Meijer Gardens' Winter Exhibition Features Dutch Sculptor Hanneke Beaumont

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is honored to feature the provocative work of Dutch sculptor, Hanneke Beaumont in the winter exhibition, "Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont," which opens to the public February 1. This retrospective features Beaumont's impressive fluency with materials as well as her command of the human figure, and will remain on display until April 28.

In her first major museum exhibition in the United States, Beaumont's work in terra cotta, bronze, iron as well as a select group of large-scale drawings will be on display. Celebrated for her figurative work, each piece is carefully rendered with textured surfaces often encouraging thoughtfulness and introspection. Representing a universal type, Beaumont's figures are neither tellingly male nor female.

"As a figurative artist, Beaumont has created a figurative type utilizing techniques that combine to suggest psychological penetration," said Joseph Becherer, Vice President and Chief Curator of Sculpture. "Additionally, the portrayed mood of her evocative works are moving and memorable."

Since capturing international attention in the late 1990s, Beaumont's work has been exhibited and installed around the world. Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont will feature a breadth of work from across the artist's repertoire ranging from rarely exhibited large-scale terra cotta sculpture from early in her career to recently completely and never-before-shown cast works arriving straight from her foundry in Italy.

"Although the history of Dutch art is dominated by painting and painters, Beaumont is one of the most celebrated Dutch sculptors working today," said Becherer.

This major endeavor will accompany her sculptures, Number 25 and Number 26 located in Meijer Garden's Sculpture Park. The greatest concentration of Beaumont's work will be displayed in the galleries, however, one sculpture will also be installed in the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory.

Beaumont will welcome and discuss her art with Meijer Gardens' members at the exclusive Members Opening on January 31st from 6-8 p.m.

This exhibition is made possible by The Meijer Foundation, the Botanic and Sculpture Societies of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and the Robert Bowman Gallery in London.

Exhibition Programming

Curator's Choice, February 8, 12 p.m.
Join the Chief Curator for the "inside scoop" on the exhibition. Walk through the show and learn more about this artist and her sculpture.

Lecture: Art and the Psyche, February 10, 2 p.m.
Many artists, particularly those of the last two centuries, have created art that addresses human conflicts and yearning: the fears, anxiety and desires felt personally and by society. Join us as we examine this special relationship between art and feeling, between art and the psyche.

Poetry Class: Find Your Hidden Poet, February 16, 1-3 p.m.
Discover the rewards of writing poetry about art, even if you're a beginner. Explore the Beaumont exhibition with Grand Rapids' Poet Laureate, David Cope, then translate your observations and perceptions into poems using free association, word choice, phrasing and editing. Visit MeijerGardens.org/Education to register.

Perspectives, February 22, 12 p.m.
Walk through the galleries with three staff members as they explore the exhibition from their own perspectives. Discover interesting personal interpretations of sculpture that you may have never considered before. Feel free to participate in the discussion; it is not necessary to be an art expert to find deeper meaning in art.

Gallery Walk, March 2, 2 p.m.
Learn about the meaning of body language and facial expressions from a psychological point-of-view and explore the emotional content of Beaumont's work.