Category Archives: design

City of Wyoming revitalization projects are underway, show visible progress

3-bottom, architecture, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Culture, design, Development, Going Local, Kent County, Local Business, Our Cities, West Michigan, , , , , , , , ,
The City of Wyoming has spent two decades [re]Imagining its future, and is making steady progress in making those dreams a reality (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


The City of Wyoming has spent two decades [re]Imagining its future, and is making steady progress in making those dreams a reality.

The Wyoming City Center plans include many facets geared toward creating a central gathering place accessible by walking.

“What’s happened in recent years has been a calling for a return to the traditional development patterns of downtown,” said Wyoming Deputy City Manager Patrick Waterman. “Main streets where people can get out and walk, and shop, and come together as a community.”

28th Street Pedestrian Bridge

Those driving down 28th Street can now see the installation of a new 12-foot wide elevated pedestrian bridge.

The ADA accessible bridge will accommodate two-way pedestrian and bicycle traffic across 28th Street and is part of 4.6 miles of new non-motorized pathways providing access to various key destinations in the City.

  • 28th Street elevated pedestrian bridge (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • 28th Street elevated pedestrian bridge (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • 28th Street elevated pedestrian bridge (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • 28th Street elevated pedestrian bridge (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“We’re trying to put the spokes into the hub to get people,” said Waterman. “Those [trails] will connect north to Grand Rapids and south to Byron Center.”

The City Center’s proximity to the highway and Silver Line bus route will also provide easy access to the downtown area. Construction of the pedestrian bridge will finish in June 2025.

Godwin Mercado Marketplace

Also making steady progress is the forthcoming local Godwin Mercado marketplace at Site 36 Industrial Park.

An 80-acre parcel of land with 75 acres on the south side of 36th Street, Site 36 includes an additional five acres on the north side dedicated to the marketplace.

  • Godwin Mercado marketplace site (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • Godwin Mercado marketplace site (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • Godwin Mercado marketplace site (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • Godwin Mercado marketplace site (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • Godwin Mercado marketplace site (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

City Manager John Shay says Godwin Mercado answers residents’ call for a community space to gather and hold events.

The 6,000-square-foot market space will provide year-round usage opportunities to support local vendors, seasonal farm and artisan markets, food trucks, community events and private events.

The name Godwin Mercado comes from extensive community input that included residents, community members and business leaders. Godwin Mercado not only serves as a gathering space and point of pride for the greater Wyoming community, it honors the rich heritage and thriving modern culture of the neighborhood where it sits.

“We landed on a name that really connects us to this unique neighborhood and celebrates the community here in Wyoming,” said Krashawn Martin, Wyoming Director of Parks and Recreation, at the groundbreaking ceremony in November 2024.

36th Street Industrial Park

Construction on the 75-acre parcel on the south side of 36th Street is also well underway. The former GM plant was sold to commercial real estate investment company Franklin and Partners in 2022 and now boasts cleared land and structure assembly.

Benteler Automotive‘s new battery components assembly plant will focus on production of a battery tray, tray cover and charging modules weld vent for the V801 Ford Transit Van. The project includes a 299,845-square-foot facility and an additional 17,120-square-foot single-story office area.

“It’s a huge investment in the community,” said Nicole Hofert, Director of Community and Economic Development for Wyoming.

City officials estimate the Benteler plant will generate 150-170 new jobs.

Construction on Site 36 includes development of three land parcels for industrial use (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

In March 2024, the Wyoming City Council approved Corewell Health’s proposal for a 296,515-square-foot consolidated service center. The project will provide space for Corewell Health’s supply chain offices, document and mail services, a 36,000-square-foot shell space and a dedicated parking area for lab courier fleet vehicles.

All medical supplies for the region’s Corewell hospitals will be distributed from this centralized location and will generate an estimated 240 new jobs.

Franklin Partners retains ownership of the third and final Site 36 parcel, which has garnered notice by other businesses.

“It’s about the people.”

“The genuine excitement that Wyoming has about this project, it’s carried us through it,” said Martin. “People are just thrilled to see something happening after there being nothing here for so long.

“Feeling their excitement feeds our excitement and gets us where we need to go to make it happen. That’s what it’s all about – it’s about the people.”

Over the next decade, Shay would like to achieve the City’s vision of crowded sidewalks, shops and restaurants, and special events that will bring people together and strengthen that sense of community.

Wyoming City Center plaza rendering (Courtesy, City of Wyoming)

Wyoming [re]Imagined: Learn More!

Click the following links to learn more about the City of Wyoming, [re]Imagined:

Grand Rapids Public Museum unveils new carousel feature for wheelchair accessibility

3-bottom, architecture, Citizen Journalism, design, Going Local, Kent County, Local Business, Local History, Our Cities, West Michigan, , , ,
The ongoing GRPM renovation is the first since the Museum opened at its current location in 1994 (Carousel rendering courtesy of GRPM)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


When riverfront construction at the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) is complete later this year, its Cook Carousel Pavilion will be transformed into a fully-accessible space both inside and out. The 1928 Spillman Carousel, an icon of both the Museum and downtown Grand Rapids, is housed in the Pavilion and will feature a wheelchair-accessible ramp and chariot to allow individuals with mobility devices to ride the Carousel.

  • The carousel upgrades include a wheelchair accessible bench (Courtesy, GRPM)
  • The carousel upgrades include a wheelchair accessible bench (Courtesy, GRPM)
  • GRPM carousel upgrades (Courtesy, GRPM)
  • ADA chariot concept drawing GRPM Carousel Upgrades (Courtesy, GRPM) (Courtesy, GRPM)

“The Museum is committed to making all of its experiences as accessible and inclusive as possible,” said GRPM President and CEO Dale Robertson. “We’ve collaborated with community partners, including Disability Advocates of Kent County, to ensure the Museum remains focused on creating a welcoming and adaptive space for everyone.”

The GRPM’s $50 million expansion project, which began last year, will expand access, experiences, accessibility, and sustainability through enhancements to the Museum and its prominent space on the Grand River.

A rendering of the planned carousel upgrades (Courtesy, GRPM)

A cherished destination

The GRPM is a 170-year-old, publicly-owned institution home to more than 250,000 unique artifacts that tell the history of Kent County and beyond. Funded in part by Kent County taxpayers through a 10-year millage (2016), the GRPM offers three floors of exhibits, the region’s only planetarium, and extensive educational offerings.

The major renovation is the first since the Museum opened at its current location in 1994.

New GRPM outdoor classroom rendering (Courtesy, GRPM)

“The Grand Rapids Public Museum is a cherished destination for many,” said Disability Advocates of Kent County Executive Director Dave Bulkowski. “The addition of the wheelchair-accessible ramp and chariot on the Carousel will provide those who have not been able to previously ride the Carousel a chance to experience that sense of joy and admiration.

“We are proud to partner with the Museum and support our community’s efforts to provide inclusive and welcoming destinations for all our residents and visitors.”

Learn more!

For additional information including hours of operation, admission fees including Kent County discounts, and exhibit/event listings, visit grpm.org.

The Rapid welcomes first fully electric vehicles to Go!Bus paratransit fleet

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, design, Environment, Going Local, Kent County, Local Business, Our Cities, West Michigan, , , , , , ,
The Rapid’s new electric vehicles sport vibrant flower power designs (Courtesy, The Rapid)

By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


The Rapid is thrilled to share that they have added their first 12 fully electric vehicles to the Go!Bus ADA paratransit fleet.

The EVs help reduce public transportation’s carbon footprint in West Michigan (Courtesy, The Rapid)

The EVs mark another step forward in environmental sustainability, complementing The Rapid’s eco-friendly propane fleet and further reducing public transportation’s carbon footprint in West Michigan.

Distinctly vibrant

Each electric vehicle displays a groovy saying on the bottom right panel (Courtesy, The Rapid)

These distinctly vibrant vehicles hit the streets on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. Wrapped in a groovy 60s flower power theme, the design features bold, colorful patterns with nods to the future and sustainability, highlighting The Rapid’s commitment to a cleaner and greener community.

