By Shelly Kilroy, Librarian

If you’ve ever read anything that stimulated more questions than answers you’ll know how we all felt as our Art & Gardens Book Discussion Group read and discussed Michael Pollan’s Second Nature: A Gardener’s Education.

Despite its subtitle, Pollan’s book is not really about gardening but about where people fit into nature and how we should interact with it.  Should we have more of the wild in us or bring more “culture,� what I read as intentional thoughtfulness, to our conduct with nature?  Do our environmental problems have more to do with our “habits, technologies and economic arrangements� than with the earth’s resource limits or our population numbers?  Not to mention whether separating human from nature is a true and beneficial separation.  Would we do better to acknowledge ourselves and our culture and cities as part of nature and practice more thoughtful interactions with the rest of the living world?  I have to say we didn’t come up with any answers, good discussion, lots of differing viewpoints, but no clear-cut answers.

Our discussion group agreed that whether we agreed with Pollan or not, whether his ideas were really supported by any science or not, his book did make you think. I believe we would all recommend this book, and others by him, for generating great discussion.

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Art and Gardens Book Discussion Group is open to members of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Great discussions of great books take place the first Tuesday of each month from 1-3 PM. April’s selection is The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham.

RSVP to Shelly Kilroy at 616-957-3144 or skilroy@meijergardens.org

Guest post by Katie Racey, Membership Events Coordinator

The Connection: Be Merry and Mingle was held on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at Meijer Gardens in December amidst the Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World exhibition. It was a great night full of Christmas festivities including a coffee bar, cookie decorating and many different desserts. Cookie decorating is a lot of fun no matter how old you are!

One of the best parts of the night was seeing the decorated Christmas trees exclusively with the other guests at the event. It was such a nice way to relax during the holidays and network with the other guests. There is no other place around here where you can see such beautiful Christmas trees and then enjoy the tropical warmth of the Lena Meijer Garden Conservatory. No matter what the season, the Gardens always provides the perfect setting to be merry and mingle.

Check out photos of the event and add yours on our Facebook page.

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The Connection, a membership level at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, is a vibrant group of community members in the West Michigan Area in their 20s, 30s and 40s who wish to help “promote the enjoyment, understanding and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environments and the arts” in an innovative and fun way.

By Shelly Kilroy, Librarian

Who knew that Leonardo daVinci’s Mona Lisa had been stolen in 1911…and that Pablo Picasso was one of the suspects in the crime? These fascinating topics and more made for a great read and a great discussion when the FMGSP Members’ Art and Gardens Book Discussion Group met in January to discuss Vanished Smile: The Mysterious Theft of Mona Lisa by R.A. Scotti.

Scotti’s book reconstructs what little is known about the theft, the investigators and the suspects, while creating a most interesting picture of the times and culture of the early 1900s as well as fascinating details on the painting in question. All this made for a lively discussion revolving around whether the Mona Lisa would have the same international popularity it enjoys now if it had not been stolen and the world press at the time had not followed the story so closely. Most concluded that she, and her mysterious smile, would still beguile the world whether or not she had disappeared. The one culprit who was captured (there may have been others) said he did it because he wanted to return the Mona Lisa to Italy, its rightful home before, he believed, it had been stolen by Napoleon. This fact led to discussions on whether museums should be allowed to show and profit from works that were obtained as plunder of war or other uncertain means. Many other topics were raised and discussed, making for an enjoyable and thought-provoking afternoon.

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Art and Gardens Book Discussion Group is open to members of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Great discussions of great books take place the first Tuesday of each month from 1-3 PM. February’s selection is A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson.

RSVP to Shelly Kilroy at 616-957-3144 or skilroy@meijergardens.org

Chris and Katherine Pegman have been members of The Connection since 2008. Chris is a consultant/IT auditor for Hungerford, Aldrin, Nichols & Carter, PC. Katherine is the director of West Michigan Learning Center for Children with Dyslexia.

Why did you two join The Connection?

We want to meet new people, make new friends, and expand our network in the community.

What do you enjoy most about being a member?

We enjoy meeting new people and enjoying the ever changing beauty the gardens has to offer in all seasons.

What has been your favorite event since you joined?

The Be Merry & Mingle Event this December was a great opportunity to be at the gardens at night, all decorated for the holidays, and have the place open just for The Connection.  We really enjoyed visiting the Railway Garden with its new additions and seeing the Tropical Conservatory at night, lit only by white Christmas lights.  It was also nice to meet other young professionals and get advice about new responsibilities I face in my new position as director of  the West Michigan Learning Center for Children with Dyslexia.  The appetizers, drinks, and cookie decorating were great too!

