The American Horse
All photos on this page courtesy of Frederik Meijer Gardens

     Although the gift of The Horse to Italy has always been the main goal of LDVHI, many people and delighted to learn that there is an American Horse also.

     On Thursday October 7th 1999 the second casting of The Horse, known as the American Horse, was unveiled at the Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The highlight of the morning's events was the unveiling of the Horse sculpture by live horses. Visitors were entertained by the US Marine Corps Band in addition to Renaissance heralders and jugglers. Remarks at the ceremony were made by Frederick Meijer, the philanthropist who made the creation of this Horse possible, Brent Dennis, Executive Director of the gardens, Peter Dent, nephew of Charles Dent and a trustee of LDVHI, sculptor Nina Akamu, and Italian diplomats. Later that evening, an outdoor reception tent was transformed into an Italian Villa and Gardens. Supporters celebrated the Horse's arrival with a live dressage performance, a dramatic lighting ceremony for the sculpture and a fireworks display.

      The idea of the American Horse evolved over the years, but it took the interest and commitment of Frederik Meijer to bring it to life. While the LDVHI Board supported the concept, the cost of yet another large Horse could not be considered until the Italian Horse had been completed.

     A timely phone call from Frederik Meijer in August 1996 proved to be the impetus for advancing the American Horse. Mr. Meijer, a long time arts patron in Grand Rapids, is also a major supporter of the Frederik Meijer Gardens - a Botanical Gardens and Sculpture Park that offers a unique place to explore nature and fine art in one setting, and serves as a vital cultural and educational resource for Western Michigan residents and visitors from across the United States.

     Mr. Meijer's son Hank read the front page 1996 New York Times article about The Horse and proposed to his father that it would make a spectacular addition to the Frederik Meijer Gardens. The Horse has been acquired as part of the Gardens' plan to further develop educational initiatives and its sculpture program. As part of the expansion, 48 acres have been added to the grounds, increasing the total acreage to 118 acres. New facilities feature a state-of-the art sculpture gallery, a fully equipped sculpture acclimation studio, a 700-seat multi-purpose auditorium, and new classroom and library spaces. Plans also include increasing support for educational programs, with hands-on learning opportunities for schools in nature conservation, ecology, horticulture, and the arts.

     At The Frederik Meijer Gardens, The Horse is accompanied by a Sculpture Education Center housing an eight-foot version of The Horse as well as exhibits about sculpture and the modern-day casting process. This facility fulfills Frederik Meijer's commitment to sharing the art and science of sculpture, as well as Charles Dent's original educational vision for The Horse.

     LDVHI had no part in funding the American Horse. Quite the contrary, the Meijer Gardens' purchase of their casting provided a significant contribution to the completion of the Italian Horse. Scribe readers may have noticed a few news stories which mentioned a 21-foot Horse for Michigan. During initial negotiations, LDVHI and the Gardens were considering this size. However, the LDVHI Board and the Gardens changed the size to 24 feet so that the Michigan horse could be cast from the same molds as the Italian Horse, ensuring identical quality and aesthetics.

     In order to add variety to the presentation of the two Horses, the Italian Horse is displayed on a pedestal, in the traditional manner. The Gardens' American Horse is displayed at ground level, inviting a different kind of interaction with visitors there. For those people lucky enough to see both Horses at their final sites, the contrast of viewing angles should be fascinating.

      Charles Dent was always keenly interested in education. The steady stream of school children, college students and educators who passed through the Dome while Charlie was alive to hear his riveting tales of art collecting, Leonardo, The Horse and the Renaissance, attest to that interest.

      It is safe to say that Charlie would feel great satisfaction in imagining rivers of Mid-west school children flowing through the education center at the Gardens, mesmerized by stories of sculpture and the Renaissance. The relationship between Meijer Gardens and LDVHI is just another of the unplanned but serendipitous outcomes of Charlie's great idea: "Let's give Leonardo his horse."