheater and the concert series for the very long term.”
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park has announced a nine-show lineup for the Tuesday Evening Music Club with a diverse two-month program of live bands ranging from jazz to indie, rock to folk.
Taking place on the Gardens’ 1,900-seat amphitheater stage, the Tuesday concerts are free to Meijer Gardens members and include admission throughout July and August.
The line-up and show dates/times are as follows:
Hannah Rose and the GravesTones, with Rachel Curtis; July 3 at 7 p.m. Hannah Rose and the GravesTones offers a combination of funk, blues, country, jazz, and rock & roll, led by a songstress with a voice all her own. Rachel Curtis, a vocalist and 2018 American Idol contestant, will be backed by her band.
The Kathy Lamar and Robin Connell Band, and Soul Syndicate; July 10 at 7 p.m. The Kathy Lamar and Robin Connell Band will feature Kathy singing and Robin on the keys, with a blend of R&B, soul and pop and a tinge of jazz. Soul Syndicate is a cadre of the region’s most talented musicians, doing more than justice to the likes of Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations and more.
The Eric Engblade Quartet, with Wire in the Wood; July 17 at 7 p.m. The Eric Engblade Quartet, led by award winning singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Eric Engbland, has been called “folk rock with teeth.” Wire in the Wood is an eclectic selection of traditional and modern covers in the style of prog-bluegrass.
Valley Girl, with The Hacky Turtles; July 24 at 7 p.m. Valley Girl offers upbeat, indie-pop with reminiscences of 1980s’ synth. The Hacky Turtles offer a unique alternative rock with forays into folk and funk.
Lipstick Jodi, with Hollywood Makeout; July 31 at 7 p.m. Lipstick Jodi is an indie, alt-pop trio with a slight punk edge. Hollywood Makeout is an energetic punch of alternative rock, pop, garage and surf.
Nessa, with The Moxie Strings; August 7 at 7 p.m. Nessa offer a combination of classical, jazz, and Celtic influences, led by flutist and vocalist Kelly McDermott. The Moxie Strings offer a foot-stomping, rock-influenced, progressive spin on traditional Celtic and Americana classics and originals.
Franklin Park, with a Six Pak; August 14 at 7 p.m. Franklin Park, which reunited in 2010, are former classmates from 1969 and perform spot-on renditions of The Beatles, The Birds, The Rascals and more. Six Pak is a legendary all girl band, originally formed in 1967, performing the grooviest hits from that era.
Watching for Foxes, with Desmond Jones; August 21 at 7 p.m. Watching for Foxes is an Indie-folk rock driven by powerful, haunting vocals. Desmond Jones is a fusion of funk, rock and jazz, centered around melodic guitar riffs.
And the annual finale, will be Ralston & Friends; August 28 at 7 p.m. Local legend Ralston Bowles shares the stage with friends and collaborators from the community and beyond. A perfect end to a summer of musical fun.
Concertgoers are welcome to bring a blanket or beach-style chair to sit on. All concerts take place rain or shine (weather delays possible). A selection of sandwiches, snacks, water, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are available at the concessions counter. All beverages purchased onsite must be consumed inside the amphitheater gates.
Concertgoers are also welcomed to bring their own food, bottled water and non-alcoholic beverages. No glass containers are allowed. All beverages must be in their original sealed containers; any liquids in unsealed containers must be discarded at the gate before entering.
The amphitheater is currently being expanded and upgraded. The work is taking place over two years. Work on phase one will conclude for the presentation of the 2018 season and then resume to be fully ready for the 2019 season.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park announced Monday that its next featured exhibit will be Masayuki Koorida: Beyond Existence — an exhibit which will both build compliment the partially carved and polished boulders of the artist’s “Existance”, a focal point of the The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden, and will expand on the artist’s emerging genius.
Masayuki Koorida’s “Existence”, in Japanese Garden setting. (Supplied/Dean Van Dis)
“As one of his first gallery presentations in the United States, (Koorida’s) repertoire will reach and inform a broad audience,” Joseph Antenucci Becherer, Meijer Gardens chief curator and vice president said in supplied material. “Our relationship with Koorida is very important to Meijer Gardens and dates to the commission of his acclaimed piece ‘Existence’ in our Japanese garden. His use of materials and form is both elegant and contemplative.”
