Celebrating 30 years and looking ahead, we remain deeply rooted in our DNA. Inspired by Fred and Lena Meijer’s fearless innovation, we approach everything we do through the lens of our guiding ideals: cultivating joy, striving for world-class excellence, and welcoming all.
Williamsburg, Virginia, holds a special place in my heart. Growing up in metro Washington, D.C., I have cherished memories of visiting Colonial Williamsburg. My brilliant wife is a proud graduate of the prestigious College of William & Mary, and our family loves returning to visit my wonderful in-laws, Judy and Maloy, who now call Williamsburg home.
There’s something magical about the pebbled, crunchy Duke of Gloucester Street artisans, food, music, history, a warm sense of place that invites you in. As a cultural leader, I find Williamsburg’s welcoming spirit fascinating. In the museum world, we talk a lot about the “paywall” the balance between ticketed and nonticketed experiences. Colonial Williamsburg embraces its historic town square essence, making history accessible and engaging for everyone.
Town squares and piazzas have long been at the heart of communities places to gather, celebrate, trade, exchange ideas. From bustling Piazza San Marco in Venice to early American settlement squares, these spaces reflect a community’s identity, values and aspirations. At Meijer Gardens, we carry on this tradition, fostering an environment that brings people together in meaningful and intentional ways, shaped by our unique campus and architecture.
We’ve taken steps to ensure our welcoming commitment is felt from the moment visitors arrive. By shifting our paywall behind the Curiosity Courtyard, James & Shirley Balk Café, and DeVos–Keeler Gift Shop, guests could freely explore and enjoy our spaces. Whether savoring award-winning cuisine, discovering a perfect gift, or finding a quiet moment beneath Dale Chihuly’s breathtaking Gilded Champagne Gardens Chandelier in the refreshed Loeschner Grand Atrium, we want everyone to feel at home.
We also bring our spaces to life through creative activations. During Sparkle! and the Great Gardens Gala, the Daniel and Pamella DeVos Ticketing Center transforms into a lively, Instagram-worthy scene, complete with seating clusters, specialty lighting, and live music. Winter Nights and Spring Nights programming introduces dynamic experiences to Jaume Plensa’s Utopia and the Garden Pavilion think artful projection mapping, craft cocktails, masterfully curated cultural presentations. Our beloved Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition inspires fluttering electronic butterflies and a colorful springtime photo corner. Thoughtfully placed seating throughout Meijer Gardens invites moments of reflection and rest, while new automated ticket kiosks and a direct check-in system streamline entry, making visits even smoother.
Step outside and experience the DeVos Van Andel Piazza designed for connection and contemplation. With seating surrounding The American Horse, guests could truly take in the grandeur of this monumental sculpture. Elsewhere, new additions provide comfort on the warmest days. And we’re thrilled to introduce our latest sustainability initiative: a quiet, clean, polished electric tram fleet, reimagining how we explore Meijer Gardens while blending history with forward-thinking innovation.
Looking to the future, we eagerly anticipate the renovation of the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden, slated to debut late spring 2026. This transformation will introduce Big Girl Playground and 4 Spinners by Tom Otterness sculptor of our beloved Mad Mom and a redesigned hospitality station, offering a place to cool down, warm up, or enjoy an ice cream treat. This fresh, dynamic space will further enrich the Meijer Gardens experience, for visitors of all ages.
And there’s more! We’re enhancing our highly anticipated Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens Expanded hospitality offerings, additional seating and shade options near the Eileen DeVries Concessions Center create a more welcoming environment at concerts. Arrive early, enjoy a meal, relax with friends, soak in the ambiance because every concert experience should be seamless and memorable.
Meijer Gardens is more than simply a place: It’s a community gathering space, a cultural living room, a town square on the Beltline. We’re intentional about making every corner of our campus welcoming, inclusive and alive with possibility. From the Amphitheater Plaza, home to our new Ursula von Rydingsvard sculpture, to the entrance of the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden, we are designing spaces where everyone belongs.
What a powerful statement of inclusion and accessibility lifting a legacy, opening our arms, inviting the world in.
Thank you for being part of our journey. Together, this is where we all grow.
Warmly,
Charles Burke, President & CEO, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
An oasis of inspiration, restoration, and healing, The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden has been a distinctive destination within our 158 acres since the first visitors walked through its dramatic Main Gate on June 10, 2015.
Designed and developed by renowned master garden designer Hoichi Kurisu, this serene space is steeped in centuries of Japanese tradition, with an unexpected infusion of landmark contemporary sculpture.
“The origin story was to open not as a finished garden but the beginning of a journey,” Senior Vice President Steve
LaWarre remembers. “The Japanese Garden is a living organism—it will never be complete. I recall Hoichi remarking that art brought this garden style into the 21st century and that still rings true today. Other Japanese gardens around the world don’t have that duality of horticulture and sculpture. It’s a defining distinction.”
“Many say a Japanese garden hits its prime after 100 years. So in that sense, we are still in our infancy,” notes Ethan Coté, Lead Horticulturalist. “Ours is a collection of traditional garden styles, based on different eras of Japanese culture that we’ve curated to be comingling conversation pieces. It embodies the flowing coexistence of nature and art.”
Craftsmanship is another point of pride. Across the 8-acre garden, architecture is authentic: Every primary building, gate and bridge was built by Japanese artisans, many of whom traveled to Meijer Gardens to handassemble them onsite.
“As the landscape has evolved over the last decade, the spirit of the original garden lives on in those structures,” adds LaWarre. “Even the copper roofs on the Main Gate and teahouse were hand bent by Japanese craftsmen.”
Horticulture reveres Japanese style. Walking the winding path, one feels Hoichi’s influence in artistic placement of boulders, trees leaning over the water, contemplative changes in elevation, and use of negative space. “Japanese style was a monumental shift for us,” LaWarre admits. “Nothing is straight, imperfection is intentional, and space is essential. Like Hoichi says, ‘Nature is already perfect.’ And with every year, this garden proves that to be more and more true.”
Time has made the sensory experience more meaningful. The gnarled trunks of more than 80 varieties of maturing trees; the weathered bamboo fences; the blooming blankets of azalea and rhododendron; the life force of the 3-acre pond’s vibrant ecosystem; the captivating canopy of cherry trees—the garden is coming into its own.