“Our decisions in vehicle propulsion and fuel type matter to The Rapid, our community and our future,” said Deb Prato, Rapid CEO. “Over 85% of our fixed route fleet runs on renewable natural gas, and the 12 new EVs show our ongoing commitment to decreasing greenhouse gas emissions in our service area.”

Fully electric vehicles bring numerous benefits to both riders and the community, including quieter operation, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and lower maintenance costs. The new Go!Bus vehicles are part of The Rapid’s larger commitment to sustainable and innovative practices, aligning with the goals outlined in its Transit Master Plan.

Empowerment through transit

Go!Bus ADA paratransit empowers seniors and individuals with disabilities across the six cities, enabling them to access employment, healthcare, and meaningful social connections. In the 2024 fiscal year, The Rapid celebrated a remarkable 7% growth in ridership, delivering 228,320 rides.

Federal resources funded this milestone venture (Courtesy, The Rapid)

During a community survey, the transit system consistently received high ratings for “providing transportation options to people with special mobility needs,” (including seniors and individuals with disabilities). In the Spring 2024 survey, 91% of respondents found the service to be very or extremely valuable in this respect.

Milestone funding

This milestone was made possible by earmarked federal funding secured by former Congressman Peter Meijer. His efforts ensured federal resources were directed toward enhancing sustainable transportation options in the Grand Rapids area.

West Michigan Robotics teams to host annual Grand Rapids Girls Robotics Competition Oct. 12 at Wyoming High School

3-bottom, Area Education, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, design, Education, Going Local, Kent County, Kids Activities, Recreation, Tech Trends, Upcoming Events, , , , , , ,
Wyoming High School will host the annual Grand Rapids Girls Robotics Competition on Saturday, Oct. 12 (Courtesy, GRGRC 2023)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


Wyoming High School will host the annual Grand Rapids Girls Robotics Competition (GRGRC) on Saturday, Oct. 12.

This high school level robotics competition will showcase 18 Michigan teams battling in complex two-minute matches against highly skilled competitors in last season’s game, Crescendo.

Highlighting women in tech

GRGRC is a FIRST Robotics off-season event (Courtesy, GRGRC 2022)

The GRGRC is a FIRST Robotics off-season event. Michigan boasts the most FIRST Robotics teams in action, and the competition will be energized.

During this unique event female team members will be the primary drivers, operators and pit crew members of their team’s robot.

“I’ve really looked forward to the Girls Tournament every year since I’ve known about it,” said Emma Bustraan, #4967 That ONE Team – Our Next Engineers. “It’s kind of a neat experience, because there’s something special about being responsible for how you end up placing.

Female team members operate their team’s robots (Courtesy, GRGRC 2023)

“It’s a cool feeling to have the joystick in your hands and knowing that, if you break the robot, you have to fix it.”

The GRGRC will begin with a Ladies in Tech panel at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12.

This panel is a great opportunity to connect and learn from female STEM leaders in our community.

The robotics competition begins with opening ceremonies at 8:45 a.m., concluding with the awards ceremony at 4:30 p.m.

Family-friendly and FREE

Mark your calendars for this family-friendly event and to learn more about STEM and FIRST Robotics. All events are FREE, open to the public and will be held at Wyoming High School, 1350 Prairie Parkway SW.

Learn more!

(Courtesy photo)

Learn more about GRGRC here or by email at GrandRapidsGirlsRobotics@gmail.com.

GRGRC is hosted by Demons Robotics #858 from Wyoming High School, Red Storm Robotics #3875 from East Kentwood High School, Red Storm Rookies #9566 from East Kentwood Freshman Campus, and community team That ONE Team #4967.

Stay up-to-date on competition details on the GRGRC Facebook page.

RiverTown Crossings acquired by Poag Development Group: Redevelopment plans in progress

3-bottom, architecture, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, design, Development, Going Local, Kent County, Local Business, Our Cities, West Michigan, , , , , ,
Poag recently announced the acquisition of RiverTown Crossings, a 1,267,272-square-foot enclosed mall in Grandville (Courtesy, pxhere.com)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


Poag Development Group CEO, Josh Poag, recently announced the acquisition of RiverTown Crossings, a 1,267,272-square-foot enclosed mall in Grandville, MI.

“We always start with location, and in this case, we love the site in Grandville and its strong position within the greater Grand Rapids area,” said Poag, adding that he began looking at the mall as a potential acquisition upon the suggestion of a friend.

Poag is looking forward to use their redevelopment expertise to reimagine the RiverTown property (Courtesy, Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

After visiting the Grand Rapids area last summer, Poag was impressed with the Grand Rapids MSA, Grandville in particular.

“This property has so much potential for redevelopment given its great location and proximity to rooftops,” said Poag. “We are energized about the opportunity to deploy our redevelopment expertise to reimagine the property, both inside and outside, and its role in the greater Kent County area.”

The Poag CEO was also impressed with Grandville’s passion for the area – and for the future.

“There is a lot of growth in the area, and we walked away very impressed and encouraged,” said Poag.

Revitalizing through creating experience

(Courtesy, pxhere.com)

Though RiverTown Crossings boasts five anchors including Macy’s, Kohl’s, JCPenney, Celebration Cinemas and Dick’s Sporting Goods, the two-story enclosed super regional shopping mall has seen a decline in patronage over the last several years.

Poag believes the reason for the decline in mall patronage is twofold.

“Online shopping is certainly one cause over the past 15 years,” Poag said. “The operations of a mall are another. When a mall or any property is neglected, the customer sees that and feels the decline. They are less encouraged to come back.

“Our history is about creating experience. Our first mission is to take care of the property, from filling in potholes to trimming back overgrown landscaping to getting the carousel working again.”

(Courtesy, pxhere.com)

Poag aims to revitalize the mall through redevelopment by adding new uses and activating underutilized parking fields, though the planning process is in early stages.

“While we know we want to add new uses and leverage underutilized real estate, we can’t yet say what that will look like just yet,” said Poag. “It could be multifamily, hotel or more retail.

“Until we take the necessary steps to understand what changes and additions the community would most like and what would be most viable, we can’t share anything definitive just yet.”

A team effort

The Memphis-based developer will work with JLL, its strategic management and leasing partner, to maximize the potential of the property.

Poag will also be consulting the Grandville community.

Poag actively engages local communities in the early planning process of redevelopment (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

“We believe it’s a team effort,” said Poag. “We know that we do not know the community better than the folks that live there. We are not the type of developer to come in and tell the community what they need.

“We actively involve local community leaders and members, city representatives and nearby business owners in the early planning process to get an understanding of what works and doesn’t work currently, what they feel is missing, and what folks think would resonate well in the local community.”

The retail developer adds RiverTown Crossings to its portfolio on the heels of its acquisition of Oak Court Mall, an 800,000-square-foot enclosed mall currently undergoing redevelopment planning in Memphis, TN.

Artist Michelle Sider brings light to the darkness in time for ArtPrize 2024

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, design, Kent County, Our Cities, Upcoming Events, Voices, West Michigan, , , , ,
Michigan artist Michelle Sider is utilizing her art to tell stories of resilience and survival at ArtPrize 2024 (Courtesy, Michelle Sider)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


Michigan mixed media artist Michelle Sider has created art her whole life, finding solace in the world of imagination. Now she is utilizing her art to tell stories of resilience and survival at ArtPrize 2024.

“I made a decision with my artwork that I’m going to be more autobiographical, doing a deeper dive into my heritage, particularly stories of resilience and pride from my family,” said Sider. “There are stories of survival I feel compelled to start telling.”

Sider was a finalist in the 2023 ArtPrize competition. This will be the artist’s third year participating in ArtPrize (Courtesy, Michelle Sider)

The annual, international ArtPrize competition featuring over 950 artists from 42 U.S. states and 53 countries will be held Sept. 13-28. Free and open to the public, art will be displayed in over 165 public venues throughout Grand Rapids.

Based in Huntington Woods and a 2023 ArtPrize finalist, this will be Sider’s third year participating in the art competition.

