Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, one of the world’s most significant botanic and sculpture experiences, was recently named the Top Sculpture Park in the United States by USA Today’s “10Best” and listed as the 81st most visited museum in the world by The Art Newspaper, the leading global art news publication. 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, Richard Hunt, Cristina Iglesias, 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.
Education programs welcome 80,000 students and guests each year. Culinary Arts & Events offerings include weddings, corporate meetings and award-winning catering.
Photo by Michael Moran
One of only two Chihuly exhibitions in the world in 2026, CHIHULY at Meijer Gardens Presented by Macatawa Bank is a major exhibition of international significance. The experience spans both the outdoor gardens and indoor Sculpture Galleries, creating a dynamic dialogue between glass, landscape, and architecture.
Outdoors, guests will encounter monumental glass sculptures, vibrant Reeds, and striking site-responsive installations that appear to grow from the landscape, amplifying color, light, and form throughout the gardens. Indoors, the separately ticketed gallery exhibition Chihuly: Radiant Forms traces more than 40 years of Dale Chihuly’s creative journey. The exhibition features work from many of his most celebrated series, including Baskets, Macchia, Seaforms, Putti, Ikebana, Persians, Venetians, Cylinders, and Rotolo, along with original drawings that offer insight into his creative process and sources of inspiration.
Designed for visitors of all ages, CHIHULY at Meijer Gardens invites both long-term admirers and first-time viewers to experience the work of one of the world’s most influential artists in a setting where art, culture, and nature meet. See website for related exhibition programming. Tickets go on sale in February.
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This engaging and timely exhibition unites the diverse work of national and international artists to explore the multifaceted associations and dimensions of trees—from metaphorical and ecological to the mythological and personal. Forest of Dreams delves deep into the intricate realm of trees and invites guests to reevaluate their relationship with nature and the living world around them.
Trees, as a source of life and as symbols of growth and connectivity, have always held a profound place in human culture and consciousness. Bringing a vast range of materials and methods to the subject, the artists in this exhibition convey the full power and poignancy of trees. Several hybrid sculptures, combining human and tree anatomy, serve to remind us of our close kinship with these complex botanical beings.
The exhibition features the work of 15 exceptional artists: Emilie Brzezinski, Louise Bourgeois, Nick Cave, Kim Cridler, Tom Czarnopys, Michele Oka Doner, Peter Frie, Hugh Hayden, Jim Hodges, Patrick Jacobs, Maya Lin, Robert Lobe, Roxy Paine, Rona Pondick, and Ai Weiwei.
Image:
Ai Weiwei
Iron Root, 2015. Cast iron. 55 x 122 x 77”
Courtesy of Lisson Gallery
This exhibition honors cultures and holiday traditions from around the world. The annual celebration of Christmas & Holiday Traditions and the winter season is a Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park hallmark. Meijer Gardens collaborates with community partners on development of the exhibition. Traditions vary from region to region and family to family; the details of each display do not suggest all people in any one culture celebrate the holidays in exactly the same way. Meijer Gardens honors the joy all families bring to one another when they gather together in celebration.
Lena Meijer, and some of her family and friends, began Christmas & Holiday Traditions in 1995 with 20 displays. For 2023, the exhibition includes 42 displays depicting fact and folklore, past and present. Dedicate time to appreciate the stunning presentations of winter plantings, the artistry of our adorned Christmas trees, intriguing cultural displays and the beloved Railway Garden. Venture outdoors and discover the beauty of nature with wintertime walks. Indoors and out, our magnificent grounds will sparkle with 350,000 lights.
The companion Railway Garden exhibition is a unique horticultural display incorporating garden design, miniature buildings handmade from natural materials, and model trolleys and trains.
PLEASE NOTE: Meijer Gardens is closed for the day on November 23, December 24, 25, 31 and January 1.
We will be open until 9 pm December 18-22 and 26-30.
During the 10 open late nights, gather outdoors with family and friends to celebrate the winter season. Just a short distance from the main building venture out to cozy up around firepits with hot drinks at the DeVos-Van Andel Piazza and enjoy an immersive and majestic lighting experience surrounding The American Horse.