If you could own one of the sculptures in FMG’s collection, what would it be and why?

It’s really difficult to choose since there are so many wonderful and unique pieces in their own right.  One in particular would be Deborah Butterfield’s Bronze Horse.  The look of driftwood with the weight of bronze is pretty amazing.

Guest blog post by Laura McPhail
Laura is the owner of The Hideout Brewery. She is a member of The Connection’s Steering Committee and has been a member since its inception.

At the Hobnob & Hops Connection event, Wednesday, October 13, my husband, Ken and I got to enjoy the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in an intimate setting.  The farmhouse and the barn with music by Gabe Lundy drifting through the air was the perfect backdrop for an absolutely enjoyable evening.

After grabbing a caramel apple made by Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and some delicious Michigan wine it was time to meet some new people.  The “Minute to Win It� games were the perfect opportunity to meet many of the guests, share a laugh and discover some new skills.  Who know you could actually stack 5 apples?

We also got the chance to venture out into the chilly night for an afterhours sculpture tour.  A small, but jovial group of us had a great time on the tram with our tour guide.  We even learned a little something about art!  The nice surprise is that I got to meet new Connection members that had just signed up that night.  After winding down and heading home I realized how much I look forward to seeing them again at the next event in December.

Mark your calendar for “Be Merry & Mingle at Meijer Gardens” on Thursday, December 16, 6-9 PM.

What do you do for a living?

I own and operate GRNow.com.

Why did you join The Connection?

I wanted to have a chance to get involved with and give back to an organization I love, Meijer Gardens, and The Connection is a great way to do that.

What do you enjoy most about being a member?

It’s been great meeting other young professionals around the community and the events are really great because Meijer Gardens offers a setting no other location can.

What has been your favorite event since you joined?

It’s difficult to narrow it down to one. Last year’s Summer Tailgate had spectacular food, the Fall event in the barn had a great atmosphere, and being able to meet the Chihuly installation artists at the event this past Spring was a really cool and unique opportunity.

If you could own one of the sculptures in FMG’s collection, what would it be and why?

Definitely the Rodin of ‘Eve’ in the Sculpture Garden. I’m a huge fan of late 19th century art.

GREENSKY BLUEGRASS is one of the most exciting bands in today’s music scene. Like a breath of fresh air, this five-piece band plays traditional bluegrass instruments and uses them to create original songs and soundscapes that are unique and new, yet somehow feel comfortable and familiar. Though they have been likened to ‘70s era Americana acts like The Band, Greensky would prefer not to be compared to any other bands. “We really just try to make music as a group that sounds and feels right to us�, says mandolin player Paul Hoffman, later adding that “it is nice to know that other people really dig it, too.�

While “green sky� is the opposite of “blue grass“, the band insists that the name came about as more of a pun than a statement about their music. “Along with the tradition of bluegrass, we all have lots of different musical influences that we bring to the table�, says guitar player Dave Bruzza, “and we somehow wanted to reflect that in our name.� Upon witnessing the band’s live shows, this statement seems to make a little more sense. On any given night, in addition to the myriad of excellent original songs, one might hear traditional bluegrass songs with an exploratory rock and roll jam or selections from the Talking Heads, Jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead or Bob Marley turned bluegrass. “We are as likely to play a three minute song as we are a ten minute song on any given night�, says dobro player Anders Beck, “and I think that keeps it exciting for the audience�. Perhaps this is the reason that Greensky Bluegrass is as equally embraced by the jam-band community as it is the bluegrass/Americana community and the band’s fan base is growing so rapidly.

“Of course, this is bluegrass. So manic chops mean a lot to Greensky Bluegrass. Yet they are also masterful storytellers. Mandolinist Paul Hoffman in particular pens some true rural balladry.� -Seattle Weekly

Greensky Bluegrass is touring in support of their recently released fourth album, “Five Interstates�, which was produced by Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth. The album, their strongest to date, features twelve original tracks and one traditional bluegrass song (a nod to the deceased King of Bluegrass, Jimmy Martin) ,and showcases the band’s songwriting and playing talents in a way that is incredibly accessible to fans of many different types of music. Carbone notes on the package: “Five Interstates came together like five lives intertwined, the intersection of a lifetime frozen in precious time and preserved in a digital tableau. I’m blessed…We’re all blessed to be witness to a band ascending as true as an arrow shot to the sky.�

Since winning the 2006 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Contest, Greensky has been touring constantly, playing over 170 shows a year, and all the hard work is certainly paying off. Recent highlights are too many to list, but include selling out venues in many parts of the country, sharing the stage with musical heroes, getting asked to play shows with the likes of Tony Rice and Peter Rowan, Sam Bush, Yonder Mountain String Band and Railroad Earth, and being asked to play the inaugural Rothbury Festival in their home state of Michigan. “It certainly felt like an affirmation that we are doing something right�, noted bass player Mike Devol.

