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.
Whether you want to dance at Rosa Parks Circle,enjoy rooftop yoga or take in a symphony performance,Grand Rapids MI has something for everyone.
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. Through dynamic exhibitions,collections,learning initiatives and community partnerships,GRAM serves as a cultural beacon and civic anchor.
The Museum’s collection consists of more than 6,000 works,including approximately 3,000 works on paper (prints,drawings and photographs),1,000 works of design and modern craft (furniture,ceramics,glass,metal and textiles) and 2,000 paintings and sculptures. The Museum’s major holdings include Richard Diebenkorn’s painting Ingleside,and a set of concept drawings for La Grande Vitesse by Alexander Calder.
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. In addition,the Museum’s digital publications make it easy to learn about five centuries of print masterpieces and artists’ techniques,as well as the cultural context that influenced them.
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.
Local philanthropists Fred Meijer and Lena Meijer gave 70 acres in 1995 to create a sculpture and botanical 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. This is the only place on earth that blends stunning botany and thought-provoking sculpture. FMG also offers hands-on children’s activities and an annual holiday display featuring items from more than 40 countries and cultures.
The Grand Rapids Sculpture Park
Fans of horticulture are in for a treat at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. The campus is home to a variety of areas,such as the Richard and Helen DeVos Japanese Garden that opened in 2015. Here you can experience tranquility amid waterfalls,tea house,bonsai and zen-style gardens,and more.
The 158-acre botanical garden,art museum,and sculpture park is the largest in the world. The 158-acre garden includes a tropical conservatory and an 8-acre Japanese Garden,as well as major modern and contemporary sculptures on the grounds and inside. There are also outdoor gardens and nature paths.
The Gallery Collection and Sculpture Park feature more than 50 magnificent works of art by some of the world’s finest sculptors. Plantoir is a trowel which adds a touch of whimsy to the landscape. Another example is Spider,an stainless steel sculpture created by Louise Bourgeois,that represents her mother’s weaving work.
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.
Grand Rapids is a great place to start a business. 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.
The arts and food scenes hum,too. Visitors can catch live music ranging from folk to jazz in nightclubs and parks. And art lovers will find plenty to admire at museums and in the annual ArtPrize event. There’s also shopping at two huge malls,and shoppers can hone their skills in the local neighborhood boutiques.