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Tuesdays: January 2—February 27, 10:30 am
Join us this winter for Cozy Tales for Chilly Days! Our popular preschool story time is back for a 14th season of inspiring young readers with fun stories about art, plants, animals, the natural environment and more.
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Sunday, January 21, 1—2:30 pm
Registration required at: MeijerGardens.org/calendar
John Ball Zoo members register at: jbzoo.org
Fee: $8 members | $13 nonmembers | 2 and younger free
In collaboration with John Ball Zoo
Explore the survival techniques of opossums, African bullfrogs, turtles and tenrecs at this family-friendly event! Enjoy watching live animal presentations, listening to animal stories, completing art projects, and trying your luck at animal challenges. Ideal for ages 3–6, with all ages welcome. Come in from the cold and have fun!
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Enjoy experimental nights featuring unique food, drinks and entertainment on Tuesday evenings this winter in the Garden Pavilion. More info at: MeijerGardens.org/winter
January 23: String quartet music surrounded by candle lights and curated by Haijin Choi from Grand Rapids Symphony. “Sculpted Sound” combines the quintessential classical music from Mozart, Caroline Shaw’s subtle yet pervasive voice, and Czech composer Leoš Janáček’s piece inspired by Leo Tolstoy’s shocking novella and infused with his own scandalous personal life. Also featuring intervals of classical guitarist Thom Jayne.
January 30: Americana theme featuring Brian Oberlin with Full Cord, 2022 Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition winner. Full Cord is one of Michigan’s premiere bluegrass bands, technically proficient without sparing a fun lightheartedness in their performances.
February 6: Movement theme featuring the Grand Rapids Ballet. James Sofranko, Grand Rapids Ballet Artistic Director, crafts two provocative vignettes accompanied by electric cellist Jordan Hamilton.
February 13: Blues theme featuring The Remedy. Nathan Walton & The Remedy fuse rock, blues, funk and other styles into a rich explosion of sound. A former American Idol contestant, Walton leads the band with his signature blazing vocals.
February 20: Opera Grand Rapids presents Hip Opera, exploring the convergence of opera and hip-hop.
February 27: Tropical theme featuring The Moonrays, who specialize in astonishingly authentic ‘60s-style surf rock that transports the audience to a beach party in a bygone era.
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Sunday, February 18, 12 or 2:30 pm
Registration required at: MeijerGardens.org/calendar
Fee: $5 members | $10 nonmembers | 2 and younger free
Note: Event ticket price does not include admission to Meijer Gardens
In collaboration with Grand Rapids Ballet
Mark your calendars for a thoroughly delightful butterfly ballet! Told through the eyes of a newly emerged butterfly, the Who Am I? story captivates young and old alike. With colorful costumes, spectacular music, and exquisite choreography, this enchanting performance—choreographed by Attila Mosolygo and performed by members of the Grand Rapid Ballet Junior Company—provides a unique and memorable experience.
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Inspired by the commissioned sculpture \"Utopia\" by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, GVSU faculty members Hannah Seidel (dance) and Bill Ryan (music) have created a new performance work that is a direct outgrowth of the sculpture. The human face is the subject of \"Utopia\", which encompasses the Garden Pavilion in the Welcome Center. A different face fills each wall of the expansive room. The faces of the diverse figures, wearing a calm, meditative expression, are universal symbols of the beauty inherent in humanity. GVSU's acclaimed New Music Ensemble and Dance Company will perform this new work within the Garden Pavilion surrounded by \"Utopia\", offering multiple performances throughout the day.
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Approximately 1,000 chrysalides are delivered to Meijer Gardens weekly. Visitors may watch delicate chrysalides and cocoons being placed in the Observation Station, where the unique creatures transform and take their first flight.
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Please direct questions to Eve Boyer at eboyer@meijergardens.org or 616-975-3145.