“This year’s pairing is called From Darkness to Light,” said Sider. “There are two pieces: Anna, sparked from conversations last year at ArtPrize; and Balancing Act, my own experience this past year.”

From Darkness to Light consists of glass mosaics representing a journey from fear and turmoil (darkness) to faith and hope (light).

“It’s a really important pairing,” said Sider. “Everybody has times when they go through darkness looking for the light, confused and trying to make their way through very difficult, dark times.

“I feel like there are a lot of people who can resonate with my piece, my own personal story of my fears, of my darkness.”

The initial spark

Inspiration for Anna came to Sider last year when several visitors asked about her ArtPrize entry featuring 10 portraits of Yemenite Jews.

“I’m very sensitized to stories of immigrants because my grandparents and relatives had to flee for their lives from the pogroms in Europe,” said Sider. “As a kid, I had nightmares because my great-aunt told the story of having to hide under a pile of dead bodies. Everyone that was left there died.”

Sider began sketching images of what she imagined her relatives experienced.

A difficult childhood

Anna portrays Sider’s maternal great-grandmother, who fled Odessa (now Ukraine) in 1910.

“Anna” is a glass mosaic by Michelle Sider based on her great-grandmother’s journey from Russia to the United States (Courtesy, Michelle Sider)

Anna ran away from home at age 12 to live with her brother in Odessa. Before she arrived, pogroms erupted, wiping out much of the Jewish population. Anna’s brother wrote poetry and pamphlets against the murderous Cossacks, landing him in jail – where he continued writing on toilet paper in his cell.

“My great-grandmother, at the age of 12, would sneak out his writings in her bloomers when she went to visit him,” said Sider.

Anna married a resistance fighter against the Cossacks at age 17. Their wedding present was a midnight passage on a rowboat across the Black Sea to avoid arrest. Sider’s grandparents eventually made their way to the Detroit area.

Sider’s glass mosaic is inspired by a photograph taken when Anna was 16 years old. Though nothing was left of Anna’s brother’s writings, Sider placed writings from her brother’s friend and Russian revolutionary, Leon Trotsky, beneath the clouds and translucent blue of her grandmother’s skirt.

The book Anna holds also carries significance.

“It was very difficult for females to get an education at that time, particularly if you were Jewish females,” said Sider. “The fact that she’s holding a book, representing how important her education was to her, is important to include.”

Gold threads through the mosaic, representing the rips and tears of the original photograph through the years. Sider borrowed the idea from the Japanese craft Kintsugi, where broken and cracked clay vessels are repaired with gold, ultimately strengthening the piece.

A personal balancing act

“Balancing Act” is Sider’s most autobiographical mosaic (Courtesy, Michelle Sider)

Sider’s second entry, Balancing Act, is her most autobiographical piece, portraying Sider’s reaction to recent anti-Semitism. With one child facing danger in Israel, and another facing anti-Semitism at college in the U.S., Sider felt broken by fear.

“I felt completely cracked open,” said Sider. “I was terrified, shaking; I was a mess.”

Balancing Act depicts a shadowy figure against a stormy sky with turbulent water beneath as it traverses a gold tightrope representing a lifeline.

Sider said the piece is purposely ambiguous.

“The idea [was] to capture those feelings of being terrified and trying to navigate my way through the storms to the other side.”

For Sider, diving into her great-grandmother’s story of resilience helped her through her own personal struggles – and she hopes it will help others.

A beam of sunlight…

Art brought Sider comfort even as an infant (Courtesy, Michelle Sider)

Sider has always found solace in art.

“My mom tells the story of how, when I was an infant, there was a sunbeam shining through the window, and I started playing with it,” said Sider. “Literally my whole life I’ve been drawn to creating, making and getting my hands dirty.

“It’s my happy place. My world of imagination was always a great source of solace, comfort, energy and interest for me.”

At first, Sider’s art consisted mainly of painting and drawing. The first time she saw a mosaic, however, she fell in love.

Fascinated with glass and light, Sider incorporates both into her mosaics.

“To me, light represents spirituality and hope, and I play with that metaphor in my work a lot,” said Sider. “What I love about glass is that it’s metaphorically and physically representing light.

(Courtesy, ArtPrize)

“My pieces change color throughout the day. I put them at certain angles and use different types of glass. They all catch light, absorb light or reflect light in different ways.”

That change in color can be seen in the atrium of Uccello’s in downtown Grand Rapids where From Darkness to Light is displayed under the glass ceiling.

ArtPrize visitors can vote for pieces by scanning the QR code associated with each entry, or manually entering the five-digit code on the ArtPrize mobile web app.

Information about ArtPrize artists, venues, events and more can be found here.

Frederik Meijer Gardens unveils landmark exhibition David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, design, Environment, Kent County, Upcoming Events, West Michigan, , , , , ,
David Smith’s Helmholtzian Landscape, 1946 (Courtesy, FMG)



By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is proud to announce the groundbreaking exhibition David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture, showcasing the prolific and inventive work of David Smith (1906–1965). This landmark exhibition, the first to explore Smith’s deep engagement with nature, will open on Sept. 23, 2024, and will be on view through March 2, 2025.

The art of David Smith is profuse and inventive. Working in multiple media, formats, and scales, he blurred boundaries between painting and sculpture and between traditional genres such as landscape and figuration.

Smith’s bountiful oeuvre has secured him a firm place within art history, and his adventurous approach to three-dimensional form has permanently expanded the vocabulary and range of sculptural practice.

Forging new ground

Smith is widely hailed as the first American artist to make welded metal sculpture and to absorb industrial methods and materials into his creative repertoire. His inventiveness and contributions to sculptural practice extend far beyond machine vernacular and technique, however. Many have traced the origins of modern sculpture parks to Smith’s unprecedented outdoor installations on his Bolton Landing property in upstate New York.

David Smith’s Raven IV, 1957 (Courtesy, FMG)

For Smith, nature was not only a source of inspiration but also served as studio, accomplice and staging ground for his complex sculptural works.

“While David Smith is recognized as the most important sculptor of the 20th century, there is still much to be learned about his expansive art, especially as it relates to the natural world,” says Suzanne Ramljak, Vice President of Collections & Curatorial Affairs at Meijer Gardens.

“We are excited to reveal this crucial and lesser-known aspect of Smith’s career at Meijer Gardens, where sculpture and nature are so intimately bound.”

What to expect:

David Smith’s Cubi XII, 1963 (Courtesy, FMG)

David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture will feature a selection of some 40 sculptures, alongside related paintings, reliefs, and works on paper, providing an in-depth exploration of Smith’s sustaining connection with nature.

Uniting key loans from major lenders—including The Whitney Museum of American Art, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and Storm King Art Center—the exhibition will be arranged in loose chronological order, beginning with Smith’s earliest sculptures from 1932 to the year before his accidental death in 1965.

Viewers will encounter nature-based work from every decade of Smith’s career, including:

  • 1930s constructions with stones, shells, coral, and wood, along with biomorphic cast metal sculptures.
  • 1940s and 1950s pictorial sculpture landscapes, a genre of Smith’s own invention, which he enlisted to address an array of themes—from autobiography, House in a Landscape and his epic Hudson River Landscape; to color theory, Helmholtzian Landscape; to social norms, Cloistral Landscape.
  • Mid-1950s bronze reliefs depicting botanic motifs such as Rose Garden, Wild Plums, and Skull and Tree.
  • Late 1950s and early 1960s avian sculptures, including a series focused on ravens.
  • A selection of outdoor works that find their completion in the company of sky, wind and earth, as Smith intended.

This exhibition will have a particularly strong resonance at Meijer Gardens, where Smith’s work will be in direct dialogue with the natural environment, including larger pieces situated out of doors. Witness David Smith’s thrilling sculptural translations of the natural world he knew and loved in this exclusive Grand Rapids exhibition.

For more information, click here.

Exhibition Catalogue:

David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture will be accompanied by an exhibition catalogue co-published by Meijer Gardens and Hirmer/University of Chicago Press.

