2010 Daytrip to Grand Rapids, Michigan / Frederik Meijer Gardens / Exhibition: A New Eden

“A New Eden”- by Dale Chihuly

Location: Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park

Temporary exhibition: April 30 – September 30, 2010.

The exhibition celebrates the 15th anniversary of Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park,
which held its grand opening April 20, 1995.

One of the high points of my Grand Rapids tour was temporary exhibition “A New Eden” by glass artist Dale Chihuly at the Frederik Meijer Garden & Sculpture Park. I was not aware of this exhibit when I made my trip to Grand Rapids to see the Art Prize, 2010. The exhibition was in celebration of the 15th Anniversary of Frederick Meijer Gardens.

Some 15 installations – 13 outdoors and 2 indoors – are scattered throughout the 132-acre grounds of the park. Two new pieces, “Summer Sun” and “Blue Moon,” were created especially for this show. There are glass chandeliers, towers, floating spheres and reeds all nestled in the beautiful garden. These join two of Chihuly’s permanent installations – “Gilded Champagne Gardens Chandelier” in the Grand Atrium, and “Lena’s Garden,” suspended from the ceiling of the Taste of the Gardens Cafe.

“A New Eden” marks the artist’s second major show at Meijer Gardens. The first was 2003’s “Color & Light: Chihuly at the Gardens.”

Here are few images from the exhibition: “A New Eden” – by Dale Chihuly..

Summer Sun – by Dale Chihuly / A New Eden

Two new pieces – Summer Sun and Blue Moon – were created especially for this show. Summer Sun [image above]- the yellow and orange sculpture, made up of some 1,700 pieces of glass. In contrast to the hot colors of the Summer Sun, the “Blue Moon” is made in cool blue and white colors.

Blue Moon – by Dale Chihuly / A New Eden / The Groves and Hekman Pond..

Citron Green and Red Tower – by Dale Chihuly / A New Eden / English Perennial and Bulb Garden

Red Reeds – by Dale Chihuly / A New Eden / Amphitheater Hillside

Yellow Boat – by Dale Chihuly / A New Eden / The Groves and Heckman Pond

Walla Wallas – by Dale Chihuly / A New Eden / Groves and Hekman Pond

Garden Glass – by Dale Chihuly / A New Eden / English Perennial and Bulb Garden

Rose Crystal Tower – by Dale Chihuly / A New Eden / Volunteer Tribute Garden

Lime Crystal Tower – by Dale Chihuly / A New Eden / Sculpture Park – Lower Fall..

Saffron Tower – by Dale Chihuly / A New Eden / Sculpture Park, Lower Pond..

Herons – by Dale Chihuly

Ikebana – by Dale Chihuly

Polyvitro Chandelier – by Dale Chihuly / A New Eden / Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory.

PERMANENT INSTALLATIONS
As mentioned earlier, Chihuly has two permanent installations at the Frederik Meijer Gardens:
“Gilded Champagne Gardens Chandelier” in the Grand Atrium, and..
“Lena’s Garden,” suspended from the ceiling of the Taste of the Gardens Cafe.