We are excited to welcome Jennifer Jewell for the 2024 Secchia Garden Lecture.Jewell is an interviewer, writer, regular keynote speaker at national gardening conventions, and the creator and host of the national award-winning weekly public radio program and podcast Cultivating Place: Conversations on Natural History and the Human Impulse to Garden. In her presentation, Jewell will explore the philosophy of Cultivating Place and walk you through the power of gardens and gardeners as exemplified by the subjects of her podcast. Together, her books—The Earth in Her Hands: 75 Extraordinary Women Working in the World of Plants, Under the Western Skies: Visionary Gardens from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast, and What We Sow: On the Personal Ecological and Cultural Significance of Seeds—and the inspiring Midwestern gardens and gardeners she has collaborated with throughout her career are blueprints, guiding us in ways we can all grow our world better: more beautiful and brave.
The Earth in Her Hands and What We Sow will be available for sale in the DeVos-Keeler Gift Shop. A book signing with the author will take place immediately following the lecture.
Captioning and Spanish translation services will be provided. This lecture will also be livestreamed via Meijer Gardens’ YouTube channel and a recording will be available on YouTube for two weeks following the lecture.
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Insects are the prime medium of internationally exhibited artist Jennifer Angus. Composing the small creatures into kaleidoscopic room installations, Angus highlights our mixed relationship with these ubiquitous beings. With insects pinned directly to walls in repeating patterns that reference both textiles and wallpaper, Angus’ installations speak to ideas of domestic comfort and the unseen world of dust mites, germs, and bacteria. The jewel-like quality of insects is showcased in shimmering bell jar tableaux and in glowing jelly jars set in windows with the effect of stained glass. Through such reverent---even holy—presentations, the vital and threatened insect population is given its proper due. Angus’ recent work has drawn inspiration from the Victorian era and is fueled by her fascination with the multifaceted nature of insects that are at once exotic, grotesque, and enchanting. Her original installation for Meijer Gardens takes the iridescent green wings of the “Jewel Beetle” as her aesthetic departure point.
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Paul Villinski: Flight Patterns
The art of Paul Villinski explores the dynamic aerial realm and various notions of “flight”—literal and metaphorical. A licensed pilot, Villinski gives form to assorted airborne bodies, including butterflies, birds, airplanes and aspiring humans. To create his sculptural work, Villinski enlists a range of found materials: aluminum cans become flocks of patterned butterflies; used knives transform into feathered wings; old vinyl LPs morph into songbirds. These discarded objects are reborn in works that honor their past lives while compounding their identity to address serious subjects such as addiction and environmentalism. A highlight of the exhibition is a scaled-down World War II B25 bomber airplane suspended from the ceiling. In Villinski’s hands, this vessel of destruction is transformed into a vehicle of hope: Instead of bombs it drops food and brings attention to the widespread condition of food scarcity.
Suzanne Eberle, PhD, Professor Emerita, Kendall College of Art and Design
Inspired by insects and birds, artists have long used the theme of flight both to investigate the natural world and to articulate deep human fears, needs, and aspirations. Come explore how and why being airborne has so fascinated artists throughout history.
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Saturday, May 11 | Vendors and Displays 9 am–5 pm
Sunday, May 12 | Vendors and Displays, 11 am–5 pm
This year’s Michigan All-State Bonsai Show will be larger, more inspiring and more exciting than ever before! During our show, the American Bonsai Society joins us to present Bonsai in the Garden Learning Seminars.
This national gathering will attracts bonsai artists and enthusiasts, and some of the nation’s top presenters. Many stunning bonsai will be displayed Friday through Sunday, in the Huizenga Grand Room.
Friday only: A New-Talent Contest will feature a special display by emerging bonsai artists.
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Discover trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and grasses that produce attractive flowers, fruit, and seeds that add beauty to the landscape and benefit wildlife.
","type":"Event","state":"published","slug":"fabulous-native-plants-for-fall","created_at":"2024-09-06 19:17:48.126819","updated_at":"2024-09-06 19:17:48.134549","excerpt":"","is_timeless":false,"organization_id":1220,"highlighted":false,"opening_starts_at":null,"opening_ends_at":null,"searchable":"'30':7B '40':9B 'add':25B 'attract':19B 'beauti':26B 'benefit':31B 'discov':11B 'fabul':1A 'fall':5A 'flower':20B 'fruit':21B 'grass':16B 'landscap':29B 'member':8B 'nativ':2A 'nonmemb':10B 'plant':3A 'price':6B 'produc':18B 'seed':23B 'shrub':13B 'tree':12B 'wildflow':14B 'wildlif':32B","thumbnail":"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1731088726/fhjbhoku5o5rwwctwjyk.jpg","calendar":null,"carousel":null,"category_name":"Education"},{"id":12092,"title":"David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture","starts_at":"2024-09-23 12:00:00","ends_at":"2025-03-02 12:00:00","body":"Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is proud to announce the groundbreaking exhibition David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture, showcasing the prolific and inventive work of David Smith (1906–1965). This landmark exhibition, the first to explore Smith’s deep engagement with nature, will open on September 23, 2024, and will be on view through March 2, 2025.