The publication will feature contributions by the artist’s daughters, reflecting on Smith’s lived domestic experience of nature; an essay by curator Suzanne Ramljak, surveying Smith’s engagement with nature as material source, subject matter, and preferred site for his sculpture; appreciations by contemporary artists Beatriz Cortez and Mark di Suvero, addressing Smith’s contributions and connections to current art practice; and an illustrated artist’s chronology highlighting key nature-based events in David Smith’s life and art.

David Smith’s Steel Drawing, 1945 (Courtesy, FMG)

Exhibition Programming:

Unless otherwise noted, programs are included in the cost of admission and registration is not required.

Moving Out: David Smith & Outdoor Sculpture

Join Suzanne Ramljak, exhibition curator and Vice President of Collections & Curatorial Affairs, and Amber Oudsema, Curator of Arts Education, on a walk to explore David Smith’s lasting legacy. Discover his influence on sculpture parks as we know them and the many successful artists who followed in Smith’s creative footsteps.

This event will take place Wednesday, Oct. 9 from 2-3 p.m.

A full list of exhibition-related activities can be found here.

Extending gratitude

David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture is made possible by the Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation, Meijer Foundation, Bill Padnos and Margy Kaye, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation and Botanic and Sculpture Societies of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

A turn of the shovel: Acrisure Amphitheater groundbreaking ceremony celebrates new centerpiece of Grand Rapids

3-bottom, architecture, Citizen Journalism, design, Entertainment, Going Local, Kent County, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Our Cities, Recreation, West Michigan, , , , , ,
The Acrisure Amphitheater groundbreaking ceremony took place May 21 at the 17-acre construction site (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)



By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


Shovels turned on May 21, breaking ground at the site of what will soon be the Grand Rapids Acrisure Amphitheatre.

Buildings have already begun to be dismantled at 201 Market Avenue SW, a 17-acre site located on the east side of the Grand River. Formerly containing Grand Rapids City Buildings, the site will soon see the emergence of a 12,000-seat amphitheater and stage.

“By this time next year, the canopy itself will be standing,” said Tim Schowalter, President and CEO of Pioneer Construction. “We’re going to be ready May 2026 to have the first concerts in the venue.”

Acrisure Amphitheater Rendering (Courtesy Acrisure)

Bringing a vision to life

Mayor Rosalynn Bliss talks about how the amphitheater will bolster local economy for generations (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

The Acrisure Amphitheater, developed by Grand Action 2.0, is considered the centerpiece to a vision seeded back in 2007.

The amphitheater is expected to fill a gap in the live entertainment industry in West Michigan, draw visitors to the city, expand public access to the river and catalyze future development in the area.

“Today our headlines talk about transformation,” said Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss.  “The story is one of a collaborative community vision that will shape our Grand Rapids landscape.

“It will connect people together, it will connect people to place, it will enrich our entire quality of life in our city, and it will bolster our local economy for generations to come.”

Think boldly, plan collegially and act with a sense of urgency

In 2016, Grand Action commissioned the Grand Rapids Destination Asset Study. The goal of the study was to better understand needed steps to make Grand Rapids a better place to live, work and raise a family.

Studies have shown that maximizing the riverfront is key to city growth (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“[The] study made clear that investments that maximize our riverfront, opened access to green space and outdoor entertainment, and attracted arts, cultural and sporting events would be key to the plan,” said Dick DeVos, Businessman and Grand Action Co-Chair.

Acrisure Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO Greg Williams said he is honored to be part of the amphitheater project and to give back to the community as the title sponsor.

“The ethos of Acrisure is to do big, bold things,” said Williams. “We want to be impactful, and this project certainly personifies and exemplifies that in every way.

“This is a big, impactful project. It’s going to have a real impact on the city itself and the community at large. We’re all going to be benefactors of this.”

Williams went on to say that the amphitheater “won’t be the last thing that we do in this community. This community has been so good to us; we need to be good to it.”

Unprecedented riverfront development 

Leading the construction effort of Acrisure Amphitheater is Pioneer Construction. 

“At today’s groundbreaking, we kick off two years of construction,” said Tim Schowalter, President and CEO of Pioneer Construction. “We’re very excited and proud to be leading the construction effort of Acrisure Amphitheater.”

Acrisure Amphitheater Rendering (Courtesy Acrisure)

That construction will include 9,720 cubic yards of concrete, 436 tons of reinforcing steel in that concrete, and 150,000 cubic yards of sand – 3,750 truck trains – that will create the sloped lawn seating along the northwest side of the site.

The amphitheater will also incorporate 3,130 tons of structural steel.

“To give you an idea, the Eiffel Tower has something in the neighborhood of 7,000 tons of steel,” said Schowalter. “So we’re not quite as big as the Eiffel Tower, but we are going to be just as iconic.”

Over the course of those two years, 700+ construction workers will be employed on the site for a total on-site labor force impact of $55 million. As part of the construction inclusion plan, $6 million of the construction budget will be invested in local minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses and micro-local business enterprises.

Belief in our community, our people and our future

“I’ve always said that what makes Grand Rapids special is the people,” said Mayor Bliss. “What happens here in Grand Rapids does not happen in other places. It is rare for economic development, business leaders, government leaders, philanthropic leaders and community leaders to come together and coalesce around a single vision for moving our communities together.

The City of Grand Rapids is built on collaborative efforts (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“Grand Rapids, and more broadly Kent County, is a place where that happens. It happens over and over again. And the legacy of our city is built on that.”

Williams agreed. “What’s happening in Grand Rapids doesn’t happen everywhere.”

Acrisure Amphitheatre is a centerpiece of a grand vision to enrich the quality of life for an increasingly diverse community, catalyze significant investments, bring new jobs, inspire entrepreneurial opportunities and drive regional tourism.

“Thank you for sharing the vision that is creating such a wonderful attraction that is bound to inspire people from all walks seeking something remarkable that will give them access to the arts, to a remarkable green space, and our namesake waterfront,” said Carol Van Andel, Philanthropist and Executive Director of the David & Carol Van Andel Family Foundation.

For more information about Acrisure Amphitheater, click here.

“The Third Chapter” – New Beacon Hill Living community focuses on graceful and intentional aging

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, design, Development, Health, Senior Living, , , , , , , ,
Intentionally designed homes will create intergenerational communities that allow seniors the opportunity to age in place (Adobe Stock Photo)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


Beacon Hill at Eastgate, Urbaneer Living and Seamless Ventures are joining forces to build a series of Michigan communities focused on adults intentionally planning for that third chapter of life.

According to The New York Times, there are 110 million people in the U.S. over the age of 55. Many of those older adults are living in homes not designed for active aging.

Beacon Hill Living communities are designed to support lifelong learning, hybrid work, and engagement in wellness-related activities as aging individuals redefine their goals.

Beacon Hill Living conceptual drawing (Courtesy, Beacon Hill Living)

“We’re in the earliest stages of exploring what we think is a critical form of service that could address the needs of another segment of the senior living population,” said Jeff Huegli, Beacon Hill at Eastgate President and CEO.

“As our society ages, people are looking for opportunities to build community so they can live meaningful lives and stay engaged long after they leave the workforce.”

A shift in serving

Huegli went on to say that a certain dynamic has emerged as generations pass through the Eastgate community.

“There has been a shift in the types of residents we’re serving,” said Huegli. “Baby boomers especially are living life a little bit differently than the first generation who occupied our continuum of care.”

More active lifestyles are creating the need for change (Adobe Stock Photos)

With 450 residents at Eastgate and over 200 on the waiting list, Huegli began earnestly redeveloping Eastgate in 2010 to meet those changing needs.

“As our waiting list grew, and as we saw the needs and interests of this population change within the community, we addressed them with programming and other services,” said Huegli. “We were still extremely hospitality focused, but there were some external factors that would drive the question for our future residents about whether their interests could really be met in a place like this one.”

Eastgate’s campus meets a specific need and has a history of 64 years of excellent residential and clinical care services. However, Huegli has seen the changing needs of the people they serve.