“A Japanese garden is a process of constant editing,” says LaWarre.
“The structures, boulders and water are its unchanging backbone, but time has enhanced the horticultural experience.”
As the garden has matured, plants are continually moved, shaped and pruned to allow breathing room. “Western gardening fills the space with as many plants as possible, but in Eastern philosophy, empty space is intentional,” Coté says. “It’s an aesthetic choice that leads you to think about the next thing—
open space opens your mind. When a tree declines or falls, we pause and let the space breathe and become.
“Often, when something is removed, other elements come into focus.”
The Japanese style of niwaki, meaning “garden tree,” dictates this pruning process. Where trees in their natural habitat fill space, ours are manipulated to remain at human scale, to showcase the essence of the tree.
“We have 115 Austrian and Scots pines,
which can reach 60 feet naturally, yet ours are under 15 feet so you can enjoy the whole tree and not just its trunk,” Coté adds.
“Niwaki is art meeting science. Frequent pruning provides health benefits to trees while emanating their aging on a scale that’s up close and personal, to give the advantage of experiencing the beauty of a living thing as it grows.”
LaWarre concurs. “We have endured the ebb and flow of 40 seasons. And now, 10 years later, we can finally appreciate our Japanese garden in a way we couldn’t possibly have when it first opened.”
One time, one meeting
Commonly seen on scrolls in Japanese tea houses, ichi-go ichi-e translates roughly in English to “one time, one meeting.” The saying, attributed to 16th-century Buddhist monk and tea master Sen no Rikyū—revered in Japanese culture as the father of the tea ceremony or chanoyu, “the way of tea”—lives as a reminder to cherish the unique, unrepeatable nature of each moment; the “once-in-a-lifetime.”
Tea ceremonies are led by highly trained tea masters who spend years and often decades devoted to learning and performing their steps, along with dedicated study in related arts and skills—from fine details of expertly crafted stoneware bowls and bamboo tools used in preparation, to meanings and associations of seasonal flowers chosen for simple arrangements adorning the teahouse. While prescribed ceremony steps remain the same, guests take time to appreciate all aspects of the experience—the afternoon light slanting through the window; the beauty of chosen tea bowls; the cedar teahouse beams’ scent on a warm day; the delicate colors and flavor of sweets the host shares. The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden, 10 years old this June, is young compared to Japan’s centuriesold gardens of similar style. Yet ours has changed dramatically, bringing garden designer Hoichi Kurisu’s vision to life a bit more each day. Shrubs once shinhigh nursery stock now arch gracefully over pathways. Moss flourishes on stone lanterns and waterfall stream edges.
We cordially invite you to celebrate the transformation with us. A garden you’ve come to know and love is entirely new every day—a place where we all grow, learn, and delight in appreciating simple joys and once-in-a-lifetime moments.
Four Seasons of Beauty
Infinite Voice
boulders set in place gazing at tip of branches autumn’s first color glittering, shiny embrace certain inspiration: light waterfall complete running down boulder surface splashing of water the sound from so far away I wonder, whose voice it is… on the pond’s surface shape of forest reflected how beautiful, how pure! everything reflecting love enduring now, forever
—Hoichi Kurisu
Japanese Garden Related Classes
Plein Air Drawing in the Japanese Garden (Adults)
Wednesday, June 18, 4–7:30 pm
$45 members | $55 nonmembers
Kathleen Kalinowski
Introduction to Silk Painting (Adults)
Wednesday, June 18, 5:30–8:30 pm
$50 members | $60 nonmembers
Le Tran
Japanese-Style Aesthetic Pruning (Adults)
Saturday, June 21, 8–10 am
$20 members | $30 nonmembers
Ethan Cote, Meijer Gardens
Nature, Design, and Time:
10 Years of the Japanese Garden (Adults)
Saturday, June 21, 10:30 am–12 pm
$20 members | $30 nonmembers
Steve LaWarre, Meijer Gardens
Summer Ikebana-Inspired Floral Design (Adults)
Saturday, June 21, 1–3 pm
$85 members | $95 nonmembers
Mandi Stade CF, Meijer Gardens
Shibori Indigo Dyeing (Adults)
Saturday, June 21, 1:30– 4:30 pm
$60 members | $70 nonmembers
Megan Williams, Adventure Textiles
Hidden Artistry: The Bonsai Garden (Adults)
Sunday, June 22, 10 am–12 pm
$20 members | $30 nonmembers
Ted Bentley, Meijer Gardens
Ceramic Tea Bowls (Adults)
Sunday, June 22, 11 am–3 pm
$75 members | $85 nonmembers
Harmony Nguyen
For a complete description of classes or to sign up, scan the QR code or visit: MeijerGardens.org/Calendar
Japanese Garden Related Events
Japanese Tea Ceremony in the Teahouse
Saturdays: May 17, June 21, July 19, October 18 11:30 am, 1 pm, 2:30 pm
$100 members | $110 nonmembers
Experience the timeless Japanese art of chanoyu, the traditional tea ceremony. Watch as skilled tea masters in elegant kimonos perform ritualistic cleansing of utensils and prepare and present matcha—finely ground green tea—accompanied by English commentary. Afterward, delight in sweets and matcha. A unique program feature is the chance for guests to enjoy authentic Shigaraki ceramics, specially commissioned from renowned Japanese ceramicists and fired in one of the world’s oldest kilns. This contemplative ceremony, designed to engage all senses, is best appreciated in quiet reflection. Space is limited. Register early at: MeijerGardens.org/calendar
Inside the Japanese Teahouse
Sundays: May 18, June 22, July 20, August 17, September 21, October 19, 1– 4 pm
Included with general admission.
Immerse yourself in the serene atmosphere and refined architecture of our authentic Japanese Teahouse, open the third Sunday of each month, May to October. Marvel at the expert carpentry, harmonious contrasts of wood, intricate patterns and unique textures that define this architectural gem. Access to this experience is included with admission and offered on a first-come, first-served basis, weather permitting.
Japanese Garden Tours
Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22: hourly, 11 am– 4 pm
Included with general admission. Registration is not required. Space is limited: first come, first served.
Take a 45-minute walking tour of the Japanese Garden with a trained volunteer docent. Tours start from the Main Gate of The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden.