The exhibit, opening May 25, showcases Koorida’s work with a wide range of materials and his broader repertoire, which includes highly geometric pieces in a variety of scale and materials, but maybe most interesting will be a series of large, never-before-seen drawings created specifically for this exhibition. This exhibition runs through Aug. 19.
In the last decade, according to material supplied by Meijer Gardens, Koorida has emerged as “one of the most elegant voices in contemporary sculpture.” While his work has been exhibited in China, Japan and Europe, he is still relatively unseen in the United States.
And the artist has expressed his appreciation for the opportunity the Meijer Gardens exhibit will afford.
Masayuki Koorida. (Supplied/courtesy of the artist)
“Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is the first sculpture park that has collected my work in the United States,” Koorida said in supplied material. “Since the first time that I visited for the (‘Existence’) project in 2013, I have been to Meijer Gardens several times. I always find something new to discover; including great sculptures, exhibitions, beautiful flowers and gardens.
“I feel that the park is loved by people very much. It has been a great honor to be part of the collection. I am very glad to hold this solo exhibition at Meijer Gardens in 2018, it is exciting to have people experience it.”
Koorida (b. 1960, in Kyoto, Japan) lives in and works from a studio in Shanghai, China. According to supplied information, the artist placed his studio in China so that he is in close contact with abundant stone quarries in south China, and also allows him an opportunity to have a large industrial space for carving and polishing. He operates a very hands-on studio with few assistants and is physically engaged with his work. He is most well known for his sculpture in stone that range in scale from table top to the monumental, from single forms to small groups of related images. Koorida travels widely in search of the right stones for the right projects; granite is preferred, but he also works in black and white marble.
To show how little he has been shown in the United State’s, the only YouTube videos of his shows are from Europe. Visit here for an video in Italian.
The exhibit will include special programing including:
A discussion titled “Between a Rock and a Hard Place: When is a Stone Just a Stone and When is it Art?”, by Dr. Craig Hanson, on Sunday, June 3, from 2-3 p.m. The talk will explore the questions of sculpture or structure? Artform or accident? Decorative art or garden decor? “For millennia, stone has been used for decidedly unartistic purposes as well as the material of choice for many sculptors. This lecture explores how stone takes on new meaning as an art form while highlighting ‘Existence’.”
There will also Japanese Garden Sculpture Walk, with Anna Wolff, Meijer Gardens curator of arts education, on both Sunday, July 15, at 2 p.m., and on Tuesday, Aug. 7, at 6 p.m. The free with admission walking tour of the sculpture in The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden will focus on what “makes this garden one of the most unique in the nation as we explore themes of tranquility, permanence and the relationship of humanity and the natural environment.”
In the latest episode of the WKTV Journal, we head over to the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park to celebrate the work of artist Beverly Pepper. The Gardens has an exhibition of Pepper’s work, “Drawn Into Form: Sixty Years of Drawings and Prints by Beverly Pepper,” up through April 29.
Recently the Vietnamese community came together to celebrate Tet, the Vietnamese New Year and we spend some time with KDL Executive Director Lance Werner who talks about being named Michigan’s first Librarian of the Year by the Library Journal. Also in this newscast, LocalFirst’s Mieke Stroub talks about the Good for Grand Rapids campaign and the West Michigan Tourist Association’s Courtney Sheffer gives us some more tips and ideas on budget friendly places in West Michigan.
The WKTV Journal airs on WKTV Channel 25 Mondays at 9 p.m., Tuesdays at 7 p.m., and Fridays at 10 a.m.
Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory. (Photo by Dean Van Dis)
By Meijer Gardens
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s annual “Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming” exhibition will bring more than 7,000 tropical butterflies to West Michigan beginning Thursday, March 1.
Butterflies Are Blooming is the spring’s most anticipated exhibition and is the largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibition in the nation. This year’s exhibition highlights the butterflies’ unique journey from butterfly farms around the world to their emergence and release in the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory.
“Our exhibition this year celebrates the journey that these amazing creatures take to reach us here,” said Steve LaWarre, director of horticulture. “These butterflies begin their life cycle in the tropics and travel from thousands of miles away before making their appearance in the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory. This exhibition provides a wonderful opportunity for our guests to learn more about this journey and view the diverse beauty of these winged wonders first hand.”