The art of David Smith is profuse and marvelously inventive. Working in multiple media, formats, and scales, he blurred boundaries between painting and sculpture and between traditional genres such as landscape and figuration. Smith’s bountiful oeuvre has secured him a firm place within art history and his adventurous approach to three-dimensional form has permanently expanded the vocabulary and range of sculptural practice.
Smith is widely hailed as the first American artist to make welded metal sculpture and to absorb industrial methods and materials into his creative repertoire. His inventiveness and contributions to sculptural practice extend far beyond machine vernacular and technique, however. Indeed, many have traced the origins of modern sculpture parks to Smith’s unprecedented outdoor installations on his Bolton Landing property in upstate New York. For Smith, nature was not only a source of inspiration but also served as studio, accomplice and staging ground for his complex sculptural works.
“While David Smith is recognized as the most important sculptor of the 20th century, there is still much to be learned about his expansive art, especially as it relates to the natural world,” says exhibition curator Suzanne Ramljak, Vice President of Collections & Curatorial Affairs at Meijer Gardens. “We are excited to reveal this crucial and lesser-known aspect of Smith’s career at Meijer Gardens, where sculpture and nature are so intimately bound.”
David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture will feature a selection of some 40 sculptures, alongside related paintings, reliefs, and works on paper, providing an in-depth exploration of Smith's sustaining connection with nature. Uniting key loans from major lenders—including The Whitney Museum of American Art, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and Storm King Art Center—the exhibition will be arranged in loose chronological order, beginning with Smith’s earliest sculptures from 1932 to the year before his accidental death in 1965.
Viewers will encounter nature-based work from every decade of Smith’s career, including:
This exhibition will have a particularly strong resonance at Meijer Gardens, where Smith's work will be in direct dialogue with the natural environment, including larger pieces situated out of doors. Do not miss this eye-opening exhibition, exclusively in Grand Rapids, and come witness David Smith’s thrilling sculptural translations of the natural world he knew and loved.
For more information, please visit: MeijerGardens.org/DavidSmith
Exhibition Catalogue:
David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture will be accompanied by an exhibition catalogue co-published by Meijer Gardens and Hirmer/University of Chicago Press. The publication will feature contributions by the artist’s daughters, reflecting on Smith’s lived domestic experience of nature; an essay by curator Suzanne Ramljak, surveying Smith’s engagement with nature as material source, subject matter, and preferred site for his sculpture; appreciations by contemporary artists Beatriz Cortez and Mark di Suvero, addressing Smith’s contributions and connections to current art practice; and an illustrated artist’s chronology highlighting key nature-based events in David Smith’s life and art.
Exhibition Programming:
Unless otherwise noted, programs are included in the cost of admission and registration is not required.
Moving Out: David Smith & Outdoor Sculpture
Wednesday, October 9, 2–3 pm
Join Suzanne Ramljak, exhibition curator and Vice President of Collections & Curatorial Affairs, and Amber Oudsema, Curator of Arts Education, on a walk to explore the lasting legacy of famed Modernist master David Smith. Discover his influence on sculpture parks as we know them and the many successful artists who followed in Smith’s creative footsteps.
