Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Presents 2023 Calendar of Major Events
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, one of the world's most significant sculpture and botanic experiences, presents the 2023 calendar of major events. Additional programming and events are added throughout the year and current information is available at MeijerGardens.org/calendar. Meijer Gardens incorporates its mission of exploring the duality of art and nature in the upcoming year's events. Internationally acclaimed annual exhibitions, exciting horticulture shows, seasonal indoor and outdoor displays, sculpture, concerts, and educational programming are enjoyed by nearly 700,000 visitors annually.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Jan. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS
Double Take: Mel Chin & Elizabeth Turk
Through March 26
Fee: Included with admission.
This exhibition presents works from these two recipients of the MacArthur Fellowship—sometimes referred to as a "genius grant"—in a variety of techniques and media, including wood, stone, aluminum, water, and sound. Chin and Turk's work selected for this exhibition focuses on sculpture dealing primarily with the natural world.
Environmental issues have been central to Mel Chin's work for many years. Most notably is his 1990 Revival Field, a pioneering project in "green remediation," which uses plants to extract toxic metals from soil. Two pieces tied to this ongoing project are included in the exhibition: Revival Field diorama and Revival Ramp etching. Themes of revival and recovery are often present in Chin's work, including many shown at Meijer Gardens.
Elizabeth Turk is also inspired by the natural world, most recently in her Tipping Point: Echoes of Extinction series that brings light to extinct and endangered birds through a series of totemic Sound Columns. These sculptures visualize the voices of lost or threatened birds. Turk's Evaporated River installation similarly gives form to an absence within nature, here showing the diminished water that used to flow freely through our nation's riverbeds.
Together, the art of Chin and Turk provides new takes on important issues of the day, among them environmental hazards, endangered species, and lost or hidden histories.
Winter Family Day in the Lena Meijer Children's Garden
Saturday, February 4, 1—4 pm
Fee: Included with admission.
Outdoor adventure awaits in the Lena Meijer Children's Garden! Join us for an afternoon of wintry fun for all ages. We'll have plenty of hot chocolate to keep you warm and loads of activities to keep you busy.
Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming
March 1—April 30
Fee: Included with admission.
A guest favorite, Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming features butterflies from around the world flying within the five-story Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory. This year we invite guests to dig deep into the details, for an up-close experience. Did you know the newly hatched caterpillars of some butterfly species are only about 2 millimeters in length—smaller than a grain of rice? Did you know a butterfly's wings are covered in fragile, microscopic scales, overlapping like roof shingles—200 to 600 per square millimeter? Tune your senses to the tiny as you explore with curiosity and wonder. Look closely, think deeply and delight in the details. The 85-degree tropical conservatory will be filled with thousands of exotic butterflies, from tropical regions across the globe. More than 60 butterfly and moth species make this exhibition exciting and colorful. Throughout, butterflies are viewed drinking nectar from flowering plants and feeding stations, congregating among stream beds, and flying freely.
Approximately 800 chrysalides will be delivered to Meijer Gardens weekly. Visitors watch delicate chrysalides and cocoons being placed in the Observation Station, where the unique creatures transform and take their first flight.
Spring Programming in the Lena Meijer Children's Garden
Wednesday March 1—Sunday April 30; Daylight hours only
Fee: Included with admission.
Butterflies are blooming for all ages in the Lena Meijer Children's Garden. Whether for guided or self-guided play, check the Children's Garden Information Center to discover which engaging outdoor activities await you. Activities vary daily.
Cristina Iglesias: Under and In Between
April 28, 2023—September 24, 2024
Fee: Included with admission.
One of Spain's most renowned artists, Cristina Iglesias was born in San Sebastián and now lives in Madrid. Iglesias has had numerous museum exhibitions and public projects worldwide and has represented Spain at the 1986 and 1993 Venice Biennales and at the 2012 Sydney Biennale. Among her many recognitions are the Spanish National Prize for Visual Arts in 2000 and the 2020 Royal Academy Architecture Prize, for which she is the first non-architect recipient.
Iglesias is an impresario of space and atmosphere. In projects that range from underwater sculptures to citywide installations, she choreographs the experience of our surroundings, subtly directing viewer attention and stance. The artist's upcoming exhibition at Meijer Gardens, Cristina Iglesias: Under and In Between—her first United States museum exhibition in more than two decades—surveys a range of work from the past 20 years including wall reliefs, metal silk-screens, liquid sculptures, and video, and debuts a new Cave series of copper panels. The exhibition will provide an immersive experience, engaging visitors in rich, multisensory typographies.