Blue Colombia butterfly, (Supplied)
Approximately 60 colorful species of butterflies and moths journey from butterfly-rich regions of Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Philippines and Kenya to fly freely in the 5-story tall, 15,000 square-foot Tropical Conservatory. At 85 degrees and 70 percent humidity, this balmy environment mimics the tropical regions that the butterflies call home.
Species of butterflies expected to arrive include the blue Common Morpho, whose iridescence impresses in flight, as well as Brushfoot varieties such as the Clearwing, Lacewing and Zebra Mosaic. Likewise, the Longwings captivate with distinctive wing patterns as seen on the Small Blue Grecian, Doris, Postman and Tiger butterflies. Gliders like the Emperor, Ruby-Spotted and Orchard Swallowtails will also add to the diverse assortment.
Chrysalides in the Butterfly Bungalow. (Supplied)
More than 1,000 pupae arrive at Meijer Gardens weekly from around the world. Guests can watch as delicate chrysalides and cocoons are placed in the Butterfly Bungalow, where adult butterflies and moths emerge and spread their wings for the first time.
The Caterpillar Room, located within the Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse, features Monarch caterpillars. Guests can watch as caterpillars feed on milkweed plants and after two weeks of tremendous growth, the caterpillars will look for a suitable place to form their chrysalides.
This much-loved exhibition attracts 185,000 visitors from all over the world each year.
Exhibition Activities:
“Who Am I?” A Butterfly Ballet
Saturday, March 17, 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. or 3 p.m.
Sunday, March 18, 1 p.m.
Fee: $5 members/$8 non-members; Free for ages 2 years and younger
Choreographed by Attila Mosolygo, performed by members of the Grand Rapids Ballet Junior Company and narrated by Errol Shewman.
Developed in collaboration with Grand Rapids Ballet, this unique performance highlights characteristics of butterflies through dance. 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. Register online at MeijerGardens.org or call 616-975-3184. Who Am I? A Butterfly Ballet is generously sponsored by Karl & Patti Betz and Jesse & Gia Budrick.
An American Sign Language interpreter will be provided for the 10 a.m. performance on March 17. Reservations for this service are required. To reserve your space, call 616-975-3184 or 616-975-3147, or email classes@meijergardens.org by March 10.
Children’s Activities:
Saturday, March 3-Wednesday, April 30, daylight hours only
Lena Meijer Children’s Garden
Included with admission
Once you have observed caterpillars in the Seasonal Display Greenhouse and butterflies in the Tropical Conservatory, come out to the Children’s Garden for engaging outdoor educational events. Fly like a butterfly, wrap up like a chrysalis, curl up like a caterpillar, or crawl out of an egg using life cycle costumes and your imagination.
Perform your own butterfly-themed puppet show or read about moths and butterflies in the Log Cabin. Search for butterfly and moth life cycle stages in a special Treehouse Village hunt. Ring the bell after successfully navigating through the Butterfly Maze.
Become a butterfly in the Monarch’s Migration game. Enjoy a springtime puppet show or story-time; days and times vary. There is something for all ages. Activities vary daily; check the Information Center for times.
Tuesday Night Lights:
Included with admission.
Bring your flashlight on Tuesday nights until 9 p.m. to see the nightlife in the Tropical Conservatory.
Volunteers:
Wanted. Needed. Appreciated. Various jobs and shifts. Mid-February through mid-May. Contact Amber Oudsema at aoudsema@meijergardens.org or 616-974-5221.
A model of Beverly Pepper’s monumental sculpture “Galileo’s Wedge”, center, is one of the objects featured in the exhibit “Drawn Into Form: Sixty Years of Drawings and Prints by Beverly Pepper”. (WKTV)
There is a progression of development for an artistic institution, in some ways gaining a particular piece of art is only the beginning of an institution’s relationship with an artist and that artist’s legacy — often, the institution becomes part of the artist legacy.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s 2009 acquisition of Beverly Pepper’s monumental sculpture “Galileo’s Wedge” — a soaring steel object of visual beauty and, simultaneously, engineering mastery which rises nearly 40 feet into the sky and an undefined depth into the ground — led directly to it gaining more than 900 artistic items associated with the artist.
Some of those associated artistic items, part of a trove of prints and models and photos donated by the artist to Meijer Gardens, form the focus of the current featured exhibit at Meijer Gardens, “Drawn Into Form: Sixty Years of Drawings and Prints by Beverly Pepper”, which opened Feb. 2 and will run through April 29.