“Leaning on Urbaneer’s ageless design and Seamless Ventures’ tech expertise, [Beacon Hill Living] homes not only fit today’s active lifestyle, they allow residents to age without necessarily having to downsize and move,” said Huegli.

Beacon Hill Living will provide unique opportunities for seniors to make that seamless transition into the next chapter of their lives, and to “age in place” by exploring new forms of services and residences.

Technology plays a huge role in that transition process.

An information-rich environment

Focused on ages 55 and up, BH Living communities will encompass 40-60 single-story homes under 1,200 square feet – and will incorporate smart technology designed to increase their owners’ “health span.”

Advances in technology can help people live a fuller and healthier life (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

“Technology exists that allows us to monitor our health and manage our homes,” said Ben Look, a partner with Seamless Ventures. “By marrying these two, we can create an even smarter home that helps homeowners better understand their current state of wellness and live even healthier.”

Huegli said technology will be used in non-invasive forms, and believes it will help with lifestyles while also gathering information about how people age over time.

“It just feels like the right way of integrating technology with person-centered living,” said Huegli. “It’s such a good way of measuring life. Then we can tackle interventions or even optimize living environment, air quality, lighting – all the stuff that can happen through intentional design.”

That information can then help inform significant decisions later on in life, such as when it is right to move into assisted living, and when an individual should consider entering into a continuum of care like Eastgate.

“Many of us are still working professionals,” said Huegli, citing his own life as an example. “I’m nearly that age, and I still see 20 years of work in my life. Where am I going to do that?

“I’m in my original home where I raised my kids. It’s a fantastic community. But technologically, I don’t know if I have the capacity, in my 60-something-year old house, to be able to keep up with what I think my work mode needs – and that will probably change over time. Additionally, the house itself isn’t designed to be able to age with me.”

Most people move into a senior living community because of an imminent need for themselves or their spouse.

Seniors at Beacon Hill Living will not need to worry about their future (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

“Seniors need to make these decisions more readily because forced change is such a radical experience,” said Huegli. “It really minimizes the opportunity for experiencing richness in the third chapter.

“Those are the aspects of Beacon Hill Living that I’m most excited about. The intentionality that informs each resident of the community, who can then see the future and not be worried about it so much.”

Intentional design

The Urbaneer-designed homes and communities will be curated by Beacon Hill at Eastgate senior living experts.

“What we’re looking for is a way to maintain our commitment to community, maintain healthiness, and then intentionally put in systems that aren’t invasive, but rather enable the graceful and intentional aging of our residents,” said Huegli.

Thirteen design principles have been devised after a year-long, human-centered research project. Those design principles focus mainly on assisted living, with some independent living applications.

“But they’re also universal,” said Huegli. “This has the ability to make a major impact regionally.

“If we can gain efficiency and the attractive form of living that we think we can, we could replicate this in a variety of ways…and make a difference in all the different communities that would welcome this.”


Proximity of transportation, health care, and community resources all play a factor in Beacon Hill Living locations (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

Finalizing locations

Beacon Hill Living is working to finalize the location for its first community, focusing on the Traverse City market.

“That market has such an interesting demographic to it,” said Huegli. “It’s well-established, it’s got the types of residents there who are committed to the community itself.”

Though several properties have been identified as potential prospects, none have been fully secured. Huegli’s objective is to find property located near naturally occurring resources such as restaurants, health care, and other typical urban offerings.

“Our focus would then be to integrate these communities into the natural world around them, while also enhancing the opportunities for people living in them to enjoy the richer lifestyle and promises of a great near future with intentional planning through community building,” Huegli said.

For Huegli, community is what living is all about.

A community-focused mission

People and connection create community and foster wellness (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

“We found that community establishment is not physical,” said Huegli. “It’s literally relational. That connection is what establishes community, and is what ultimately derives wellness.

“The healthiest of our communities are the ones which occur naturally. Where friendships are established through well-planned spaces and well-planned programs. But the people make it happen.”

Huegli says it has been heartening to see that energy happening at Eastgate, and sees the same translation occurring in the Beacon Hill Living communities.

“The mission of Beacon Hill Living is to fill – to the fullest – the bucket of opportunity for living for any individual resident,” said Huegli. “Where you can explore connecting with neighbors, live your life to your fullest, and have that environment move along with you.”

Vision and opportunity  

Beacon Hill Living hopes to have land secured by the end of 2024, with the prospect of construction beginning in 2025.

When asked if there is a vision for a Beacon Hill Living community in West Michigan, Huegli said, “Definitely. As we’ve established this concept for Traverse City, I’m seeing lots of opportunities around this town.

“The horizon is endless. The resources are not limitless, but they are there, and we can bring them together and make something beautiful happen.”

Stay tuned: Click here for more information and updates on Beacon Hill Living.

Frederik Meijer Gardens plants the seed for their 25th annual chrysanthemum exhibition

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, design, Kent County, LANDSCAPING & GARDEN CENTERS, West Michigan, , ,
Chrysanthemums & More! showcases thousands of blossoms in an artful Autumn Tapestry (Courtesy, Johnny Quirin)

By Lauren Konsdorf

WKTV Contributor

Chrysanthemums & More! is underway with its 25th annual exhibition (Courtesy, Frederik Meijer Gardens)

Thousands of blossoms span 158 acres at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park during their 25th annual chrysanthemum exhibition.

Blossoming flowers and phenomenal sculptures may seem like all there is to see at Frederik Meijer Gardens, but their annual Chrysanthemums & More! event is now underway displaying thousands of blossoms in artful tapestry.

“View artfully manipulated patterns of chrysanthemums and enjoy a multitude of textures provided by ornamental cabbage, kale, pumpkins, grasses, gourds, and more,” said Steve LaWarre, Vice President of Horticulture.

A mum column stretches high in a multi-colored display (Courtesy, Peter McDaniel)

From Sept. 15 through Oct. 30, florists and civilians from all over Michigan can enjoy the fall air and take part in the largest exhibition of its kind showcasing chrysanthemums, fall foliage and family-friendly activities.

At home in art and nature, many florists in attendance are showing off their skills while weaving a floral tapestry entitled Autumn Tapestry throughout the Gardens.

Amy Gorman, floral manager and wedding coordinator at Horrocks Market located in Kentwood, participates yearly in the event.

“It’s free advertisement,” Gorman said. “We make a beautiful arrangement for them to display throughout the week.”

Gorman’s involvement in floral design first began in high school, and she has worked in floral ever since. For Gorman, it was more than just taking a class.

Gorman’s Chrysanthemums & More! design consists of many different colors; rose, peach, orange, burgundy, and black.

The Glow Garden is a fun evening event for visitors (Courtesy, Frederik Meijer Gardens)

Designs for this event are inspired by geometric patterns, uncommon color combinations, and the repetition of formal garden styles. Each flower has been hand-picked to create the tapestry.

The Grand Entry Garden, Welcome Center, and Gunberg and BISSELL Corridors showcase the tapestry and plantings among the horticulture staff and florists.

Exhibition programs include Fashion and Nature, Sept. 24 from 2-3 p.m.; Weaving with Nature, Oct. 1 from 2-3 p.m.; Fall Family Day, Oct. 7 from 1-4 p.m.; Hallowee-ones, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; and much more.

Enjoy the crisp fall air outdoors and attend the must-see exhibition Fredrik Meijer Gardens has to offer!



Lauren is a senior at Central Michigan University and is studying Broadcast and Cinematic Arts with double minors in Journalism and Communications. She is a radio host for a specialty show on 101.1 The Beat, and is Promotions Video Editor for WCMU Public Media. She loves animals, community service, being on camera, and hopes to become a lifestyle reporter or host after college.

Heritage Hill to host colorful garden tour this Saturday

3-bottom, architecture, Citizen Journalism, design, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Recreation, Senior Living, Upcoming Events, , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Heritage Hill Garden Tour will feature 10 private gardens and two organization gardens in this year’s event. (Supplied)

Ten private gardens and two organizational gardens will be part of the 2022 Heritage Hill Garden Tour, which is set for Saturday, June 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 

Each garden is a unique reflection of the creative, nature-loving gardeners who tend them. From showy displays in front gardens bursting with color to hidden gems waiting behind a home to warmly welcome guests, the possibilities of what a garden can be will inspire.