A full list of exhibition-related activities can be found at: MeijerGardens.org/calendar
David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture is made possible by:
Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation
The Meijer Foundation
Bill Padnos and Margy Kaye
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation
Botanic and Sculpture Societies of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
About David Smith
David Smith was born in 1906 in Decatur, Indiana. He worked briefly as a welder in an automobile factory before moving to New York City to become an artist in 1926. He studied painting at the Art Students league, where Cubism and Surrealism were foundational to his practice. He began welding sculpture around 1933 after seeing reproductions of constructed steel sculptures by Pablo Picasso and Julio González. He later became associated with the abstract expressionist movement and paved the way for minimalism with radically simplified, geometric works. Painting and drawing remained integral to what Smith called his ’work stream’. He embraced a holistic attitude toward artmaking and dismissed the idea of a separation between mediums. Acknowledging the tradition of painted sculpture throughout art history and drawing from the bold palettes of modernism and pop culture, Smith often painted his sculptures. In his later years, he installed his sculptures in the fields of his home in the Adirondack Mountains, where a dialogue between the art object and nature emerged as central to his practice. His sculpture-filled landscape inspired Storm King Art Center and other sculpture parks throughout the world, as well as anticipating the land and environmental art movements. David Smith died in 1965, leaving behind an expansive, complex, and powerful body of work that continues to exert influence upon subsequent generations of artists.
Smith began exhibiting his work as early as 1930. His first survey was organized by the Museum of Modern Art, New York in 1957. His sculpture was represented by the United States at the São Paulo Biennale in 1951 and at the Venice Biennale in 1954 and 1958. Posthumous retrospectives have been held at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (1979 and 2006, which traveled to Tate Modern, London and the Centre Pompidou, Paris) and at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (2011, which traveled to the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York and the Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, Ohio). Other major surveys have been organized at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid (1996), Storm King Art Center (1997–99), and Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield, UK. A biography by Michael Brenson, David Smith: The Art and Life of a Transformational Sculptor, was published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux in 2022.
(Biography source: Hauser & Wirth Gallery)
About Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, one of the world’s most significant botanic and sculpture experiences, was recently named the Top Sculpture Park in the United States by USA Today’s “10Best Readers’ Choice” and listed as the 89th-most-visited museum in the world by The Art Newspaper, the leading global art news publication. 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, Beverly Pepper, Jaume Plensa, Auguste Rodin, Richard Serra, Yinka Shonibare CBE and Ai Weiwei, among others. Indoor galleries with changing sculpture exhibitions have presented shows by Jonathan Borofsky, Edgar Degas, Jim Dine, Richard Hunt, Cristina Iglesias, Michele Oka Donor, George Segal and others. 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 8-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. Education programs welcome 80,000 students and guests each year. Culinary Arts & Events offerings include weddings, corporate meetings and award-winning catering.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment, and the arts.
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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.
An annual celebration of autumn, Mums at Meijer Gardens is the largest exhibition of its kind in Michigan, featuring expansive chrysanthemum displays, fall foliage and family-friendly activities.
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Sunday, October 6 | 11 am–5 pm
Join us for the Fall Bonsai Show presented by the West Michigan Bonsai Club. 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 tools and supplies.
This holiday season, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is poised to dazzle guests with ENLIGHTEN—an unparalleled holiday light spectacle promising to position Grand Rapids on the global stage of must-see holiday destinations. Produced by the visionary teams at Lightswitch and Upstaging, ENLIGHTEN is set to rival the world’s most iconic holiday displays through an immersive outdoor experience that’s nothing short of magical.
Lightswitch and Upstaging are renowned for exceptional client portfolios and world-class, immersive events. Their work includes Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum, dynamic shows for major theme parks worldwide, and technical mastery showcased on projects for Grammy, Emmy and Academy Award winning artists ranging from Hans Zimmer to Paul McCartney. Their reputation for excellence and innovation is unmatched.
On select dates, November 27–January 4, ENLIGHTEN takes guests on a breathtaking 1-mile journey through Meijer Gardens. No ordinary walk, it's a transformative journey through a winter wonderland where art, light and nature meld in spectacular harmony. Cutting-edge light installations, choreographed to enthralling music and enhanced by interactive elements, invite people to control the magic surrounding them.
Guests traversing this illuminated path will encounter masterpieces by legendary artists including Henry Moore, Auguste Rodin and Ai Weiwei. The iconic The American Horse by Nina Akamu, alongside works by Mark di Suvero and Roxy Paine, will be showcased in dynamic lightscapes, creating a magnificent fusion of sculpture and immersive technology. This dramatic interplay of light and sculpture redefines the boundaries of artistic expression and holiday celebration.