Those items, many of which are and will in the future will be of great interest to scholars and researchers delving into Pepper’s art and artistic process, are also an example of the ongoing progression of of Meijer Gardens from being a showcase of art to being an institution of art.
Joseph Antenucci Becherer, chief curator and vice president of Meijer Gardens, on the opening day of the exhibit. (WKTV)
“I think it is a natural progression,” Joseph Antenucci Becherer, chief curator and vice president of Meijer Gardens, said to WKTV. “We are a young organization, in many ways, but we are aging well and we are aging with some rapidity. And the idea that we have this enormous permanent collection, there is more than 300 sculptures in our permanent collection, that it is supplemented by prints and drawings is a natural progression.”
And that progression fits in naturally with the mission of Meijer Gardens.
“The mission of Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park has been its commitment to sculpture, and gardens and horticulture, and the arts,” Becherer said. “We are very fortunate because the vast majority of our permanent collection is out on display, all times of the year, all seasons, in the park. However, from the very beginning, we have also collected two-dimension works, prints and drawings, as long as that person was primarily recognized as a sculptor.
“We have prints by Henry Moore, we have prints by Louise Nevelson, we have prints by many of the other sculptors who are part of this collection,” he said. “But this group is incredible as a gift from Beverly Pepper, more than 900 works. This collection will be here permanently. It can be accessed with advance notice, by scholars, by people that are doing research. I would say that in the future, when our new building opens, it will be much easier for scholars to come in, to access the collection.”
And, of course, the Pepper collection also gives Meijer Gardens “the opportunity to work with sister organizations across the country, around the world, to loan objects,” he added. “So these prints and drawings would be available to them if they would want to show them, to participate in come kind of exhibition. So really it is a great resource for us, but it is a great resource for the world.”
Untitled; Studies for Stainless Steel Sculptures by Beverly Pepper. (Supplied)
Untitled (Studies for Stainless Steel Sculptures 2)
Untitled (Studies for Web sculptures) ca. 1978-79
Untitled (Study for Spazio Teatro Celle, Gori Foundation) 1992
Meijer Gardens, with acquisition, forms relationship with artist
Pepper’s donation, and the current exhibit, are also an example of both a unique opportunity for Meijer Gardens and a not-uncommon opportunity when an artist and an artistic institution have established a trusting relationship.
“What you see often time happening with major artists that don’t have their own museum or establish a big estate, or something along those lines, is that they make major gifts to cultural organizations,” Becherer said. “So we are sort of following in a time-honored tradition.”
And that relationship, that tradition, was touched upon in a statement by the artist herself.
“Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park has clearly demonstrated a strong commitment to my sculpture and I am enthusiastic to now have this major body of my work there.” Pepper said in supplied material. “To have in one location a space to study, compare and sequence my drawings and prints is an exceptional opportunity.”
Pepper was born 1922 in Brooklyn, N.Y., and now lives and works in Italy. Her works have been exhibited and collected by major arts institutions and galleries around the world, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., Les Jardins du Palais Royal in Paris, and The Museum of Modern Art in Sapporo, Japan.
Pepper is world-renowned for her “monumental” works — such as “Galileo’s Wedge” — which often incorporate industrial metals like iron, bronze, stainless steel and stone into sculpture of a monumental scale.
Associated with the exhibit will be several special events including a March 18 discussion on “Five Great Women Sculptors” by Suzanne Eberle, Professor of Art History at Kendall College of Art & Design. The talk will focus on important female artists — including Pepper, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Louise Bourgeois, Barbara Hepworth, and Louise Nevelson — who have worked in large scale.
Two bands familiar to the audiences at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park summer concert series will be returning to the now partially upgraded amphitheater, as well as one familiar to listeners of ’80s American New Wave if not Lower East Side (NYC) Punk, are the first three announced acts at 2018 Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts series.
Just announced today, the Tedeschi Trucks Band with Charlie Parr will kick off the series on May 30, Blondie will be in town on June 29, and O.A.R.’s “Just Like Paradise Tour” with special guest Matt Nathanson will visit on Aug. 26. The complete 30-show lineup will be announced in mid-April, according to Meijer Gardens.