 

Some of the gardens included on this self-guided tour are:

  1. President Gerald Ford’s boyhood back yard now filled with statuary and rare plantings.
  2. Wonderland over 40 years in the making that surrounds an enchanting home. 
  3. A serene and elegant backyard setting that includes a complete outdoor kitchen.
  4. A stately brick home perfectly surrounded by beautiful plantings.  
  5. A small but artfully designed garden that makes wise use of every space.
  6. A front yard garden that catches the eye of everyone who passes by.
  7. Free-flowing flower garden on Prospect Ave. that wears new colors for every season.
  8. Formal fountains galore surrounding a home on College.
  9. Peaceful natural water feature that accents a shade garden. 
  10. A sweet little garden on Paris Ave.
  11.  Vibrant annuals and perennials at the Voigt House tended by volunteers.
  12.  Formal gardens at the Meyer May House that are reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic architecture.

Individual tickets are $12 in advance, $15 on the day of the tour. Group tickets may be purchased in advance for $8 each for 20 or more tickets, $5 each for 50 or more tickets. Group pricing is not available on the day of the tour.

Tickets are available for pre-sale through midnight on June 17 via our website, www.heritagehillweb.org or contact the office during operating hours at 616-459-8950.

Tickets can be purchased at the ticket booth at the Child Discovery Center, 409 Lafayette Ave. SE. on the day of tour. Pre-sold tickets may be picked up at will call on the day of the tour.

The tour occurs rain or shine. Refunds are not available. Masks are welcomed for the safety of garden hosts and visitors.

Parking will be available at:

  • Child Discovery Center at 409 Lafayette Ave. SE
  • Elders Helpers at 500 Cherry St. S.E.
  • On-street parking is often available. Please adhere to posted parking restrictions.

Two works by renowned artist Jaume Plensa come to Grand Rapids

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, design, Recreation, , , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

“The Four Elements” by Jaume Plensa is now on the corner of Monroe Avenue and Lyon Street in downtown Grand Rapids. (Supplied)

Letters, characters, and elements seem to randomly come together creating a human form on Monroe Avenue and Lyon Street in Grand Rapids.

The piece, Jaume Plensa ‘s “The Four Elements” is just the last addition to the downtown landscape which features such works as Mark di Suvero’s “Motu Viget” (The Swing), Maya Lin’s “The Ecliptic,” Clement Meadmore’s “The Split Ring” and the first public funded art piece by the National Endowment for the Arts, Alexander Calder’s “La Grande Vitesse.”

“Grand Rapids’ reputation as an art destination has been growing for decades,” said Experience Grand Rapids President and CEO, Doug Small. “As community leaders help to bring the work of acclaimed international artists to our doorstep, it not only enhances the ‘quality of place’ for area residents – it enhances the draw for visitors from across the country and around the world.”

Plensa, who is from Barcelona, Spain, is world-renowned having public works in several cities including Chicago where he is the artist of the Crown Fountain featuring faces on large scale screens with water shooting out of their mouths.

The Grand Rapids piece, which was commissioned by the DeVos family, is a 16-foot-tall, 5,400-pound stainless steel sculpture that uses letter characters and element symbols representing air, water, fire and earth to create a human form, signifying the many different characteristics that bring people together to form a single human race. Pamella DeVos said the piece is meant to portray a welcoming message of unity and diversity. 

The piece is one of three that the DeVos family has commissioned for the downtown area.

 

Gardens brings in third Plensa piece

The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park already is home to the Plensa piece, “I, you, she or he,” which are three steel sculptures similar to the downtown piece.

“Utopia” By Jaume Plensa (Photo by Laura Medina, courtesy Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park)

This week the Gardens unveiled a third piece by Plensa, “Utopia.” Housed in the Gardens’ new Welcome Center, which was designed by Tod Williams and Billie Tsien, “‘Utopia” consists of four 90-foot carved marble portraits depicting the faces of Marianna, Julia, Laura, and Wilsis. Each of the floor-to-ceiling portraits utilizes the human form to symbolize the capacity for a shared humanity.

According to GRAY Gallery, which represents Plensa, the installation is crafted from white marble, a material chosen by the artist both to harmonize with the architecture and for its nuanced reactions to light and shadow. 

 

“With ‘Utopia,’ I wanted to set out to transform an expansive space into a single piece,” Plensa said. “I wanted to do something unforgettable for the Gardens. I wanted to create something that seemed invisible, but with 400 tons of marble, which I know seems like a contradiction. I spend my life trying to work through that duality, that poetry.”

The Gardens dedicated and opened its 69,000-square-foot, LEED-certified Welcome Center this week. The Welcome Center is part of the $115 million “Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love” expansion project that includes an expanded and upgraded amphitheater, Frey Foundation Entry Plaza, a new Meijer-Shedleski Picnic Pavilion, the new Stuart and Barbara Padnos Rooftop Sculpture Garden and expanded and accessible parking and urban gardens. Still to be completed are the indoor sculpture galleries, a Volunteer Tribute Garden and the expanded Tassell-Wisner-Bottrall English Perennial Garden. The project is scheduled to be completed in June 2022. 

Kentwood schools’ Red Storm Robotics middle school program hosts FIRST Tech Challenge Nov. 6

3-bottom, Area Education, City of Kentwood, design, Education, Going Local, Kentwood Public Schools, Upcoming Events, WKTV Projects, ,
  • Kentwood Public School’s middle school robotics was in competition in this 2018 photo. (Supplied)
  • Kentwood Public School’s middle school robotics program during a recent “scrimmage” preparing for this weekend’s competition. (Supplied)
  • Kentwood Public School’s middle school robotics program during a recent “scrimmage” preparing for this weekend’s competition. (Supplied)
  • Two members of the Kentwood Public School’s middle school robotics program. (Supplied)
  • Kentwood Public School’s middle school robotics program during a recent “scrimmage” preparing for this weekend’s competition. (Supplied)

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

When it comes to getting young students engaged with robotics as part of their STEM technology education — including Kentwood Public Schools Red Storm Robotics program — it can’t wait for high school.

So Kentwood Public School’s middle school robotics program will send its teams, five of them, against others schools when it hosts the FIRST Tech Challenge Kentwood qualifier, hosted by Red Storm Robotics, on Saturday, Nov. 6, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The challenge will take place at the East Kentwood Freshman Campus, 6170 Valley Lane Dr. SE, and the public is invited to the free event. (There was no in-person challenge in 2020 due to the pandemic. There was a virtual challenge.)

“I’ve been impressed with the FIRST robotics programs,” Wendy Ljungren, Chief Operating Officer for Anzen Unmanned and one of the adult leader of Red Storm Robotics, said to WKTV. “The students that go through FIRST have the STEM and teamwork skills needed for our country to continue to advance.”

The FIRST Tech Challenge is a national program of FIRST Inspires where “students learn to think like engineers,” according to program material. Teams design, build, and code robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. Robots are built from a reusable platform, powered by Android technology, and can be coded using a variety of levels of Java-based programming.

This year’s tech challenge, Freight Frenzy, is presented by Raytheon Technologies and will have students race against time to transport “essential goods and explore the future of transportation,” according to supplied material.

For more informant on the First Inspires program visit firstinspires.org/robotics.

For more information on the Read Storm Robotics program visit redstormrobotics.com.

Innovation, old and new, at heart of this weekend’s 2020 Michigan International Auto Show

3-bottom, design, Dream Wheels, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Local History, Recycling, Reviews, Upcoming Events
Sports cars, along with SUVs and trucks, are expected to be the big draw at the 2020 Michigan International Auto Show , as they were last year in this photo. (Supplied)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

People attend the annual Michigan International Auto Show, running this week at the DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids, for many reasons, including to find their next new car or just to get a glimpse of the muscle car or luxury car they’ve always dreamed about.

Many people, however, go to see what’s next in automobile technology or innovation — from space-age rear-view camera systems, to self-driving and self-parking features that almost make the driver a passenger.