The ENLIGHTEN experience culminates indoors with a vibrant celebration of cultures and holiday traditions from around the world with the annual University of Michigan Health-West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition. The conservatories, Garden Pavilion, and indoor spaces at Meijer Gardens will be transformed into festive marvels that showcase decorations, performances, and exhibits honoring global holiday customs. This captivating cultural journey adds a rich layer of global appreciation to the dazzling visual experience of ENLIGHTEN.
Ticket Information:
Timed tickets are now on sale and range from $10–$20 for members of Meijer Gardens and $12–$24 for nonmembers, depending on the date.
Members of Meijer Gardens receive an additional discount off all tickets compared to nonmember pricing.
Additional discounts are available for groups of 10 or more guests. ENLIGHTENruns between 5:30 – 9:30 pm on select dates between November 27 and January 4.
Timed tickets are available now at: MeijerGardens.org/ENLIGHTEN
“ENLIGHTEN transcends the ordinary holiday event: It’s an immersive experience that fuses the finest elements of art, nature, and technology to captivate and inspire visitors of all ages. We are thrilled to collaborate with Lightswitch and Upstaging to bring this extraordinary vision to life in our community, said Charles Burke, President & CEO of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
Beyond the mesmerizing light displays, the ENLIGHTEN experience offers an array of food, drinks, and festive activities—making it the perfect holiday outing for families, friends, and art enthusiasts. As the United States’ premier sculpture park, Meijer Gardens provides the perfect backdrop for this event, offering an unparalleled presentation celebrating its world-class sculpture collection and the magic and wonder of the holiday season.
Join us for ENLIGHTEN and become part of a phenomenon that transforms Meijer Gardens into a radiant winter masterpiece, rivaling the most celebrated holiday events worldwide.
For more information and to purchase timed tickets,
visit: MeijerGardens.org/ENLIGHTEN
About Lightswitch
Lightswitch is a leading design firm specializing in unforgettable visual experiences. With projects like the Morton Arboretum Holiday Light Show Illumination: Tree Lightsand concert lighting production for performers including Hans Zimmer, Imagine Dragons, Lionel Richie, and Elton John, Lightswitch is at the forefront of lighting design and technology.
About Upstaging
Upstaging is a top-tier production company known for delivering high-quality, creative lighting and staging solutions for events around the globe for clients including Beyonce, Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones. Their expertise and commitment to excellence have earned them a trusted name in the industry.
About Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, one of the world’s most significant botanic and sculpture experiences, was recently named the Top Sculpture Park in the United States by USA Today’s “10Best Readers’ Choice” and listed as the 89th-most-visited museum in the world by The Art Newspaper, the leading global art news publication. 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, Beverly Pepper, Jaume Plensa, Auguste Rodin, Richard Serra, Yinka Shonibare CBE and Ai Weiwei, among others. Indoor galleries with changing sculpture exhibitions have presented shows by Jonathan Borofsky, Edgar Degas, Jim Dine, Richard Hunt, Cristina Iglesias, Michele Oka Donor, George Segal and others. 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 8-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. Education programs welcome 80,000 students and guests each year. Culinary Arts & Events offerings include weddings, corporate meetings and award-winning catering.
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'zimmer':118B,608B","thumbnail":"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1731088732/bh4rsxixja8lqajrkand.jpg","calendar":null,"carousel":null,"category_name":"Exhibitions"},{"id":13613,"title":"University of Michigan Health-West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions","starts_at":"2024-12-01 00:00:00","ends_at":"2025-01-05 00:00:00","body":"Join us in honoring three decades of holiday cheer at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. We couldn’t be more excited to share the season of gratitude with you on this milestone 30th year of our hallmark holiday celebration.
Join us on Tuesday evenings for visits from Santa & Mrs. Claus from 5 to 8 pm in the Garden Pavilion, and special World Beat & Cultural Performances from 6 to 8 pm.
The beloved University of Michigan Health–West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions blends cherished traditions with the new modern immersive light spectacular ENLIGHTEN to transform our Gardens & Sculpture Park into a dazzling winter wonderland like no other. We hope you'll enjoy a visit soon!