Blondie will be at Meijer Gardens Blondie June 29. (Supplied)
While both Tedeschi Trucks Band and O.A.R. are local fan favorites and, as with almost all of the Gardens’ concerts, usually sell-out shows, the appearance of Blondie and lead singer Debbie Harry may well be one of the must-see shows of the summer — especially if you are of a certain age and now have children you want to prove to that you had your wild side when you were their age.
“Here comes the 21st Century … it’s gonna be so much better for a girl like me,” Harry sang nearly three decades ago on her solo release Def Dumb And Blonde, the band’s website proudly repeats.
And life, and music, has been pretty good to singer-songwriter Harry, guitarist and co-writer Chris Stein, powerhouse drummer Clem Burke and their band-mates in Blondie who first burst on the scene in the late 1970s. But they have not lived in the past, as evidenced by their newest project, 2017’s Po11inator, the band’s 11th studio album and one featuring collaborations with Sia and Charli XCX.
For more information on Blondie visit blondie.net .
Not only will Blondie be new to Meijer Gardens audiences, but the 1,900-seat amphitheater will also have some changes as the venue is currently being expanded and upgraded. The work will take place over the next two years, according to Meijer Gardens, with the first year’s work to conclude for the presentation of the 2018 season, then resume, and be fully ready for the 2019 season.
While there will be some seating expansion after the second year of work, it will maintain “the intimacy of the venue”, according to Meijer Gardens. It will also increase the sponsor seating area, add new support areas for visiting artists, add a new support and concessions building (set to ready by the 2019 season).
Tedeschi Trucks and O.A.R. return with friends
Tedeschi Trucks Band with Charlie Parr will kick off the series on May 30. (Supplied)
Grammy-winning Tedeschi Trucks Band is a powerhouse, 12-piece ensemble led by the husband-and-wife team of guitarist Derek Trucks and guitarist-singer Susan Tedeschi. A touring juggernaut, the band is a jam band second to none, usually being on the road more than 200 days a year and reputed to having never played the same set list twice.
O.A.R. (short for Of a Revolution) transformed itself from an independent college band to a Billboard chart-topper over the course of a long, varied career. The roots-and-reggae band has transcended jam band clichés to become one of the most popular live acts touring today. Joining them will be San Francisco’s Nathanson, who is rapidly gaining a reputation for his songwriting and his live performances.
Members of Meijer Gardens will be able to purchase tickets during an exclusive members-only pre-sale, April 28 through May 11. During the pre-sale, members receive a $5 discount per ticket. To join or renew before April 28 visit MeijerGardens.org/Membership .
Tickets will go on sale to the general public on May 12. More information on prices and purchasing locations will be available following the release of the full lineup in mid-April.
There is probably not a vantage point on the grounds of the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park where you cannot see Beverly Pepper’s monumental sculpture “Galileo’s Wedge”. Depending on one’s world view, it is either an authoritative metal finger pointing toward the heavens or an elongated monolith-like spike sinking deep into the Earth.
Either way, the 2009 acquisition by Meijer Gardens is a soaring steel object of visual beauty and, simultaneously, engineering mastery which rises nearly 40 feet into the sky and an undefined depth into the ground.
It is that imagination-bending blend of engineering mastery and visual beauty which will be the focus of the next featured exhibit at Meijer Gardens as “Drawn Into Form: Sixty Years of Drawings and Prints by Beverly Pepper” opens Feb. 2, 2018.
The exhibition is the first public showing ofthe gift of Pepper’s expansive print and drawing archives that was given to Meijer Gardens in 2016 and 2017. Spanning seven decades of work by the contemporary sculptor, the archives includes hundreds of drawings, prints, works on paper and notebooks, with many containing sketches of her major sculptural endeavors on display around the world.
Beverly Pepper at Meijer Gardens. (Undated photo taken by George Tatge)
“The 2018 retrospective surveying sixty-five years of work is a rare luxury, and an unbelievable opportunity,” Pepper said in supplied material. “Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park has clearly demonstrated a strong commitment to my sculpture and I am enthusiastic to now have this major body of my work there.” Pepper said in supplied material. “To have in one location a space to study, compare and sequence my drawings and prints is an exceptional opportunity.”
Pepper (born 1922 in Brooklyn, N.Y.) lives and works in Italy. Her works have been exhibited and collected by major arts institutions and galleries around the world, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., Les Jardins du Palais Royal in Paris, and The Museum of Modern Art in Sapporo, Japan.