Film Screening: Amache Rose
Tuesday, June 17 | 6:30—8:30 pm
Huizenga Grand Room
$5 members | $15 nonmembers
The beautiful, moving documentary Amache Rose honors the remarkable roses thriving in the Colorado high desert. Planted 80 years ago by a Japanese American prisoner at the Granada Relocation Center, they’ve withstood harsh conditions without water or care, symbolizing resilience and the power of nature. Featuring insight from Dr. Bonnie Clark and interviews with Amache survivors, this film explores the connection amongst memory, history, and the natural world. Learn about Denver Botanic Gardens efforts to preserve the rose and its legacy as part of the Amache National Historic Site. Following the screening is a panel discussion with Dr. Bonnie Clark, Horticulturist Ethan Cote of The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden, and film director Billy Kanaly.
Bonsai Show Workshops
Dwarf Alberta Spruce Bonsai Workshop (Adults)
Saturday, May 10, 9:30–11:30 am
$90 members | $100 nonmembers
Steve Jetzer, West Michigan Bonsai Club
Level: Intermediate
Dwarf Mugo Pine Bonsai Workshop (Adults) Saturday, May 10, 9:30–11:30 am
$130 members | $140 nonmembers
Jim Beck, BC Bonsai
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Silverthorn Bonsai Workshop (Adults) Saturday, May 10, 10 am–12 pm
$175 members | $185 nonmembers
Mark Fields, Bonsai by Fields
Level: Advanced
Ficus retusa Bonsai Workshop (Adults) Saturday, May 10, 12:30–3 pm
$150 members | $160 nonmembers
Jimmy Whiteley, Wynne Creations
Level: Beginner
Family Fun with Ficus Saturday, May 10, 1–2:30 pm
$110 members | $120 nonmembers
Scott Zomerlei, West Michigan Bonsai Club Level: Beginner
Japanese Black Pine Bonsai Workshop (Adults) Saturday, May 10, 1–3:30 pm
$200 members | $210 nonmembers
Rob Hoffman, Yume-en Bonsai Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Bring Your Own Tree Bonsai Workshop (Adults) Saturday, May 10, 2–5 pm OR Sunday, May 11, 2–5 pm
$50 members | $60 nonmembers
Carmen Leskoviansky
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Bonsai Photography (Adults) Sunday, May 11, 8:30–11 am
$35 members | $45 nonmembers
Dianne Carroll Burdick
Japanese Maple Bonsai Workshop (Adults) Sunday, May 11, 11 am–1:30 pm
$170 members | $180 nonmembers
Jim Beck, BC Bonsai | Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Cedar Elm Forest Bonsai Workshop (Adults) Sunday, May 11, 11:30 am–2 pm
$130 members | $140 nonmembers
Ken Huth, Ken’s World of Bonsai Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Juniper Rock Planting Bonsai Workshop (Adults) Sunday, May 11, 2–4 pm
$165 members | $175 nonmembers
Melissa Renaud, Green Witch Gardens of Northern Michigan | Level: Intermediate
Japanese Juniper Bonsai Workshop (Adults) Sunday, May 11, 2– 4:30 pm
$85 members | $95 nonmembers
Steve Jetzer, West Michigan Bonsai Club
Level: Beginner
Bonsai Show
May 10—11
Meijer Gardens
Michigan All-State Bonsai Show
Saturday, May 10:
Vendors and Displays, 9 am–5 pm
Sunday, May 11:
Vendors and Displays, 11 am–5 pm
Meijer Gardens 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 experts help you find the tree that fits your taste, experience level and growing environment. 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. Leskoviansky has worked with bonsai since 2009 and apprenticed with Michael Hagedorn of Crataegus Bonsai from 2021–2024. She 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, Leskoviansky co-founded The Purple Pot Society, a national bonsai club with the mission of educating and inspiring more women to do bonsai, and co-hosts the podcast Little Things for Bonsai People She will teach two workshops during the show. Additional workshops, designed for all skill levels, are available during the weekend. Register early: They fill quickly!
NOTE: Workshops require advance registration and payment. Email questions to: classes@meijergardens.org
Complimentary Demonstration Schedule
Saturday, May 10
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
2:30–3:30 pm: Exploring Kusamono with Denise Bellinger
Sunday, May 11
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
Vendors
Ancient Art Bonsai
Asian Artique
B.C. Bonsai
Bonsai by Fields
Der Töpfer
Greenwitch Gardens
Her Laurels
International Bonsai Arboretum
Ken’s World of Bonsai
Lakeside Bonsai
Linda Ippel Studios
Stone Forrest Pottery Yume-en
Face Time at Meijer Gardens
This summer’s featured exhibition, BUSTED: Contemporary Sculpture Busts, offers an encounter with dozens of engaging sculpted individuals albeit from the chest up.
While the Sculpture Galleries brim with a sundry crowd of busts, in varied materials and from diverse cultural backgrounds, the spaces beyond also play host to a number of cropped and partial figures awaiting the renewed attention of visitors.
As the BUSTED exhibition reveals, it can be more powerful to present an incomplete figure particularly the head and shoulders rather than a full body. Such cropped treatment showcases a person’s head and face, which is where we source most of our evidence about each other. The stylistic treatment, materials, and accouterments of these sculptures provide further clues, leading us to grapple with questions of identity, history, and power.
You will find this same facial focus throughout the permanent collection at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
BUSTED provides an occasion to revisit these sculptures with fresh eyes and trace the cultural and historical connections implied by these works.
The role of history is at the forefront of Bill Woodrow’s toppled head, titled Listening to History. With bound eyes and a book affixed atop its ear, this figure may be listening but seems blind to the lessons of the past.
Igor Mitoraj draws inspiration from the grandeur of ancient Greek and Roman sculpture. Using the idealized style and preferred metal of these Classical civilizations, Mitoraj’s monumental bronze head, Light of the Moon, pays quiet tribute to his predecessors.
Rather than turn upward to the sky, the colossal head of Zhang Huan’s Long Island Buddha sinks down into the earth. Huan imparts his own cultural identity with this depiction of the Buddha and suggests the deity’s spiritual energy through the highly conductive material of copper.
