Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Introduces COMMITTED TO PAPER: MASTER DRAWINGS AND PRINTS BY SCULPTORS Today

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is pleased to introduce some of the most surprising works of the permanent collection in a special group exhibition, "Committed to Paper: Master Drawings and Prints by Sculptors." The exhibition features Meijer Garden's growing collection of drawings and prints by sculptors, some relating to sculpture found in the permanent collection, while others reflect the sculptor's body of work at large.

Opening to the public today, January 31, the exhibition will feature more than 40 works by sculptors, on view for the first time. Major works by Magdalena Abakanowicz, Anthony Caro, Louise Nevelson, George Segal, Roxy Paine and Anthony Gormley, among others will be featured.

"Meijer Gardens is deeply honored to premier this incredibly rich collection of drawings and prints by sculptors," said Joseph Becherer, chief curator and vice president of exhibitions and collections. "This incredible visual treasury is full of rich imagery by many of the most important sculptors from the 20th and 21st centuries."

Three distinct categories of drawings and prints will be shown in this exhibition. The first is comprised of preparatory works, primarily drawings created in anticipation of specific works of sculpture. The second category encompasses drawings and prints that are meditations on completed works of sculpture. Finally, the last is composed of life studies and completed works by Modern and Contemporary sculptors for whom works on paper are a significant aspect of their career.

"Undoubtedly, audiences of every age and experience will be fascinated by this broad and diverse body of work," said Becherer.

Although many of the drawings and prints on display have been part of the permanent collection from the beginning, others are recent gifts from the artists in honor of Fred Meijer.

A variety of programming is associated with this exhibition.

Exhibition Programming

Curator's Choice
Tuesday, February 11, 7 p.m.
Fee: Included with admission
Experience the exhibition through the eyes of our chief curator. Walk through the show and learn more about the process of drawing for sculptors in our permanent collection.

Art Workshops
Saturdays, February 15 and 22, 1-3 p.m.
Fee: Included with admission
Presented in collaboration with Grand Valley State University art education students. Visit the sculpture galleries and view the exhibition to learn about the unique two-dimensional artwork created by sculptors from our permanent collection. Then create an art project inspired by the exhibition.

Perspectives
Friday, February 21, 12 p.m.
Fee: Included with admission
Walk through the galleries with three staff members as they explore, "Committed to Paper: Master Drawings and Prints by Sculptors" from their own perspectives. Discover interesting personal interpretations of sculpture that you may have never thought of before. Feel free to participate in the discussion; it's not necessary to be an art expert to find deeper meaning in art.

Drop-In Drawing Workshops
March 16 and March 29, 1-2 p.m.
Fee: Included with admission
Join two local artists as they explore the exhibition through sketching. Grab a pencil, clipboard and paper and learn drawing tips and techniques from experts. Discover how sculptors use drawing in their work and how you can add more sketching and drawing to your life. All levels welcome.

The exhibition "Committed to Paper: Master Drawings and Prints by Sculptors" is made possible by The Meijer Foundation and Botanic and Sculpture Societies of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

About Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

One of the world's most significant botanic and sculpture experiences, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park serves nearly 600,000 visitors annually. Meijer Gardens was recently ranked in the top 100 most-visited art museums worldwide by Art Newspaper, the leading publication in global art news. The 132-acre grounds feature Michigan's largest tropical conservatory; one of the largest children's gardens in the country; arid and Victorian gardens with bronze sculptures by Degas and Rodin; a carnivorous plant house; outdoor gardens; and a 1900-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, Moore, Serra, Bourgeois and Plensa, among others. Indoor galleries host changing sculpture exhibitions with recent exhibitions by Picasso, Degas, di Suvero, Borofsky, Calder and Dine. In June 2015, the 8 - acre Richard and Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park will open. Created by renowned designer Hoichi Kurisu, the garden will also feature sculpture by Anish Kapoor, Zhang Huan, and Guiseppe Penone, among others.