Joseph Antenucci Becherer, chief curator and vice president of Meijer Gardens, sees the exhibit as a logical public extension of the artist’s gift.
“The importance of the gift and this exhibition simply cannot be overstated,” Becherer said in supplied material. “The opportunity to experience the sheer brilliance of Pepper’s work and trace the trajectory of her career from a realist aesthetic in the late 1940s and 50s, through her embrace of abstraction to become one of America’s leading abstract sculptors, is beyond compare.”
The exhibition will run through April 19, 2018.
Pepper is world-renowned for her work, which often incorporates industrial metals like iron, bronze, stainless steel and stone into sculpture of a monumental scale, but her vast drawing and print repertoire is lesser known.
Associated with the exhibit will be several special events including a March 18 discussion on “Five Great Women Sculptors” by Suzanne Eberle, Professor of Art History at Kendall College of Art & Design. The talk will focus on important female artists — including Pepper, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Louise Bourgeois, Barbara Hepworth, and Louise Nevelson — who have worked in large scale.
Unlike a lot of shopping malls and radio stations, the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s Christmas celebration will precede Thanksgiving by a couple of days as the 23rd annual Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World exhibition opens Tuesday, Nov. 21.
The exhibit, which runs through Jan. 7, 2018, will allow guests to experience 42 Christmas and holiday trees, and displays representing countries and cultures from around the world, according to supplied material.
And, for those really into traditions and the art of garden arrangement, the Railway Garden and holiday wonderland will once again wind its way through three indoor garden spaces, including the recently renovated Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse.
“This year we pause to reflect on the many unique and beautiful ways that holiday traditions are observed all over the world,” Steve LaWarre, director of horticulture, said in supplied material.
The annual Holiday Gala is a night to dress up and remember. (Supplied)
From the highly polished metal of the Hanukkah Menorahs, to the beautiful Eid ul-Fitr display — which celebrates the end of Ramadan — to the golden glass ornaments adorning many of the traditional Christmas trees, guests will come across a variety of reflective surfaces designed to reinforce the theme of reflection. The holiday season is also a time when many cultures share the custom of turning attention inwards, reflecting upon the past and making preparations for the New Year.
Meijer Gardens transforms into a botanic wonderland with poinsettias, orchids and amaryllis. The smell of evergreens as visitors enter the building and the sounds of carolers make it a perfect family place to enjoy the holiday season. Indoors and out, trees sparkle with over 300,000 white lights.
Hydrangea petals make up the iconic glass tower of the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. (Supplied)
The unique horticultural artistry of the Railway Garden complements the model trolleys, trains and handcrafted buildings replicating 30 Grand Rapids landmarks, including the unique use of hydrangea petals that make up the iconic glass tower of the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.
Meijer Gardens will also offer a series of family-friendly activities throughout the exhibition.
Exhibition Activities:
Extended Holiday Hours: Open until 9 p.m. Dec. 18-23, 26-30 (Meijer Gardens is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day).
The Original Dickens Carolers: Tuesdays: Nov. 21 and 28, Dec. 5, 12, 19; 6-8 p.m.
And, of course, there will be visits by Santa for those holiday photos. (Supplied)
Santa Visits: Tuesdays: Nov. 21 and 28, Dec. 5, 12, 19; 5-8 p.m.
Winter-Time Walks: Nov. 21-Jan. 6, 2018; Tuesdays 10:15 and 11:15 a.m., Saturdays 11:15 a.m. (Included with admission). Winter in the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden can be chilly, but fun! Bundle up and join us on an outdoor interactive discovery walk to investigate the Children’s Garden in new ways. We’ll explore different winter themes and gather by the hearth in the log cabin to learn about winter with stories, kid-friendly conversation and finger plays.
Christmas and Holiday Themed Classes: Enjoy festive learning opportunities for adults and families. Fees apply.
If you head down to ArtPrize this year, chances are you won’t be able to miss the large group of fish swimming across the Holiday Inn Grand Rapids Downtown.
The piece, which faces Pearl Street across from the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and near the U.S. 131 entrance/exit ramps, is the ArtPrize entry of artist and Kentwood Public School teacher Jerry Berta.