UNDER AND IN BETWEEN EXHIBITION PROGRAMMING
Fee: Included with admission
The Art and Ecology of Water
Saturday, May 20, 11 am–12 pm
Dylan AT Miner, PhD, Dean and Professor of the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities at Michigan State University
From communing to controlling to calling for action, artists from diverse countries and cultures have long addressed humanity's complex relationship with the natural world in their work. Join Dr. Dylan Miner, artist, activist, scholar, and citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario, to discuss artwork that explores the intersection of humanity and water. Learn about tradition and current trends, from Indigenous practices to the work of Cristina Iglesias.
Gallery Walk
Saturday, June 10, 11 am–12 pm
Amber Oudsema, Curator of Arts Education at Meijer Gardens and Adjunct Professor of Art History at Grand Valley State University
Explore the mysterious world of Cristina Iglesias' underground pools and entwined growth—a signature aesthetic both metallic and organic. Discuss the juxtaposition of human-made and natural passages, phreatic zones, shadow, and light in Iglesias' work during this guided walk through the exhibition with Amber Oudsema, Curator of Arts Education.
Maintaining our Waterways: How We Can Help
Saturday, August 12, 11 am–12 pm
Barney Boyer and Dana Strouse with the Nonpoint Source Pollution Department of the Water Resource Division from the State of Michigan
Michigan is an ideal place to host an exhibition of Cristina Iglesias' work, given the deep connection so many Michiganders feel to the waters and natural environment that surround us. Join members of Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, who provide technical assistance to restore waters impacted by pollution and protect high-quality waters from pollution threats, to learn what we can do to help keep our water clean and safe.
Master Lecture Series: Secchia Garden Lecture Series
This annual lecture is made possible by the Secchia Family.
Melinda Myers
Tuesday, April 25, 7 pm
Fee: Included with admission.
Join Melinda Myers, nationally known gardening expert, TV/radio host, author, columnist, and speaker, as she shares stunning plant combinations and designs sure to attract pollinators to your garden—no matter the size. Learn the many benefits of attracting bees, hummingbirds and butterflies to your outdoor spaces. You'll enjoy their beauty and increased productivity in your garden. They'll benefit from the food, water and shelter you provide!
SAVE THE DATE:
Required registration begins online at MeijerGardens.org/calendar on March 1.
Please direct questions to Eve Boyer at [email protected] or 616-975-3145.
Great Gardens Party Presented by Northern Trust
Wednesday, May 10
The Great Gardens Party Presented by Northern Trust is Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park's signature fundraising event. It features live and silent auctions for exclusive experiences and other fun and festive ways to support the Meijer Gardens mission. There's also an enchanted evening filled with delicious cocktails and a strolling dinner. Proceeds from this event fund the Meijer Gardens mission of promoting the enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment, and the arts. Event tickets and information on silent and live auctions and sponsorship opportunities will be available soon at MeijerGardens.org/ggp.
Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens
June through September
Please check MeijerGardens.org/concerts for lineup and current information.
The Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens series brings the finest national and international musicians to West Michigan, thrilling music lovers across all genres and generations. Concerts take place in the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater, featuring beautiful, terraced lawn seating and food, beverage, and merchandise concessions—amid spectacular views of gardens and sculpture. The full lineup is announced in April.
Ayers Basement Systems Tuesday Evening Music Club
Tuesdays in June, July and August
Please check MeijerGardens.org/calendar/tuesday-evening-music-club/for lineup and current information.
The Ayers Basement Systems Tuesday Evening Music Club returns to the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater stage every Tuesday evening in June, July and August, featuring the region's finest performers. Guests are encouraged to enjoy the entire facility in addition to the expanded concert series. Bring a picnic, dance and enjoy the beautiful summer weather.
Sunday Strings
Every Sunday in July and August 6, 13. 2—3 pm
Please check MeijerGardens.org/calendar/sunday-strings for lineup and additional information.
Musicians from West Michigan will gather at Meijer Gardens this summer to present the Sunday Strings live classical chamber music concert series. Sunday Strings was conceived and created by Haijin Choi, Grand Rapids Symphony section violinist, to provide an opportunity in summer months for chamber music fans to experience unique and compelling musical selections – from classical to contemporary – performed by local musicians.