The internal energy of a mind at work is
captured in Tony Cragg’s tall, contorted Bent of Mind. Rising up like a cobra, the twisting bronze sculpture contains two contoured profile heads that come into focus as one circles the work.
At first glance, the axes and hedge clippers with disembodied heads in Jim Dine’s Tools in Their Places suggest a violent crime scene. Knowing Dine’s biography helps disarm these potentially dangerous tools; Dine’s grandfather owned a hardware store, where the artist came to see such implements as almost familial objects—“like relatives.” Although the heads wear unsettled expressions, Dine has carefully arranged the tools into a finely ordered composition.
Indoors beneath the skylit Garden Pavilion is Utopia, Jaume Plensa’s roomsized relief. To convey an idyllic world of unity and peace, Plensa sculpted four distinct faces, each with features representing a different ethnic origin. Rendered in translucent marble, with eyes closed and mouths serene, the faces in Utopia immerse us in the uniquely powerful force of human expression.
For more information about BUSTED: Contemporary Sculpture Busts visit: MeijerGardens.org/BUSTED
For a tour of related Permanent Collection sculptures partake:
Expression in the Sculpture Park
Wednesday, July 16, 2–3 pm
Saturday, July 19, 10–11 am
Join Amber Oudsema, Curator of Arts Education and Interpretation, in the indoor galleries for a unique walk through the Sculpture Park. Explore the powerful facial expressions of figurative sculptures, enriched by insights from art history and the artists themselves.
Related Programming for BUSTED
Exhibition Explorations:
Busted Exquisite Corpses
May 25, 2–4 pm
August 17, 2–4 pm
Meijer Gardens Educator
Join a Meijer Gardens educator for an engaging exploration of the bust sculptures, followed by a collaborative Surrealist art game where participants contribute to a figure drawing one section at a time—without seeing what the previous person added—resulting in a fun and unexpected final product that’s perfect for all ages. Tap into your creative side as we bring these sculptures to life together!
The Many Faces of Portraiture
Sunday, June 22, 2–3 pm
Suzanne Eberle PhD
The portrait has a long and varied history that provides a larger context for appreciating the sculptures in BUSTED. Join us as we explore how and why the human face fascinated so many artists across multiple cultures and time periods.
The Psychology of Emotion Expression Sunday, September 7, 2–3 pm
Wolfgang Friedlmeier PhD
Join Dr. Wolfgang Friedlmeier, Professor of Developmental and Cross-Cultural Psychology at Grand Valley State University, for an engaging lecture on the psychology of emotion expressions. Dr. Friedlmeier will examine how facial expressions, feelings, and emotion regulation across cultures shape our interpretations of emotions, partly drawing from his research on how emotion socialization influences children's emotional development in various cultures. Discover how these insights come to life in sculpture and reveal deeper truths about human emotion.
From the very beginning, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park was designed to be a home for great sculpture. When Meijer Gardens opened its doors in 1995, more than 100 bronzes lived on the premises, many of them by nationally renowned regional artist Marshall Fredericks. Fred Meijer, an avid admirer and collector of Fredericks’ work, had encouraged the West Michigan Horticultural Society to incorporate these sculptures into the newly established botanical garden, thus launching the organization’s dual mission of promoting appreciation of both art and horticulture.
Fred’s passion for sculpture continued to grow and evolve, leading him to support a monumental project inspired by the drawings of Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci. In 1999, The American Horse, a 24-foot-tall sculpture by Nina Akamu, was unveiled—a high achievement for a display garden then featuring an array
of primarily animal-themed sculptures. Fred’s interactions with Akamu and other artists exposed him to the wider art world, and his visits to the foundry where The American Horse was cast introduced him to the works of Magdalena Abakanowicz, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, and Tom Otterness, among other sculptors. This newfound appreciation for cuttingedge art inspired a bold vision: the creation of a world-class sculpture park.
Over the course of the next three years, Meijer Gardens’ inaugural Curator of Sculpture, Joseph Antenucci Becherer, worked with Fred Meijer to grow a collection that would fulfill this ambitious dream. In 2002, the 25-acre Sculpture Park opened with 24 works by celebrated artists such as Louise Nevelson, Antony Gormley, Henry Moore, Keith Haring, and Mark di Suvero, along with a show-stopping 1881 work by the “Father of Modern Sculpture,” Auguste Rodin—his renowned Eve. The park’s first commissioned piece, Column of the Free Spirit by Chicago-based artist Richard Hunt, also debuted at this grand opening. With this impressive launch, Meijer Gardens quickly earned national recognition, gaining coast-to-coast coverage from The New York Times to The Los Angeles Times.
A Decade of Excellence
From its inception, the collection was focused on sculpture from Modern and contemporary artists, produced from the late 19th century until today. Throughout the next few years, significant works were acquired by highly regarded artists, including Andy Goldsworthy (2006), Beverly Pepper (2009), Michele Oka Doner (2009), Roxy Paine (2011) and Richard Serra (2013). The 10-year anniversary of Meijer Gardens marked another milestone with the development of The Grove in the Sculpture Park, featuring Kenneth Snelson’s B-Tree II, the inspiration for the organization’s current logo design.
One of the more dramatic indoor acquisitions during this first decade was Dale Chihuly’s Gilded Champagne Gardens Chandelier, installed in 2003. This glass masterwork, inspired by natural forms, quickly became a visitor favorite. In 2012, a decade after the Sculpture Park’s grand opening, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park earned a place on The Art
Newspaper ’s list of the 100 most-visited museums in the world and continues to climb rank on this prestigious list, demonstrating the collection’s compelling strength and global recognition.
A Flourishing Legacy
Even after the passing of Meijer Gardens’ beloved benefactor in 2011, the collection continued to flourish and garner praise. To celebrate Meijer Gardens’ 20th anniversary, Ai Weiwei’s Iron Tree was acquired, marking a significant international addition to the growing collection.
In 2019, a Fred Meijer legacy exhibition was presented in the galleries, featuring a newly acquired work by GhanaianNigerian artist El Anatsui. The collection’s international expansion continued with Utopia by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa in the new Welcome Center, opened in 2021, and Ways to Say Goodbye by Jerusalemborn Ariel Schlesinger as a Holocaust memorial in 2022.
