Grant Awarded: November 2004

Type of Grant: Humanities Project Grant

Sponsor: Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Contact: Linda Thompson, 616-975-3141, lthompson@meijergardens.org

Award: $25,000

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – January 19, 2005 – The Michigan Humanities Council is pleased to announce it has awarded Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, a leading cultural destination in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a $25,000 grant for the exhibition, Henry Moore: Imaginary Landscapes, opening January 21, 2005.

The grant is part of the Council’s “Strengthening Michigan's Communities Through the Humanities” program which emphasizes collaboration among cultural, educational and community-based organizations and institutions to serve Michiganians with public humanities projects and programs.

Henry Moore: Imaginary Landscapes focuses on Moore's work from the late 1950's through the 1970's which was highly influenced by the natural environment and landscape. The exhibition was created especially for the Gardens and will not travel to other organizations. More than 200,000 people are expected to visit the exhibition during its four-month tenure at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

“ The exhibition's demonstrations, workshops and other educational features represent an extraordinary array of interactive humanities-based activities to attract visitors,” said Janice Fedewa, executive director of the Michigan Humanities Council. “Frederik Meijer Gardens has produced an excellent project for the public to be given many opportunities to learn about the impact of one of the most important sculptors in modern history, Henry Moore.”

Among the many educational features of the project funded by the Council include:

• history lecture by Anita Feldman Bennet, curator at the Henry Moore Foundation on January 23
• lecture series focusing on British history, writers and gardens on February 8, 15, 22
• workshops focusing on photography, water color, plaster relief and sketching
• guided audio tour
• field trip curriculum

“ Moore is regarded as one of the most important and influential sculptors of the 20th century. He was renowned for the inspiration he drew from nature as well as his ability to transform what he found in the wild into his sculptures,” said R. Brent Dennis, executive director at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. “This exhibition is the premier examination of Moore’s work focused on the inventive role of nature and abstracted landscapes. We are delighted with the Michigan Humanities Council’s generous grant and look forward to developing new ways of advancing Michigan’s cultural landscape in the future.”

In addition to the educational components, sculptures, maquettes and drawings from the Henry Moore Foundation are on exclusive loan to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park for the exhibition. Visitors will receive a rare view into the artist’s work through approximately 85 pieces and discover how the artist changed the direction of Western sculpture with his unique approach to the human figure and abstraction.

“ This specially curated exhibition will enhance cultural tourism in West Michigan by giving the public a rare, hands-on opportunity to learn about the different ways artwork impacts our society,” stated U.S. Representative Vernon Ehlers. “By funding this project, the Michigan Humanities Council, with the assistance of Congress, continues its mission of strengthening understanding, learning about the commonalities and differences between cultures and learning about our past, present and the future.”

About the Michigan Humanities Council
Michigan Humanities Council, founded in 1974, is the state's independent, non-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. For more information about Michigan Humanities Council, visit www.michiganhumanities.org.

About Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
The 125-acre Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park features Michigan's largest tropical conservatory; the nation's largest carnivorous plant house; one of the largest children’s gardens in the country; arid and Victorian gardens; outdoor gardens; the Midwest's most comprehensive outdoor sculpture experience featuring world-class works by Rodin, Oldenburg, Moore, and others; indoor galleries with changing sculpture exhibitions, as well as a café and gift shops. The Gardens will celebrate its 10th anniversary in Spring 2005. For additional information, please visit www.meijergardens.org.