Known for hosting one of the most popular art competitions in the world,ArtPrize,this city’s creative side continues to flourish. The Frederik Meijer Garden and Sculpture Park offers 158 acres to explore.
Grand Rapids MI offers something for everyone. Whether you’re looking to enjoy some rooftop yoga,dance in Rosa Parks Circle or attend a symphony concert,there are many options.
The Grand Rapids Art Museum
The Grand Rapids Art Museum’s (GRAM) goal is to provide diverse experiences that enhance the human spirit while building practical skills. GRAM is a cultural anchor and beacon through dynamic exhibitions,collections and learning initiatives.
The collection of the Museum consists of over 6,000 pieces,including 3,000 works of paper (prints and drawings),1,000 design and modern crafts (furniture and ceramics,metal,glass and textiles),and 2,000 paintings. Major holdings include the Richard Diebenkorn painting Ingleside and a complete set of Alexander Calder’s concept drafts for the sculpture La Grande Vitesse.
GRAM offers self-guided tours and guided activities for all age groups. There is also a Studio with art-making workshop,live music,and artist talks. The Museum’s digital publications also make it possible to learn more about the five centuries of masterpieces in printmaking and the artists’ techniques as well as their cultural context.
The Grand Rapids Botanical Gardens
The University of Michigan gardens feature mature hardwood forests,perennials and spring bulbs,a glass greenhouse,natural wetlands,and outdoor exhibitions. The Wege Boardwalk,Frey Stream Gardens and the Wege Boardwalk are reached via a paved nature path that crosses the campus.
In 1995,local philanthropists Fred and Lena Meijer donated 70 acres of land for the purpose of creating a botanical garden and sculpture park. It was opened in April 1995 and quickly became a Midwest cultural destination that focused on both sculpture and horticulture.
FMG (158 acres) is the name given to this area’s Meijer Gardens. It contains three conservatories indoors,including a carnivorous and tropical conservatory,an 8-acre Japanese Garden,nature trails,and over 40 major pieces of art. It is the only place in the world that combines stunning botany with thought-provoking sculpture. FMG offers a variety of hands-on activities for children,as well as an annual holiday exhibition featuring items from over 40 different countries and cultures.
The Grand Rapids Sculpture Park
Fans of horticulture are in for a treat at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. The sprawling campus houses areas that showcase a wide variety of flora and fauna,including the new Richard and Helen DeVos Japanese Garden,which opened in 2015. You can find tranquility in the tea house,bonsai,zen,and waterfall gardens.
The 158-acre botanical garden,art museum,and sculpture park is the largest in the world. It includes a large tropical conservatory,an eight-acre Japanese garden,major works of modern and contemporary sculpture on the grounds and indoors,and a series of outdoor gardens and nature trails.
More than 50 works of art are featured in the Sculpture Park and Gallery Collection by some of today’s most renowned sculptors. A few examples include Plantoir,a trowel that extends a bit of whimsy into the landscape; and Spider,a stainless steel sculpture by Louise Bourgeois that symbolizes her mother’s work as a weaver.
Steel Case Pyramid
The Steel Case Pyramid,once the research and design center of a major office furniture company,is now home to one of the world’s largest data centers. According to the company,it’s built to Tier IV Gold Standards and is powered by 100% renewable energy.
It’s no wonder companies are flocking to Grand Rapids to set up shop. The city is home to more than 20 colleges and universities,with 30 percent of residents holding an associate’s degree or higher. That pool of highly educated workers helps attract companies like Amway and the breweries that put Grand Rapids on the beer map,including Founders Brewing Co.
Both the arts and food scenes are humming. Visitors can catch live music ranging from folk to jazz in nightclubs and parks. Art lovers can enjoy the museums and ArtPrize,which is held annually. Shopping is available at two large malls and in local boutiques.