Today, three decades since Meijer Gardens’ opening, the commitment to an inspiring and world-class art collection continues under the leadership of Suzanne Ramljak, Vice President of Collections & Curatorial Affairs. This year, in celebration of our 30th anniversary, two grand sculptural statements—by Nick Cave and Ursula von Rydingsvard—will take their place on the grounds (see page 13). These and other enlightened acquisitions ensure Fred Meijer’s original passion for sculpture will keep burning bright, for generations to come.
Welcoming Nick Cave and Ursula von Rydingsvard into the Collection
The vast, verdant grounds of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park have always served as home to bold artistic statements. Fueled by founder Fred Meijer’s enabling enthusiasm, the first grand sculpture welcomed at Meijer Gardens after its 1995 opening was Nina Akamu’s monumental The American Horse, based on drawings by Leonardo da Vinci (see facing page). This colossal bronze broke new sculptural ground and ushered in what could be called the “land of the giants” at Meijer Gardens.
In physical size and scale of significance, two recent sculpture acquisitions by Nick Cave and Ursula von Rydingsvard bring even more grandeur to the collection. Cave’s Amalgam (Origin) and von Rydingsvard’s Bronze Bowl with Lace, showcased below, join more than 300 works in the permanent collection, representing a major expansion to Meijer Gardens’ sculptural landscape.
Amalgam (Origin) is a continuation, on a colossal scale, of Nick Cave’s bestknown series of Soundsuits. Cave created his first Soundsuit in response to the 1991 beating of Rodney King in Los Angeles and has since made hundreds in varying shapes and materials, all based on the scale of his own body. Serving as physical camouflage, the sculptural forms create a second skin that conceals race, gender and class, forcing the viewer to look without judgment. Cave’s work is characteristically ornate,
Ursula von Rydingsvard’s
Bronze Bowl with Lace dramatically scales up the artist’s signature structures and processes. Most of her work takes the form of abstracted shapes that refer to things in the real world— vessels, bowls, tools, and other objects—each revealing the mark of the human hand while also summoning natural forms and forces.
The artist builds her work in layers of cedar timbers and then carves them with
drawing from craft traditions, fashion, vintage textiles and labor-intensive techniques.
In Amalgam (Origin), the material and collagelike element of his work is captured in the highly textured and detailed bronze casting. Further developing Cave’s earlier seated bronze, A•mal•gam, the monumental upright Amalgam (Origin) appears firmly rooted in the earth, as if growing from the soil. Like a community beacon, the sculpture signifies our unique individuality while
power tools, resulting in sculptures that retain a strong biomorphic quality. The rich surface texture of the original wooden model is captured in the casting process, which the artist emphasizes as she develops each unique patina. In Bronze Bowl with Lace, through the translation in bronze, von Rydingsvard fashions the wood to become almost like tracery.
The perforated lace top appears to dissolve into the
also suggesting our common ground in nature.
Amalgam (Origin) will be installed by October along the North Path near The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden and Michigan’s Farm Garden.
About Nick Cave Nick Cave has had numerous solo exhibitions and shows domestically and internationally. His 2022 museum retrospective, Nick Cave: Forothermore, was presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York City. Cave’s work is in numerous public collections, among them the Museum of Modern Art; Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; and the Seattle Art Museum.
sky and gently glows from the internal lighting after dark.
Bronze Bowl with Lace will be installed in May and reside prominently within the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater plaza.
About Ursula Von Rydingsvard Ursula von Rydingsvard’s work is found in numerous museum collections, among them the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Museum of Modern Art; National Gallery of Art; and Storm King Art Center. Her many honors include membership in the American Academy of Arts and Letters and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in the Arts from the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
Top: Nick Cave. Amalgam (Origin), 2024. Bronze (edition
Meijer.
Ursula von Rydingsvard.
A Tale of Twin Horses
Since its unveiling in 1999, The American Horse by Nina Akamu has been a hallmark of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Inspired by a 15th-century piece created by Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci for the Duke of Milan, the monumental sculpture was championed by Fred Meijer, who commissioned two 24-foot bronze casts by sculptor Nina Akamu: one for Meijer Gardens, the other for Milan, Italy.
Upon traveling to Italy last December, longtime members Ric Roane and Leandro Robles couldn’t resist the opportunity to see the “other horse.”
“I joined Meijer Gardens when it was just a greenhouse and have been a member for 30 years,” says Roane. “I remembered The American Horse had a twin in Milan. We had to see it!”
The two made the trek to the Ippodromo di San Siro, a historic horse track where the sculpture Il Cavallo di Leonardo resides. “When we approached, it was a completely new experience,” recalls Roane. “Unlike The American Horse, which stands on the ground in a secret garden of sorts, this sculpture was stationed on a marble plinth as the focal point of a courtyard in front of the arena’s neoclassical façade. It was a thrilling difference.”
The moment was emotional for these men. “Both sculptures are so majestic and empowering,” echoes Robles. “I love that these twin horses live in different worlds. It was 60 degrees in Milan and home was blanketed in snow.”
“It felt like a pilgrimage,” Roane continues. “I was giddy with excitement and hometown pride at the generosity of the Meijer family to create not one but two of these incredible works of art—and then gift one. I remember thinking there must be Milanese people who come to Grand Rapids to see The American Horse. What da Vinci didn’t achieve in his time is for the ages now.”
In addition to travel and art, the couple shares a love of food. Their gift of a wine dinner in
their private cellar is an annual highlight of our Great Gardens Party live auction. “It is a natural expression of our passions,” says Roane. “We created a wine cellar with a large dining table in the middle, with the intention of hosting dinner parties that give back to the community.” “We even cater the meal— Ric is an incredible chef,” adds Robles.
“Our home is just three miles away, so we consider Meijer Gardens an extension of our backyard.”
Roane has also served on the Great Gardens Party committee and is chairperson of the Grand Rapids Symphony board of directors. Robles serves on the Meijer Gardens board of directors and Diversity & Inclusion committee. Their philosophy for philanthropy is informed by the generosity of West Michigan leaders. “Fred Meijer and others have led the way to making our city better,” notes Roane. “Peter Wege used to say, ‘Do as much as you can, for as many as you can, for as long as you can.’ We live by that legacy of giving, too.” Robles agrees.