But when it comes to innovation and new technology, it could be argued that one must understand, and appreciate, the past to fully embrace the future.

And so it is only logical that the Gilmore Car Museum will be on-hand with a display called “The History of Station Wagons”, which showcases vehicles which may be out of vogue today but were often considered innovative if not technological marvels of their time.

The Gilmore Car Museum’s 1950 Skyline Deluxe Station Wagon at the Michigan International Auto Show. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

“I always think it is very important for people to appreciate the new but also to look back and go ‘Mmmm? How did we get here?’,” Jay Follis, Gilmore Car Museum marketing director, said to WKTV on Jan. 29 at a media preview. “Today we have SUVs and crossovers. We do not think of station wagons. The auto industry has actually said ‘We are not going to produce sedans any more.’ So we decided we are going to bring station wagons to the auto show to tell people where we have been and how we got here.

The Gilmore Car Museum’s Jay Follis, marketing director. (WLTV/K.D. Norris)

“We’ve got a 1919, one of the first station wagons. It was nothing more than to pick you up at the train station. … all the way up to a muscle car that is actually a station wagon (and an Indy 500 pace car). … A lot of the cars we have on display here, and a lot more at the museum, have their own unique innovations.”

The presence of the Gilmore Care Museum is nothing new for the auto show, too.

“We come down to the car show every year, 15 years now,” Follis said. “Our mission is to evoke memories and tell great stories … We are only 50 miles south of Grand Rapids and we are North America’s largest auto museum. So this is a perfect place to introduce people to auto history and the car museum.”

The new cars on display by the Grand Rapids New Car Dealers Association will include spectrum of sedans, vans, hybrids and sports cars, but the field will be dominated by Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and trucks, the two biggest sellers, according to the association.

One of the Million Dollar Motorway cars on display at the 2020 Michigan International Auto Show. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

Among the highlights of this year’s auto show is the latest in automotive technology by Gentex, a Michigan based company which develops and manufactures “custom high-tech electronic products for the automotive, aerospace, and commercial fire protection industries.” Also returning, and always worth drooling over, is the Million Dollar Motorway, featuring luxury brand cars this year valued at $4.5 million collectively.

And, as shown during the media preview, some of the new technologies — and all the luxury brand cars — are nothing short of amazing.

The 22nd Annual Michigan International Auto Show will open to the pubic Thursday, Jan. 30 and run through Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 2 — 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday (to be over in time for the big game, of course).

Thursday, Jan. 30 is also a special First Responders Day, with free admission for active EMS, fire, police, public safety, U.S. Coast Guard and other active military and retired veterans who can show valid I.D., badge or other verification.

Admission is $12 for adults and $5 for children 6-14. Kids 5 and under are admitted free.

There is parking beneath DeVos Place, across the street and nearby but connected by the skywalk. Be aware, though, of “Hamilton: An American Musical” also playing at DeVos. For more information on parking and directions visit here. You can also take the complimentary trolley by parking in the Dash Lot Area 9 (on Seward Avenue) for $2 and hop aboard the Trolley which will be making runs on an 8-minute loop for an hour before the show opens to an hour after the show closes each day.

For more information about the 22nd Annual Michigan International Auto Show visit here.

Art in Bloom Festival Artwork Competition is taking entries Sept. 29-Oct. 4

3-bottom, design, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , , , ,

By Elizabeth Wallace, Tulip Time

 

Tulip Time Festival and the Holland Area Arts Council have announced the 2019 Art in Bloom (AIB) Festival Artwork Competition. Each year, the Holland Area Arts Council invites a juror to select the Top 20 pieces for AIB. Kristin Jass Armstrong, Executive Director of the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, will be the 2019 juror.

 

Until 2011, posters were commissioned work from selected artists. Since AIB transitioned into a Festival Artwork Competition, eight local artists have been awarded this honor:

  • 2011 Beth Charles – “Drama Queens”
  • 2012 Brittany Strabbing – “Beautiful Dream”
  • 2013 Maggie Schultz – “Clothed in Splendor”
  • 2014 Karin Nelson – “Resilience”
  • 2015 Carolyn Stich – “Joy of Spring”
  • 2016 Alla Dickson – “Spectacle”
  • 2017 Michele Gort – “Playful Time”
  • 2018 Cindy Awrey – “Together”

Artists in Ottawa, Allegan, Kent, Muskegon, and Kalamazoo counties are invited to submit artwork. Submissions for the 2019 Festival Artwork Competition will be accepted from Sept. 29 through Oct. 4. The artwork theme should represent Tulip Time’s mission to celebrate Holland’s tulips, Dutch heritage and community with special consideration to our 90th festival theme: ‘join the dance as we paint the town orange!’ The winner of the 2019 competition will be announced at First Bloom, a special unveiling reception held in February.

 

To view the submission forms and full entry requirements, please pick up a prospectus from the Tulip Time Festival Office or the Holland Area Arts Council. The prospectus can also be found online at www.tuliptime.com/artinbloom and www.hollandarts.org.

 

For additional details, artists are encouraged to contact Mary Sundstrom at (616) 396-3278 or mary@hollandarts.org.

 

The Tulip Time Festival Guide is now available offering complete details for the 2018 program. Festival Guides can be viewed online or you can request a copy at www.tuliptime.com/join.

 

Join the dance as we paint the town orange in celebration of Dutch Culture, Community and Tulips at the 90th Tulip Time Festival May 4–23, 2019.

Calvin engineers take second place at Disaster Shelter Design Competition

3-bottom, architecture, Area Education, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, design, Education, Local Faces, Our Cities, Tech Trends, Volunteers, , , ,

Courtesy Calvin College

By Matt Kucinski, Calvin College

 

Calvin College placed second at the 7th Annual Disaster Shelter Design Competition, sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse International, April 19-21, and hosted on John Brown University’s (JBU) Siloam Springs campus. Nine teams from eight universities designed and constructed a rapidly-deployable emergency and disaster shelter, which a panel of judges with expertise in emergency management, engineering, logistics, and manufacturing, evaluated for possible implementation in relief efforts worldwide.

 

“It was a lot of fun. We got to test our prototype against other schools and other designs, simulate a lot of scenarios, and ultimately we got to see how well our process and ideas came to light in physical form,” said Kyle Sutton, a senior civil-environmental engineering major at Calvin.

 

Sutton, along with fellow senior civil-environmental engineering majors, Kyra Black, Cameron Carley, and Nate Veldboom, made the 13-hour drive south for the competition. The group, known as Team Dwell, brought with them their handiwork–a project they’ve been working on for their senior design project this year.

 

The competition scenario they participated in was based on the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2015 that affected more than a million people in Nepal. The shelters were required to address the local climate in Nepal, as well as their mountainous terrain, by retaining heat and transporting easily as well as by being water resistant, cost effective and culturally appropriate. The shelters were also required to be able to house a family of four.

 

“This competition gives Samaritan’s Purse access to some of the region’s most innovative engineers, construction management and architects, as students provide practical solutions to real-world problems,” said Mark Terrill, associate professor of construction management at John Brown University, and competition coordinator. “Not only does the competition combine classroom learning and real-world application, but it’s also really fun to watch.”

 

Team Dwell (Courtesy Calvin College)

Each team’s disaster shelter prototypes endured durability testing – including earthquake sustainability, heat retention, overnight habitability, wind turbulence, and water resistance. In addition, teams competed in an emergency shelter construction test, where they were evaluated on their ability to quickly design and construct emergency shelters from given materials.

 

Teams were scored based on their shelter’s performance in individual events and on their presentations detailing their shelter’s schematics, design, and materials. In addition to Team Dwell’s second place overall finish, they also took top honors in the Best Camp Plan, Best Report/Presentation, and Lightest Shelter categories.

 

A team from LeTourneau University took first place overall and John Brown University took third place. Other universities who participated this year include: Dordt College, Pittsburg State University, Gyeongsang National University, Murray State University, and University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

 

Reprinted with permission from Calvin College.