Greensky Bluegrass is Anders Beck (dobro), Michael Arlen Bont (banjo), Dave Bruzza (guitar), Mike Devol (upright bass) and Paul Hoffman (mandolin).

For ticketing info visit the Natalie MacMaster event page.

Imagine being a 20-year-old blues saxophonist in 1950s Mississippi.Now imagine Muddy Waters coming up to you and asking you to move to Chicago to join his band. Lucky for us, Eddie Shaw took Waters up on his offer. Fifty years later, he is a well respected blues musician in his own right. And that’s not an easy task in Chicago’s predominately guitar-and-harmonica driven blues scene.

Eddie honed his craft as a principal member of Howlin’ Wolf’s band. He served as the band’s leader after Wolf’s death in 1976. His own career really took off in the late 70s when he and some of the members of Wolf’s band re-formed under the name, Eddie Shaw and the Wolf Gang. Today, the band includes Eddie on sax, his son Eddie Jr. (aka Vaan) on guitar, Lafayette “Shorty� Gilbert on bass and vocals, and Tim Taylor (son of the late Eddie Taylor) on drums. Eddie has also played or worked with the likes of Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Otis Rush and Magic Sam. He has won several awards including the 1996 Howling Wolf Award (Chicago Blues Festival) and, most recently, the 2006 and 2007 Blues Music Award for “Instrumentalist–Horn.�

If you want to listen to some fabulous Chicago blues without having to drive to Chicago, check out Eddie Shaw and the Wolf Gang when they share the Meijer Gardens stage with George Thorogood.

For ticketing info visit the George Thorogood & The Destroyers event page.

When you hear “Bad to the Bone,� you know what’s coming. When someone asks “Who Do You Love,� the answer is obvious. It’s George Thorogood and the Destroyers. Thorogood and the boys will bring their ‘blues and boogie’ anthems to the Amphitheater again this August.

If you had the chance to see them last summer, you know their live performance is definitely no-holds-barred awesome. They play for their audience first, so you are guaranteed to rock out with music you’ve come to know and love. What makes it all the more fun is you can tell Thorogood is having just as good a time as the audience.

Considering he has been doing this for over 30 years, that’s not bad. In a recent interview with Bakersfield.com, Thorogood says, “Anyone born after 1950 who says he didn’t dream of being a rock star is lying.â€� However for him, it wasn’t his first dream. That was playing professional baseball, and he even did a stint in the semi-pros. But, as he put it, “I couldn’t hit, play or throw.â€� So apparently he moved on to dream #2. Good plan.

That dream has resulted in 16 studio albums, five live albums, some compilation albums and the respect of the music industry. Four of his albums have gone gold and in 2004 he earned Billboard’s “Best Blues Album of the Year� honor. And Thorogood doesn’t seem to have plans of stopping anytime soon—which is a good thing for his fans.

So if you’re a longtime fan or new to the Destroyer experience, “Move It On Over� to Meijer Gardens and take in one of the best shows you’ll see this year.

For ticketing info visit the George Thorogood & The Destroyers event page.

If you missed her concert at The Intersection in January, now is your chance to see Brandi Carlile. She will be performing on August 25 as part of the Outdoor Summer Concert Series.

Carlile has been gaining fans at a phenomenal rate since the release of her 2005 debut studio album. Her third album, Giving up the Ghost, was released in October and includes contributions from Elton John, Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls. That’s a pretty diverse and impressive group. Carlile and her band have also gained quite a following on the touring circuit, performing in Europe, the UK, the US, at Lilith Fair and Bonnaroo 2010.

Maybe you don’t recognize the name but you have probably heard the music. She vocally captured the pureness of love in her cover of Bryan Adam’s hit, “Heaven,� which received airplay on local radio stations. Carlile performed a couple of times on NPR’s World Café. In addition, her song, “Before It Breaks� was featured in the November 5, 2009 episode of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy.

Carlile grew up listening to country music, “totally immersed in the Grand Ole Opry culture, wherein the entertainers are usually not the ones who wrote the music.� When she was 11 years old, she discovered Elton John. With that discovery, she learned that some performers do write and perform their own music, and she’s been writing her own music ever since. (Can you imagine how excited she must have been to perform a duet with Sir Elton on her recent album?) She began playing in bands in her teens, where she met Tim and Paul Hanseroth who plays guitar and bass in her band today.

For ticketing info visit the Brandi Carlile event page.