“We have such a rich city because of the visionaries who have given back. Anyone can give within their means, and every little bit counts.”
The inherent intimacy of chamber music makes it a magnificent fit for Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. From artistry to aesthetics, the sensory interplay of Sunday Strings inspires an elevated listening experience that draws guests year after year.
This summer marks the sixth anniversary of this stellar series, which we’re delighted to celebrate with you indoors in our newly imagined Huizenga Grand Room.
Created by Grand Rapids Symphony Section Violinist Haijin Choi and presented by Greenleaf Trust, Sunday Strings offers the rare opportunity to immerse yourself in chamber music, from classical to contemporary, performed by exceptional West Michigan musicians in a setting unlike any other.
“Each performance is curated with its own unique perspective,” Choi notes. “This season, we’re thrilled to unveil new collaborations like Vox GR, an award-winning professional choral ensemble from West Michigan. There’s something universally captivating about the beauty of human voice in harmony—it’s simply awe-inspiring. You’ll leave feeling proud to be part of our local community.”
Each season also features non-string instruments. “We’re excited to highlight saxophone virtuoso Dan Graser, an associate professor at GVSU and member of the renowned Sinta Quartet,” says Choi. “He’ll perform two stunning pieces for alto saxophone and string quartet by Adolf Busch and Ellen Taffy Zwilich.
Ayers Basement Systems
Tuesday Evening Music Club
June 17 | Music That Raised Us
June 24 | A. Billi Free & The Lasso
July 1 | MexiCuba + Cabildo
July 8 | Headband Henny + Hannah Laine
July 15 | marsfade + The Rebel Eves
July 22 | The Grand Rapids Chorus Sweet Adelines + Great Lakes Brass
July 29 | 6-Pak
August 5 | August + Hannah Rose Graves Band
August 12 | Franklin Park
August 19 | The Accidentals with Special Guests Patty Pershayla and The Burney Sisters*
*Special ticketed show: $10 members, $10 + general admission for nonmember guests. Available beginning April 21 at: MeijerGardens.org/TEMC
August 26 | Grand Rapids Ballet
“Come enjoy the richness of the instrumentation, complemented by modern voice.” Your seats are waiting! Join us select Sundays in July and August. Performances are complimentary.
July 6 | Eastward Bound: Quartet Perspectives
Savor sounds influenced by the music of Eastern Europe.
July 13 | SACRED PLACE featuring VOX GR
Celebrate the majesty and spirituality of nature.
July 20 | Weaving Voices: From Dvorák to Assad
Discover musical textures from bohemian spirits.
July 27 | Fusion of Voices: Saxophone and Strings
Explore this unique pairing through works by Busch and Zwilich.
August 3 | Echoes of the Romantic and Beyond Journey through Mendelssohn’s heartfelt trio, Kapustine’s jazzy flair and Auerbach’s bold modernity.
August 10 | Italian Serenade
Immerse yourself in Italy’s warmth with Tchaikovsky’s lush tones, Mozart’s brilliance, and Puccini’s tender charm.
Jim & Marie Preston
Dick & Samantha Gauthier
Ping & Tim Liang
Todd Oleson & Sarah Ash
Blue Lake Public Radio
Concerts for the Community
Concerts for the Community Sponsored by The Steve & Amy Van Andel Foundation welcomes guests to enjoy outdoor music. Together, Meijer Gardens and Kent District Library offer community members facing economic hardship the opportunity to enjoy our Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens. Concerts for the Community, facilitating partnerships between Meijer Gardens and nonprofit organizations, has benefited over 1,300 concertgoers while diversifying community exposure to world-class music. Ticket recipients, selected by KDL, are transported to and from Meijer Gardens. They receive general admission and concessions vouchers, along with a Meijer Gardens admission ticket for a future visit to explore our campus. Visit MeijerGardens.org/donate to support this program. Select donate online, then your donation amount, then Concerts for the Community from the Funds options.
Summer Camps, Classes and Events
Summer Camps
DISCOVER FREDERIK MEIJER GARDENS & SCULPTURE PARK THIS SUMMER!
Unlock a summer of creativity and adventure at Meijer Gardens! Our 2025 Summer Camps offer hands-on experiences for kids of all ages! Through active exploration and daily creative activities, each camp sparks imagination and curiosity. Activities include 3D creations, environmental observation, and animal-themed discoveries. Sessions run June 9 through August 16. Early registration recommended! Don’t miss out on a world of fun—join us for an unforgettable summer of learning and creativity. Visit our website for more information about specific camps and to register: bit.ly/FMG_SummerCamps
Horticulture and Art Classes
Applies toward Great Lakes Floral Association Certified Florist Continued Education Unit (CEU).
Applies toward Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association Continuing Education Units (CEU).
Join us this summer for fun and engaging art and horticulture classes and events that include the following:
Floral Chinese Ink Drawing (Adults)
Tuesday, May 6, 5:30–8:30 pm
$45 members | $55 nonmembers
Lotus Liu
Art and Nature Tram Tour: Summer (Adults)
Monday, June 9, 6–7:30 pm
$15 members | $25 nonmembers
Eve Boyer and Amber Oudsema, Meijer Gardens
Behind the Scenes Sculpture (Adults)
Wednesday, August 20, 5–7:30 pm
$25 members | $35 nonmembers
Adam Bundy, Meijer Gardens
Lena Meijer Children’s Garden
June 9—August 16
Children’s Garden activities are included with general admission. Registration not required. Please dress for the weather. All activities take place outdoors.
Mondays, 10:30 am | Moving to the Music
Be part of our musical jam! Play an instrument, clap your hands, tap your toes, lend a voice. Follow along with local musicians as we make music.
Wednesdays, 10:30 am | Outdoor Artist Studio
Explore outdoors with an artist’s eye! Join local artists in our vibrant atmosphere for engaging, informal art experiences. Get creative with everyday materials such as paper, crayons and clay.
Saturdays, 10:30 am | Science Saturday
Investigate Michigan’s natural world! Explore fascinating facts about insects, fossils, mammals and more. Participate in kid-friendly activities and learn about scientific wonders from guest naturalists and scientists.