","type":"11","state":"published","slug":"university-of-michigan-health-west-christmas-holiday-traditions","created_at":"2024-12-09 20:58:54.271","updated_at":"2024-12-09 20:58:54.272","excerpt":"","is_timeless":true,"organization_id":1220,"highlighted":false,"opening_starts_at":null,"opening_ends_at":null,"searchable":"'30th':42B '5':61B '6':76B '8':63B,78B 'beat':72B 'belov':81B 'blend':90B 'celebr':48B 'cheer':18B 'cherish':91B 'christma':7A,87B 'claus':59B 'couldn':26B 'cultur':73B 'dazzl':109B 'decad':15B 'enjoy':119B 'enlighten':100B 'even':53B 'excit':30B 'frederik':20B 'garden':22B,67B,104B 'gratitud':36B 'hallmark':46B 'health':5A,85B 'health-west':4A 'holiday':8A,17B,47B,88B 'honor':13B 'hope':116B 'immers':97B 'join':10B,49B 'light':98B 'like':112B 'll':118B 'meijer':21B 'michigan':3A,84B 'mileston':41B 'modern':96B 'mrs':58B 'new':95B 'park':24B,106B 'pavilion':68B 'perform':74B 'pm':64B,79B 'santa':57B 'sculptur':23B,105B 'season':34B 'share':32B 'soon':122B 'special':70B 'spectacular':99B 'three':14B 'tradit':9A,89B,92B 'transform':102B 'tuesday':52B 'univers':1A,82B 'us':11B,50B 'visit':55B,121B 'west':6A,86B 'winter':110B 'wonderland':111B 'world':71B 'year':43B","thumbnail":"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1733777926/sg6uvsubnhfoyfky37bi.jpg","calendar":null,"carousel":false,"category_name":null},{"id":16188,"title":"Complementary Exhibition Lecture | David Smith: Sculpture as Complex as Life","starts_at":"2025-01-12 14:00:00","ends_at":"2025-01-12 15:00:00","body":"Join art historian Jennifer Field as she reveals the importance of place in David Smith’s nearly 40-year artistic career, beginning with New York City and ending in Bolton Landing in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State—the legendary home where a dialogue with nature became central to his practice.
Learn more about this exhibition in this video featuring Suzanne Ramljak, Vice President of Collections & Curatorial Affairs.
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Busts—partial renderings featuring the head and shoulders—are central within sculpture history, having ancient origins in Egyptian funerary masks and Greek herms (square stone pillar with a carved head). For millennia, the main function of sculpture busts has been to aggrandize nobility and divinity, and to preserve the likeness of distinguished figures. While the bust genre fell out of favor within 20th-century art, it has experienced a revival among contemporary artists who enlist it to grapple with themes of identity, mortality, power and history.
“Throughout art history, the sculpture bust has proven to be a uniquely potent format for capturing and celebrating individuals,” said Suzanne Ramljak, the exhibition’s curator and Vice President of Collections & Curatorial Affairs at Meijer Gardens. “As the exhibition title suggests, contemporary artists have cracked open this ancient tradition, activating a critical dialogue about who we are, how we are remembered, and the ways in which bodies carry meaning.”
BUSTED offers engaging human representations by 15 exceptional artists from around the world, many of whom have never exhibited at Meijer Gardens: Elia Alba, Dean Allison, Radcliffe Bailey, Barry X. Ball, Sanford Biggers, Layo Bright, Michael Ferris Jr., Salvador Jimenez-Flores, Leonid Lerman, Sebastian Martorana, Paul McCarthy, Jonathan Monk, Elise Siegal, Rose B. Simpson and Jessica Stoller. Together their works bring guests face to face with a rich array of human types and identities.
This ambitious and inclusive exhibition, part of Meijer Gardens’ 30th anniversary programming, will feature dozens of works by artists from diverse cultural backgrounds, using materials ranging from traditional marble and bronze to less conventional media like fabric, glass, and holography. Guests will encounter striking interpretations of the genre, from historical revisionism to intimate portraits of friends and family to poignant meditations on mortality.
