Jodi:
Dale Chihuly opens one of his largest exhibitions to date
and Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan is
hosting.
“Chihuly at Frederik
Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park: A New Eden” is among the finest
examples of Chihuly’s work interacting with the natural world. Millions
of Chihuly lovers from all over the country are expected to travel to West
Michigan for this exhibition.
From now through September 2010 the
exhibition will be one of the most brilliant, expansive and only showcases
of Chihuly sculptural glass to appear in both indoor and outdoor landscapes.
The exhibition marks an
unprecedented collaboration between Chihuly and a horticultural team. Fifteen site-specific glass sculptures will harmonize with
the surrounding natural environment; while bright, bold horticulture designs
will change with each season.
I am happy to invite you to tour the exhibition during or
immediately following the installation, as well as an interview with Joe
Becherer, chief curator and vice president at Meijer Gardens.
Videos and slideshows of the exhibition can be found at www.youtube.com/meijergardens.
In addition, if you need hi-res images or have further questions, don’t
hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to
your feedback.
Brian Burch
PR counsel for Meijer Gardens
616-233-0500
bburch@lambert-edwards.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BREATHTAKING
CHIHULY EXHIBITION OPENS AT MEIJER GARDENS
Chihuly at
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park: A New Eden
April 30 –
September 30, 2010
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., — April 30, 2010 —
Few American artists can capture the attention of millions the way Dale Chihuly
can, and Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, one of the
nation’s most significant sculpture and botanic experiences, will
celebrate the masterwork of Chihuly with a breathtaking and exclusive outdoor
sculpture exhibition, April 30 - September 30, 2010.
“Chihuly at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture
Park: A New Eden” will include thousands of pieces of glass in 15
different settings across the 132-acre grounds. Each site-specific sculpture
will harmonize with the surrounding natural environment, and bright, bold
horticulture designs will change with the seasons.
“This exhibition celebrates one of the world’s
foremost glass artists and his much-anticipated return to Meijer
Gardens,” said Joseph Becherer, chief curator and vice president.
“Specifically created for this exhibition, Chihuly’s sculptural
glass infuses his expression of nature with the stunning landscape of our
grounds.”
For “A New Eden,” Chihuly and his team are
working with the Meijer Gardens Horticultural team to celebrate the duality of
art and nature. Chosen sites span the grounds of Meijer Gardens including the
English Perennial Garden, Woodland Shade Garden, Lena Meijer Children’s
Garden, wetland areas and the 30-acre Sculpture Park.
Citron Green and Red Tower, an explosive,
16-foot-tall sculpture set in the stately English Perennial Garden, greets
Meijer Gardens’ guests as they enter. Throughout the indoor gardens, Neon
Tumbleweed Chandeliers cascade light into the Arid Garden and Polyvitro
Chandeliers, Ikebana, Baskets, Macchia and Persians
highlight the Lena Meijer Conservatory.
The outdoor galleries of the Sculpture Park provide a
seasonal experience for the mind and eye. Even before entering the Sculpture
Park, the majestic Rose Crystal Tower, invites visitors to explore the
wonders of the Meijer Gardens’ outdoor masterpiece. Visitors will the see
The Sun and all its glory in the Cultural Commons and The Moon in
the neighboring Groves.
“Horticulture and sculpture are fully unified in this
exhibition. The landscaping incorporates our natural terrain in addition to
large-scale expression of bold colors, textures and patterns complimentary to
Chihuly’s work,” said Steve LaWarre, director of horticulture at
Meijer Gardens. “Among the most beautiful discoveries that visitors will
find is how ‘A New Eden’ will change between April and September.
Color, light, and shadows will delicately evolve with plants and glass as we
move from spring and summer into autumn.”
“’A New Eden’ is a highlight of our
15-year anniversary,” said David Hooker, president and CEO. “It is
significant to showcase an artist who portrays our dual mission so
magnificently.”
Meijer Gardens has a long and rewarding relationship with
Dale Chihuly. ‘A New Eden’ is the sculptor’s second
exhibition at Meijer Gardens. “Color & Light: Chihuly at the
Gardens” was an indoor exhibition held in 2003. The exhibition saw nearly
quarter-million visitors in four months.
In addition to the exhibition, two permanent installations
are on display: Gilded Champagne Gardens Chandelier, in the Grand
Atrium, and the newly installed Lena’s Garden suspended from the
ceiling of the Taste of the Gardens Café.
Lead sponsors for this exhibition include The Daniel and
Pamella DeVos Foundation, Steelcase, Inc. and The Meijer Foundation.
Images are available upon request. Video slideshow of
the exhibition are available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/meijergardens
A recent report from The Art Newspaper ranked the
most-visited art museums worldwide, placing Meijer Gardens among the top
100. It joins an exclusive list which includes the Louvre, British
Museum, Guggenheim Museum and Museum of Modern Art.
Newscap
Now open! Exclusive #Chihuly exhibition @Meijer_Gardens is
among artist’s largest ever to combine glass & natural world: http://ow.ly/1F9ns
About Dale Chihuly
World-renowned artist Dale Chihuly (b. 1941) was first
introduced to glass while studying interior design at the University of
Washington. He continued his studies at Rhode Island School of Design, where he
later established the glass program and taught for more than a decade. Through
the Fulbright Fellowship, Chihuly studied in Venice, which exposed him to the
team approach to glass blowing. Later, he returned to Washington State and
founded the Pilchuck Glass School, where he continues to lead the way in fine
art glass blowing. He has since been awarded eight honorary doctorates and two
fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Chihuly’s well-known series of works include Baskets,
Persians and Seaforms. His work is included in more than two hundred
museum collections worldwide. Chihuly’s lifelong affinity for glass
houses has grown into a series of exhibitions with botanical settings.
About Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
One of the nation’s most significant botanic and
sculpture experiences, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park serves more
than a half-million visitors annually. The 132-acre grounds feature Michigan's
largest tropical conservatory; one of the largest children’s gardens in the
country; arid and Victorian gardens; a carnivorous plant house; outdoor
gardens; and a 1750-seat outdoor amphitheater, featuring an eclectic mix of
world-renowned musicians every summer. The internationally acclaimed Sculpture
Park features a permanent collection including works by Rodin, Oldenburg,
Calder, Moore, Bourgeois and Plensa among others. Indoor galleries host
changing sculpture exhibitions with recent exhibitions by Picasso, Degas, di
Suvero and Chihuly. For additional information, please visit www.meijergardens.org.
Contact
Amy Sawade, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park |
616-975-3155 | asawade@meijergardens.org
Brian Burch, Lambert Edwards & Associates | 616-233-0500
| bburch@lambert-edwards.com
_________________________________________________
Brian Burch,
Senior Associate
Lambert, Edwards
& Associates
616-233-0500 p
| 616-828-9813 c
www.lambert-edwards.com
bburch@lambert-edwards.com
Grand Rapids |
Lansing | Detroit
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