SPECIAL CHILDREN’S GARDEN SUMMER EVENTS
Red, White, Blue and You: A Salute to Independence Day! | Saturday, July 5, 10 am–12 pm
Help us celebrate America’s birthday—the Children’s Garden way! March and move to inspiring live music and listen to classic Fourth of July storybooks. From an All-American Flag Hunt to a Hula Hoop Hoopla on the lawn, there’s birthday fun to be had by everyone!
Michigan’s Farm Garden
Children’s Garden activities are included with general admission. Registration not required. Please dress for the weather. All activities take place outdoors.
Fridays at the Farm
June 27, July 25, August 29, 10:30 am–1:30 pm
Have bushels of family fun this summer! Children of all ages will enjoy farm-time fun working together on “chore challenges” and joining in on special farm-inspired stories, games, music, and more. We hope to see you all down on the farm!
SPECIAL FAMILY WEEKENDS AT THE MICHIGAN'S FARM GARDEN
Garden Wonders
Saturday, June 7, 11 am–2 pm
Sunday, June 8, 1–4 pm
Come smell the flowers at Michigan’s Farm Garden! This weekend will have you exploring the uses of flowers and diving into the fascinating world of Michigan’s native pollinators and their vital relationship with plants. Through hands-on activities, you’ll see how pollinators and flowers work together to support life on our planet.
BARN RENOVATIONS
The Barn at Michigan’s Farm Garden celebrates its 20 th year as a cherished landmark. Grand River Builders, known for historic restoration, recently installed its new roof, ensuring its preservation for future generations. Thanks to their work and the dedication of the Meijer Gardens Maintenance team, the barn continues to honor West Michigan’s agricultural heritage.
Visit MeijerGardens.org/calendar for a full listing and description of classes, events, registration information, and cancellation policies.
Plant Shows and Related Classes
Daylily Show Grand Valley Daylily Society
Saturday, July 12, 11 am–5 pm
Daylily flowers last just one day—and so does this show. See an amazing variety of daylily flowers, varying in size from less than 1 inch to almost 10 inches across. Learn more about this favorite perennial from local experts at the Grand Valley Daylily Society.
Daylilies 101 (Adults)
Saturday, July 12, 12–1:30 pm
$30 members | $40 nonmembers
Ginny Pearce, Garden Path Perennials
Local expert Ginny Pearce, a daylily hybridizer from the Grand Valley Daylily Society, shares expert tips for helping your daylilies survive and thrive, including an organic approach to their maintenance. Explore the rich history and stunning variety of colors, forms, and textures of these charismatic perennials. Plus, take home a unique daylily from Pearce's own collection to start or enhance your garden!
Botanical Illustration with Daylilies (Adults)
Saturday, July 12, 1–4 pm
$40 members | $50 nonmembers
Nancy Hart
Dahlia Show West Michigan Dahlia Society
Saturday, August 23, 12–5 pm AND Sunday, August 24, 11 am–5 pm
Become inspired as you stroll through a room filled with stunning blooms and a rainbow of color. Be amazed by flowers the size of dinner plates and discover the huge variety of flower forms available. View lovely floral arrangements and chat with Dahlia Society members to learn more about growing this beautiful flower.
Dahlia Floral Arrangement (Adults)
Saturday, August 23, 10:30 am–12:30 pm
$110 members | $120 nonmembers
Mandi Stade CF, Meijer Gardens
Create a stunning floral arrangement with locally sourced dahlias and seasonal flowers while mastering design fundamentals. Begin with a demonstration on composition, color combinations and display techniques, then put your skills to work crafting your own stunning arrangement in a 3x6-inch vase. Leave with a beautiful arrangement and the confidence to create floral designs at home!
Dahlia Photography (Adults)
Sunday, August 24, 9–11 am
$35 members | $45 nonmembers
Mary Jo Asmus
Dahlias 101 (Adults)
Sunday, August 24, 1–3 pm
$25 members | $35 nonmembers
Jeff Miner, WMDS President
Jeff Miner, President of the Midwest Dahlia Conference and West Michigan Dahlia Society, shares everything you need to know about growing stunning dahlias at home. Learn how to care for these beautiful flowers throughout the seasons, from planting to overwintering, with expert tips on soil preparation, feeding, pest management, and sustainable best practices to keep your garden thriving. Explore the incredible diversity of dahlia varieties, including unique forms, vibrant colors and growth habits. Leave with a deeper appreciation for the Dahlia Show and the skills to become a successful dahlia gardener.
Books in Bloom!
Begins Friday, June 20
This summer’s Books in Bloom! will feature a floral arrangement created by Horticulture Exhibitions Lead Designer & Project Manager Lisa Roo and inspired by Yayoi Kusama, a book in the Peter M. Wege Library. This arrangement will be on display for about one week.
Mad About Mom
She’s our resident super model. She appears in countless photographs— solo and with admirers.
She resonates with children (and moms) of all ages.
She’s relatable.
Who is she?
Tom Otterness’ daunting yet delightful Mad Mom sculpture is a perennial favorite of visitors to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. And now, she really could be YOURS! One of the newest bright spots in our DeVos–Keeler Gift Shop is an assortment of Mad Mom-adorned wares. You’ll find captivating renditions of our bronze darling a beacon of mothers’ universal authority and capacity to express approval or disapproval with body language alone—on our mug, magnet, lined journal, tote bag, and adult and kids’ T-shirts, bringing a smile to all who see her.
“We’re excited to offer these exclusive items. People have been asking for her!” said Katie Sevigny, Store Director for the gift shop. “People love it! We keep hearing that they’re ‘so glad to finally see something’ with Mad Mom on it.”
Visit the DeVos–Keeler Gift Shop during your next Meijer Gardens outing for Mad Mom merchandise and more. Won’t be here anytime soon? Visit MeijerGardens.org and search for shop & eat .
Rendering courtesy of PURE Architects Bottom: Rentals courtesy of Alpine Events
A Grand Refresh
The Evolution of Meijer Gardens’ Event Spaces
Renovated and revitalized, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s most beloved event spaces WOW guests with a new contemporary look, enhanced functionality, and upgraded features. The Huizenga Grand Room, Loeschner Grand Atrium, Hauenstein and Pfeiffer Event Rooms, and Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation Room present a refined ambiance, ensuring Meijer Gardens continues offering worldclass experiences for all.