Summer Programming in the Lena Meijer Children's Garden
June 11—August 19
Fee: Included with admission.
Whether it's engaging with pop-up story-times, investigating Discovery Cart materials, exploring self-guided activities, or joining in with a guest performer, the Lena Meijer Children's Garden is the place to be all summer long! Check the Children's Garden Information Center for what's happening daily.
Fridays at the Farm
Fridays, June 16-August 18; 10:30 am-1:30 pm at Michigan's Farm Garden
Fee: Included with admission.
Have bushels of family fun this summer in Michigan's Farm Garden! Children of all ages will enjoy some farm-time fun by participating in a variety of down-home activities, special farm inspired stories, games, music and more.
Special Family Weekends at Michigan's Farm Garden
Monthly, June – September
Fee: Included with admission.
Joins us for special monthly themed weekends at Michigan's Farm Garden. Everything from Focus on Flowers to Meet Me at the Fair to Heirloom Tomatoes and Amazing Honeybees will be highlighted this summer. Visit MeijerGardens.org/calendar for dates and times.
Chrysanthemums & More!
September 15—October 29
Fee: Included with admission.
This annual celebration of the autumn season features an extensive chrysanthemum display with hundreds of flowering plants in interior and exterior areas. Indoor exhibition highlights include varieties on display along the winding BISSELL Corridor and in the Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse. Outdoor plantings are featured in the Lena Meijer Children's Garden, Michigan's Farm Garden and Volunteer Tribute Garden. Tram rides and seasonal activities are available.
Fall Family Day in the Lena Meijer Children's Garden
Saturday, October 7, 1—4 pm
Fee: Included with admission.
Visit the Lena Meijer Children's Garden for fabulous fall family fun! Activities include something for all your senses—listen to fall-inspired tunes and autumn-themed stories, view a fiber arts demonstration and take a naturalist walk highlighting this beautiful season.
Forest of Dreams: Contemporary Tree Sculpture
October 20, 2023—February 25, 2024
Fee: Included with admission.
Forest of Dreams: Contemporary Tree Sculpture will explore various associations and dimensions of trees—among them metaphorical, ecological, mythological, and personal. Within the context of Meijer Gardens, where trees define the art viewing experience, this exhibition will have a particularly strong resonance. The exhibition will feature works from artists in the permanent collection, such as Louise Bourgeois, Michele Oka Doner, and Ai Weiwei, as well as several artists never before exhibited here including Nick Cave and Rona Pondick.
University of Michigan Health–West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions
November 21, 2023—January 7, 2024
Fee: Included with admission.
Experience the most magical time of the year as Meijer Gardens transforms into a world of winter magic—with the glow of nearly 400,000 lights, 46 captivating international trees and displays, strolling carolers, Santa visits, and more surprises than can fit under the tree. The holiday favorite Railway Garden winds its way through three indoor gardens.
Christmas Cabaret Presented by Old National Bank
December 7
Advance tickets required.
Join in the fun festivities and enjoy Meijer Gardens' beloved University of Michigan Health—West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition. Guests will have the opportunity to marvel at the beautifully adorned trees, cultural displays and Railway Garden, and enjoy a fabulous dinner and holiday entertainment.
2023 PLANT SHOW SCHEDULE
Orchid Show
January 28—29
Saturday: Sales 10 am—5 pm | Displays 12—5 pm
Sunday: Sales and Displays 11 am—4:30 pm
Grand Valley Orchid Society
Fee: Included with admission.
Escape winter's chill! Enjoy a stunning variety of beautiful, unusual, colorful orchids, exhibited in the Huizenga Grand Room by enthusiasts from across the state. Visit vendors to find an orchid that's easy to grow at home or add a more unusual species to your collection. Stock up on growing supplies, such as premium orchid bark and fertilizer. Learn how to grow these beauties by attending a free talk—visit MeijerGardens.org for the complete list—or stop by Grand Valley Orchid Society's information desk to pick up a culture sheet and receive growing tips.
Meijer Gardens Michigan All-State Bonsai Show
May 13—14
Saturday: Sales 9 am—5 pm | Displays 12—5 pm
Sunday: Sales and Displays 11 am—5 pm
Fee: Included with admission.
Enjoy stunning bonsai trees on display in the spacious Huizenga Grand Room. Shop for bonsai, specialty pots and growing supplies from a great selection of vendors. Attend free demonstrations and watch bonsai artists at work. A variety of hands-on workshops are available by advance registration. Email questions to [email protected].