Quilt exhibition and workshop hit the bull’s-eye for quilting aficionados

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, design, Education, Entertainment, Upcoming Events, , ,

CircularAbstractionsCoverWEB

 

By Muskegon Museum of Art

 

The Muskegon Museum of Art (MMA), in partnership with Guest Curator Nancy Crow, presents Circular Abstractions: Bull’s Eye Quilts, a touring exhibition that showcases some of the best machine-piecing and quilting being created today. The exhibition runs from August 25 through November 6, 2016.

 

The juried, invitational exhibition features 50 quilts by an array of artists that improvise around the Bull’s Eye pattern: a four-quadrant design with a bull’s eye at the center of each quarter. Color and design become the focus of a dazzling array of quilts inspired by the innovations of legendary fine art quilt-maker Nancy Crow.

 

The artists were challenged to create artworks that stretched the possibilities of the machine-pieced quilt and conveyed a sense of energy and excitement. Participating artists come from across the U.S. and abroad, with represented countries including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Switzerland.

 

Cost
$8 adult; $5 college student with ID; free for 17 and under; free for MMA members; free 4-8pm Thursday

MMA is located at 296 W. Webster Ave. in Muskegon
P: 231.720.2570 F: 231.720.2585

 

nancy crow workshopNancy Crow five-day workshop, Improvisational Exercises

 

In tandem with the Circular Abstractions: Bull’s Eye Quilts exhibition, Nancy Crow is offering a five-day workshop called Improvisational Exercises from August 22-26 for intermediate to advanced quilters. Participants must be good machine piecers and able to cut freehand.

 

The workshop has been specifically developed for students who want to become far more experimental using machine-piecing techniques. Students will be expected to work spontaneously and intuitively with nontraditional quilt-making techniques as they explore design exercises that promote improvisational approaches to composition without benefit of “pre-planning” and “intellectualizing.”

 

Growth Rings by Valerie Maser-Flanagan largeStudents will learn construction and engineering techniques. Color, and the values of color, from light to dark, will be emphasized in all exercises so a great selection of fabrics must be brought to this workshop. Students will be working in solid colors the entire five days so there is no need to bring any printed or marbled fabrics, only solids whether commercial or hand-dyed.

 

Students are urged to come with an open mind and no agendas, ready for growth and for risk-taking.

Class Fee: $675 ($500 is non-refundable)

Location: Century Club Ballroom (downtown Muskegon), 356 W. Western Ave.

To register and secure a spot, full payment of $675 (credit card or check payment) is required. To register please call 231.720.2587 or contact Catherine Mott at cmott@mpsk12.net.

 

 

Visions of Venice

3-bottom, architecture, Citizen Journalism, design, Education, Entertainment, Local Faces, Travel, , , , ,

By Lynn Strough

Travelynn Tales

 

5

 

When words simply won’t do… Lynn Strough takes us on a visual journey of Venice.

 

 

[huge_it_slider id=”55″]

 

 

 

 

41About Lynn Strough

Lynn is a 50-something-year-old woman whose incarnations in this life have included graphic designer, children’s book author and illustrator, public speaker, teacher, fine art painter, wine educator in the Napa Valley, and world traveler. Through current circumstances, she has found herself single, without a job or a home, and poised for a great adventure.

 

“You could consider me homeless and unemployed, but I prefer nomad and self-employed, as I pack up my skills and head off with my small backpack and even smaller savings to circumnavigate the globe (or at least go until the money runs out). Get ready to tag along for the ride…starting now!”

 

 

travelynnlogoAll images copyright Lynn Strough and Travelynn Tales

Reprinted with permission

UN.EARTH showcases KCAD students’ imaginative, captivating work

3-bottom, Area Education, design, Education, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Upcoming Events, , , , , , , , ,

Un_Earth LogoBy KCAD

 

The most imaginative and captivating work from students in Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University’s (KCAD) Pamella Roland DeVos School of Fashion will be presented to the public at their annual fashion show, to be held inside the Grand Rapids Downtown Market on April 13 from 7:30-10 pm.

 

“It’s fitting that all of the hard work and dedication the students in our Fashion Studies program have displayed throughout the year culminates in an event that they have the freedom to make their own,” said Interim Dean of the College Ron Riksen. “The KCAD community looks forward to celebrating their accomplishments.”Chelsey Sawallich

 

Titled UN.EARTH, the event will feature work from all class levels of the Fashion Studies program that ties into the event’s theme of nature and personal growth. The theme is based on the earth’s terrain and includes three subcategories: peak, valley, and coast. Specific color schemes and key words associated with each subcategory informed class projects in Fashion Studies courses throughout the spring semester of the 2015-2016 academic year.

 

Underclassmen will be displaying individual garments, selected through a juried process, that were designed within the parameters of different class projects. Graduating seniors, on the other hand, will be displaying their full capstone collections, multiple garments that have been designed with much more creative freedom at the students’ disposal. A number of fashion illustrations will also be on display.

 

“We chose to call the fashion show UN•EARTH specifically for its definition and connotation,” said Fashion Studies senior Audrey Langejans, one of the event’s lead organizers. “The word ‘earth’ got us thinking a lot about incorporating the nature-inspired trends that are so relevant in the fashion industry right now – trends that would give the underclassmen a chance to be extra creative in their interpretation of the theme. The definition of the word ‘unearth’ itself felt like the perfect summation of the senior experience. We seniors have spent three years working on class projects and learning different techniques, and now we have been able to unearth our own aesthetics and identities as designers through our capstone collections.”Maria Tenhave-Chapman

 

Fashion Studies Program Chair Lori Faulkner added, “In our Capstone course, senior students use all the technical skills and knowledge they have gained through their years of study at KCAD to create an individual collection that specifically reveals their individual vision. Up until their senior year, they have been designing with certain guidelines in mind, but for this project they are given complete creative freedom. Regardless of their class level, I am consistently amazed by the unique designs that my students are able to take from concept to finished product.”

 

UN.EARTH will be held at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market on April 13, 2016 from 7:30-10 pm. Appetizers and refreshments will be provided by Martha’s Vineyard. Admission to the event is free, and the public is warmly welcomed to attend. Attendees are asked to please RSVP through Eventbrite to reserve their free tickets. Space is limited.

West Michigan Design Week kicks off April 9 at the Pyramid Scheme

3-bottom, architecture, design, Education, Entertainment, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Our Cities, Upcoming Events, West Michigan Design Week, WMDW, , , , , , , , , , , ,

By WMDW

 

West Michigan has a long history of design, and it’s becoming an even stronger and more vital part of our community. From graphic design to industrial design, architecture, interior design, packaging design, and UX design, an incredible amount of innovative, world-class work is happening here, and we want the world to know about it!

 

In its second year, West Michigan Design Week is a week-long series of programs aimed to inspire designers from all disciplines and demonstrate the strategic and economic advantages of design thinking to the rest of the community. The hope is that this event will spotlight West Michigan design increasing opportunities for local designers, attracting new ones, and building connections between designers and our cultural, educational and business communities.

Speakers
Mimi Valdés, The Multimedia Maker

 

From April 6-11, a lineup of tours, speakers and workshops is scheduled in the area to showcase what has been accomplished in the region as well as to develop connections in the design industry. Go here for the calendar of events.

 

The Pyramid Scheme, 68 Commerce Ave. SW, Grand Rapids, kicks things off on April 9 with music and good company. Get your 2016 West Michigan Design Week t-shirts screen printed by Ambrose live on stage. Glitter Booth will capture the action.

 

Saturday, April 9th  |  9pm – 2am
9:00 – 10:30 | Tom Engelsman from Scintillate
10:30 – 12:30 | AJPASCHKA
12:30 – 1:30 | AB

 

$8 / 21+
Get tickets here.

 

Sponsors:
Glitter Booth

 

Several design industry organizations have collaborated to make this event possible, including (in alphabetical order):  AIGA West Michigan, American Institute of Architects Grand Rapids,  American Society of Interior Designers and Interaction Design Association, Design West Michigan, Industrial Designers of America, International Interior Design Association, and Kendall College of Art and Design.