“It has been truly gratifying to see guests and eventgoers enjoying the recently unveiled spaces. The renovations give new life to the iconic architecture of our building and the experiences we provide within it,” says Peter Crawford, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives & Technology. “Working with local trusted partners including Owen-AmesKimball and PURE Architects allowed us to deliver profound results through a collaborative expedited design and construction process, ensuring these important rooms were only closed briefly.”
“O-A-K has a long history of partnering with Meijer Gardens, including hosting our company Christmas party there every year,” shared Jeremy Amshey, Chief Operating Officer, Owen-AmesKimball. “We are grateful for the opportunity to renovate these spaces, making them more modern and functional for years of future events.
“We covet our relationship with Meijer Gardens. Our work together is deeply aligned in a pursuit to enhance the lives of people through space, nature, culture and belonging,” said Zach Verhulst, Founder and CEO, PURE Architects.
“Over 850,000 visitors from all over the world experience the beauty of Meijer Gardens every year, and we are very grateful to have a role in the truly positive outcomes they provide!”
These rooms are completely refreshed. New flooring, wall, and ceiling treatments; updated technology and audiovisual equipment; and a more timeless neutral palette enhance the spaces—complementing the surrounding horticultural and sculptural elements and enabling our team to create unique, customized experiences, no matter the occasion.
The Huizenga Grand Room shines with feature chandeliers and an elegant finish package, making it ideal for weddings, galas, and corporate gatherings. The skylit Loeschner Grand Atrium pre-event space, boasting updated lighting and refreshed finishes, is amplified in its showcasing of Dale Chihuly’s Gilded Champagne Gardens Chandelier.
These rooms continue allowing for privacy while offering flexibility to expand into the Grand Atrium with an updated modular partition wall system.
Independently or combined, the Hauenstein and Pfeiffer Event Rooms offer private patios with sweeping views of the Volunteer Tribute Garden and nearby landmarks such as the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory.
The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Foundation Room nestles near the Volunteer Tribute Garden Pond, Gwen Frostic Woodland Shade Garden, and
Frey Boardwalk, immersing guests in a serene natural setting.
Additional updates include digital menu boards and a ceiling refresh in the James & Shirley Balk Café, featuring Dale Chihuly’s Lena’s Garden, and new furniture to be added throughout the building in late spring.
These extraordinary spaces, already in use, set the stage for unforgettable events in every season.
Book Your Next Event With Us!
Whether you’re planning a wedding, corporate event or family celebration, our spaces are designed to make occasions truly special. Visit MeijerGardens.org/host for information or to book your event. We look forward to welcoming you!
Quarterly Tributes
IN HONOR
Steve LaWarre
Peter and Carroll Perez
Jackie Miller-Snell
Lawrence Snell Jr and Patricia Snell
Mary Morgan
William Rutchow
Chris and Bill Warren
Laura Malagon
Cheyenne Williams
Aaron Williams
IN MEMORY
Diane Alexander
Kenya Alexander
Bob Baiers
Aaron Baiers
Bruce Baker
C A Chien
Beverly Barrett
The Susan Goethel Campbell Fund
Coral Bauman
Carlton and Mary Ferguson
Cheng Kuok Mee, O.B.E., Ellen Lung
Cheng and Lawrence Hua Pang Cheng
Vivien Cheng and Family
L. and E. Tseng
David P. Dalgleish
Susan G. Darigo
Carolyn Eleanor Dee
Kathy Wolverton
The Grandchild of Jackie and Larry Fitzsimmons
Euchre Friends
Suzanne Gardon
Emily Tseng
Molly Gillam
Emily Tseng
Earl D. Holton
Lori and Michael Hankinson
Bryan and Katharine
Judge
John Hopkins
Lynda Hopkins
Sally Jackson
Robert and Renee Flemings
Barbara Ross Jermstad
Dennis Wooldridge and Jackie Del Raso
Pat Knoester
Dennis Wooldridge and Jackie Del Raso
Betty Lawther
Lori and Michael Hankinson
Anne Linburg
Barbara Beineman
Barbara Love
Lynn Martin Lori and Michael Hankinson
Duke Terrence Miller
Dennis Wooldridge and Jackie Del Raso
Each tribute made in honor or memory also recognizes Meijer Gardens as a meaningful place in our community. Please visit MeijerGardens.org/donate to learn more about these opportunities or to contribute to our annual fund.
These gifts were received between December 1 and February, 28, 2025. Those honored or memorialized are listed in bold type, while donors appear in regular type.
Joan Mossing
Mark T. Mossing
Michelle Mucha
Lori and Michael Hankinson
Tony Paull
Christine and Trevor Paull
Chung Wha Rhee
ML Rhee
Anne and Richard Sedlon
Emily Tseng
James Sharp Jr. James and Leslie Sharp
Nora Student
Emily Tseng
Gail Wagner
Laura Wagner
Kenneth Wenger
Jack and Joanne Hulst
Fiona Williams
Kathy Williams
Howard Wirt
Carlton and Mary Ferguson
building a legacy
Lena and Fred Meijer (at left on blue lift) observe the final installation steps of The American Horse.
BUSTED: Contemporary Sculpture Busts
April 4–September 21, 2025
BUSTED: Contemporary Sculpture Busts explores this ancient sculpture genre as transformed by artists in the 21st century. Featuring a wide array of materials and stylistic approaches, the selected work by 16 diverse artists addresses vital issues in history and human identity.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment, and the arts.
am. The DeVos-Keeler Gift Shop, James & Shirley Balk Café and Peter M. Wege Library open at regular hours. Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day. Hours may change seasonally or during special exhibitions. Visit MeijerGardens.org for details. Meijer Gardens receives funding from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
of
where we all grow™ We value your input! Respond to our content or submit your own to hello@meijergardens.org. Seasons is produced quarterly and mailed to Meijer Gardens members. If you prefer to receive your copy digitally, contact Membership at 616-977-7689 or membership@meijergardens.org. Meijer Gardens is a proud member of Museums for All. Show your EBT/WIC card for a reduced admission of $2 per person for up to four people.
TF
Layo Bright. Anacardium occidentalis (Epo Cashew), 2019. Mixed media. 23 1/2 x 28 x 18 inches. C ourtesy of the artist.