Iris Show
June 3—4
Saturday 1—5 pm
Sunday 11 am—5 pm
Fee: Included with admission.
Enjoy a variety of tall bearded and Siberian iris blossoms on display, all locally grown for this judged show. View floral designs featuring iris flowers.
Dahlia Show
August 26—27
Saturday 12—5 pm
Sunday 11 am—5 pm
Fee: Included with admission.
Hundreds of dahlias will be on display. Flower sizes will vary from the size of a golf ball to that of a dinner plate. Many unusual forms and a rainbow of colors will be displayed.
Standard Flower Show
September 9—10
Saturday 9 am—5 pm
Sunday 11 am—5 pm
Fee: Included with admission.
See specimen flowers, foliage, and potted plants grown by participating members, and vote for your favorite flower arrangement.
Fall Bonsai Show
October 7—8
Saturday 10 am—5 pm
Sunday 11 am—5 pm
Fee: Included with admission.
See a variety of bonsai on display, from trees in early stages of training to lovely older trees. Watch bonsai artists at work and shop for bonsai trees as well as bonsai tools and supplies.
PLEASE NOTE:
All dates and titles are subject to change. Additional programming and events are added throughout the year and are available at: MeijerGardens.org/calendar
To confirm details or to obtain additional information and images, contact Director of Communications John VanderHaagen: 616-975-3180 or [email protected]
Photos are available HERE
HOURS:
Sunday 11 am—5 pm, Monday 9 am—5 pm, Tuesday 9 am—9 pm, Wednesday through Saturday 9 am—5 pm, unless otherwise noted.
Check MeijerGardens.org for extended spring break and holiday hours.
ADMISSION RATES:
Adults (14—64) $20 | Seniors (65 and older) and Students (with student ID) $15 | Children (3—13) $10 | Children (2 and younger) free
VOLUNTEERS
Wanted. Needed. Appreciated! Various jobs and shifts. Contact Valerie Maciejewski at [email protected] or 616-974-5221.
MEMBERSHIP
Members of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park enjoy unique members-only events and exhibition openings, valuable discounts, and reciprocal benefits to 300-plus gardens nationwide. Meijer Gardens is open early the first full weekend of each month, exclusively for members: Saturdays from 8 am–9 am and Sundays from 9 am–11 am.
CULINARY ARTS & EVENTS
Whether you're celebrating life's special moments in a tranquil garden setting or simply looking for a unique location for a party, business meeting, retreat, or special occasion, Meijer Gardens is the ideal location for an elegant, unique event.
With a 158-acre main campus showcasing internationally acclaimed sculptures and themed gardens, Meijer Gardens has multiple event spaces that provide you with diverse options for any event—indoors and out. Free parking and admissions to garden areas during your event, audiovisual and certified technical specialists, creative catering choices from award-winning chefs, and professional event coordinators will make every event a memorable, one-of-a-kind experience. Learn more at: MeijerGardens.org/host
About Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, one of the world's most significant botanic and sculpture experiences, was recently listed in the top 100 most visited museums in the world and the 30 most visited museums in the United States by The Art Newspaper, the leading global art news publication. Education programs welcome 80,000 students and guests each year. Culinary Arts & Events offerings include weddings, corporate meetings and award-winning catering. The 158-acre main campus features Michigan's largest tropical conservatory; one of the country's largest interactive children's gardens; arid and Victorian gardens with bronze sculptures by Edgar Degas and Auguste Rodin; a carnivorous plant house; outdoor gardens, including a replica 1930s-era farm garden; an eight-acre Japanese garden featuring contemporary sculpture; and a 1,900-seat outdoor amphitheater garden, showcasing an eclectic mix of world-renowned touring musicians each summer. The permanent collection highlights hundreds of sculptures from internationally acclaimed artists Magdalena Abakanowicz, El Anatsui, Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Mark di Suvero, Marshall Fredericks, Henry Moore, Michele Oka Donor, Beverly Pepper, Jaume Plensa, Auguste Rodin, Richard Serra, Yinka Shonibare CBE and Ai Weiwei, among others. Indoor galleries with changing sculpture exhibitions have hosted shows by Jonathan Borofsky, Edgar Degas, Jim Dine, Laura Ford, Richard Hunt, Rebecca Louise Law, Pablo Picasso, George Segal and others.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment, and the arts.
Media Contact
John VanderHaagen, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, 616-975-3180, [email protected]
SOURCE Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
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