Berta worked with students from the Kentwood Public Schools. Students glued laser cut scraps together for the fish which were arranged to create a giant wave of fish, just like a school of fish swimming together. According to Berta’s artist statement on the ArtPrize website, the piece – titled “We Are All Different Fish But We All Swim Together!” – is about diversity and how people may be different but they can work together to create a better world.
“This is one of the biggest pieces at ArtPRize created by the most diverse student body in the state,” Berta said in his statement. Kentwood Public Schools has more than 70 different languages spoken at its buildings with the City of Kentwood know of its diverse population with residents from such countries as Vietnam, Korea, and Bosnia.
Students, staff, and parents from Kentwood’s Discovery, Meadowlawn, Explorer and Bowen elementary schools helped bring this piece together. Students from Valleywood Middle School, under the guidance of Alicia Fuller, and East Kentwood High School, under the guidance of Jon Bouck, and students from Charlevoix’s St. Mary’s School, also contributed to the project.
Berta, who lives in Rockford and is the man behind Dinerland and Rosie’s Diner, is just one of several artists representing the Wyoming and Kentwood areas at this year’s ArtPrize taking place in downtown Grand Raids through Oct. 8.
Marking its ninth year, ArtPrize is an open, independently organized international art competition that takes place 19 days in the fall. More than $500,000 in prizes are awarded each year which includes a $200,000 prize awarded by a public vote and another $200,000 prize awarded by a jury of art experts. Round 1 voting is currently underway until Sept. 30. On Oct. 1, the Final 20 are announced with Round 2 voting for just those in the Final 20 opening. Round 2 voting closes Oct. 5 with winners announced at the ArtPrize Awards.
Also having an entry in this year’s event is Godfrey Lee Public Schools kindergarten teacher Susan Sheets Odo, whose piece ,“A Colorful Michigan,” is at Grand Woods Lounge, 77 Grandville Ave. SW. Odo, who is also a Wyoming Public Schools board member, said in her artist statement that “A Colorful Michigan” is an interactive coloring piece. Featuring landmarks of Michigan mixed with designs, mandalas, floral patterns, and patterns found in the different cultures of the people who live in West Michigan, visitors are invited to leave their mark by helping to color the piece.
Wyoming Public Schools mentor Khalilah Yvonne hopes to encourage youth all over the world to stand up and let their voices be heard through her piece “Silence Broken.” Located at Grand Rapids City Hall, 300 Monroe Ave. NW, Apt. 4, the piece is based on Yvonne’s own personal experience of being a victim of sexual assault, according to her artist statement.
If you head over to Grand Valley Artists, Inc., at 1345 Monroe Ave. NW, 140, you will be able to see Wyoming resident Nona (Voss) Bushman’s unique jewelry pieces. A graduate of Wyoming Park High School and Western Michigan University, Bushman’s piece is “Lost in Your Beauty.” Also showing at Grand valley Artists, Inc. is Wyoming resident Katherine Kreutziger’s painting “Autumn Hunt of a Lone Wolf.”
Other local artists are: Wyoming resident Nicole Bluekamp’s “Intoxication of Passion” is at Rockwell Republic, 45 S. Division Ave., and Wyoming resident Karin Nelson’s piece “Trees in the Park” is at the Women’s City Club, 254 E. Fulton St.
There are more than 170 venues for this year’s ArtPrize and one of them is not that far from Wyoming and Kentwood. For the first time, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport is a venue featuring seven artists with works in the upstairs observation deck, east end of the terminal building, and outdoors under the trademark GFIA canopy and welcome wall.
The pieces featured at the airport are “TOTEM of a Michigan Woman” by Sharron Ansell, of Kalamazoo; “Sanutario de la Monarch,” by Dalice Ceballos, of Mexico; “We are Fruitport Building on a Legacy,” by Fruitport High School Visual Arts Team; “Our Love Connects All Happiness,” by Haruko Furukawa, of New Zealand; “Fly Away With Me,” by Mariia Rykhlovska, of Los Angeles; “Elements of a Japanese Garden,” by Judy A. Steiner, of Grand Rapids; and “Kitty Hawk,” by Brett Walker, of East Tawas, Mich.
Just further up on the East Beltline, the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, 1000 E. Beltline NE, is also a venue again this year. For more on what is featured at the Gardens, click here.
To learn more about the artists, venues, voting or to register to vote in this year’s ArtPrize competition, go to artprize.org.