Regardless of material or approach, all the sculptures in BUSTED encourage viewers to consider the nuance and variation in individual countenance and to reflect on what truly makes people human. The exhibition’s dynamic selection also demonstrates the continued vitality of figural art as a means of addressing both timeless concerns and today’s most pressing issues.
Exhibition Programming:
Unveiling BUSTED: A Curator's Tour
April 13, 2–3 pm
Join exhibition curator Suzanne Ramljak for an insightful tour of BUSTED, as she delves into the exhibition’s diversity of materials and styles, while probing key themes in art history, identity, and human representation.
Exhibition Explorations: Contemporary Sculpture Busts
May 25, 2–4 pm
Join a Meijer Gardens educator for an engaging exploration of sculpted busts, followed by a lively hands-on interpretive activity ideal for all ages.
Gallery Activity: Thought Bubble
Every day during the exhibition
Stop by our creativity station and find images of key sculpture busts. Imagine what the figures might be thinking, jot down your ideas, and place your thought bubble on the matching image.
For more programming and information about BUSTED: Contemporary Sculpture Busts, visit MeijerGardens.org/BUSTED
BUSTED: Contemporary Sculpture Busts is made possible by:
The Meijer Foundation
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation
Botanic and Sculpture Societies of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
About Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, one of the world’s most significant botanic and sculpture experiences, was named the 2023 and 2024 Best Sculpture Park in the United States by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards and listed as the 90th-most-visited museum in the world 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 8-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 presented shows by Jonathan Borofsky, Edgar Degas, Jim Dine, Richard Hunt, Cristina Iglesias, Rebecca Louise Law, George Segal, David Smith, and others.
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Discover the importance of native plants in supporting wildlife and how to incorporate host plants and nectar plants seamlessly into any garden. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or starting out, you’ll leave with practical tips and creative ideas to transform your outdoor space into a butterfly paradise.
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May 11 | 11 am-5 pm
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park presents Michigan’s largest bonsai show. Join bonsai artists, aficionados, and admirers from across the Midwest to see stunning bonsai on display throughout the Loeschner Grand Atrium and Huizenga Grand Room. Visit the sales area for a great selection of specialty tools, pots, wire and bonsai trees. Have the experts help you find the tree that fits your taste, experience level and growing environment.
Be sure to attend complimentary demonstrations offered throughout the weekend. Bonsai artists—including this year’s guest artist, Carmen Leskoviansky—will demonstrate pruning, wiring, and other styling techniques. Carmen has worked with bonsai since 2009 and apprenticed with Michael Hagedorn of Crataegus Bonsai from 2021—2024. Carmen is now back at the University of Michigan’s Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum as the bonsai specialist, caring for the Dr. Melvyn C. Goldstein Bonsai Collection.
Outside of her work at the collection, Carmen co-founded The Purple Pot Society, a national bonsai club with the mission of educating and inspiring more women to do bonsai. She also co-hosts the podcast Little Things for Bonsai People. Carmen will teach two workshops during the show: and additional workshops, designed for all skill levels, are available during the weekend.
Admission to the Meijer Gardens Michigan All-State Bonsai Show is complimentary.
Applies toward Certified Green Industry Professional Continued Education Unit (CEU)
Complimentary Demonstrations
SATURDAY
10–11:30 am
Understanding and Creating a Bonsai Display with Jack Sustic
11:50 am
Awards Presentation
12–1:30 pm
Bonsai Styling with Guest Artist Carmen Leskoviansky
1:30–3:30 pm
Exploring Kusamono with Denise Bellinger
SUNDAY
12–1:30 pm
Bonsai Styling with Guest Artist Carmen Leskoviansky
2–3:30 pm
Yamadori Collection and Styling with Matt Spinniken
4 pm
People’s Choice Awards Announcement
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Image: Jaume Plensa. Hortense in Slumberland, 2021. Bronze, Edition of 11. 30 x 22 x 20 cm. Photo: Roberto Ruiz © Plensa Studio Barcelona
The Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory is transformed into a vibrant sanctuary filled with thousands of tropical butterflies, creating the largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibition in the United States and one of Meijer Gardens’ most anticipated annual experiences.
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