Midland, Michigan — June 9, 2025 — This spring, Dow Gardens welcomes a new outdoor art installation that invites guests to slow down, take a breath, and connect more deeply with nature. Nature, Energy, & Reflection, featuring ceramic sculptures by Michigan artist Helen Hierta, is on view from May 26, 2025, through April 26, 2026.
The exhibit features eight hand–crafted ceramic totems, each uniquely inspired by a specific location within Dow Gardens. Guests can enhance their experience with a peaceful audio tour that includes guided meditations and breathing exercises designed to complement the natural surroundings.
“We’re thrilled to share Helen’s deeply reflective work with our guests,” said Carolynn Paten, Director of Programming & Guest Services. “The blend of art, mindfulness, and nature aligns beautifully with our mission to offer meaningful experiences in the garden. We hope guests take time to explore the totems, listen, breathe, and leave feeling refreshed and inspired.”
As the seasons shift across the landscape—from the vibrant bloom of spring to the quiet hush of winter—so too does the experience of the exhibit. Guests are invited to return throughout the year, allowing each visit to become a unique moment of reflection. Whether surrounded by the warmth of summer sun or the stillness of falling snow, the totems serve as grounding points for mindfulness, encouraging guests to notice their breath, observe their inner landscape, and draw inspiration from nature’s rhythms.
Helen Hierta, a ceramic artist from Greenbush, Michigan and a certified Kundalini Yoga teacher, draws on her background in both art and mindfulness to create pieces that explore how invisible energy is felt in nature—and in ourselves. Each sculpture was hardened using electric, gas, or wood fire kilns, producing unique surface textures that reflect the interplay between natural elements and human perception.
Included with admission or annual pass, Nature, Energy, & Reflection encourages guests to consider their relationship with the natural world. What can we learn from trees, water, stone? How are our thoughts shaped by our surroundings in all seasons?
For sculpture purchase inquiries or to commission original work, guests are encouraged to explore the artist’s website.
For more information about Dow Gardens and its upcoming programs and events, please visit www.dowgardens.org.
CONTACT:
Kimberly Ferguson | Marketing Coordinator & Designer | 989.631.2677 | kferguson@dowgardens.org
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About Dow Gardens:
Originally established in 1899, as a home for Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow and family, the 110–acre Dow Gardens now welcomes over 225,000 guests per year. Guests are invited to leave the pathway and explore the uniquely–designed landscape, take a tour of the historic Pines Home, participate in one of many hands–on educational programs, stroll the treetops on an elevated Canopy Walk, and discover beautiful art and music in a botanical garden setting.
Dow Gardens is a signature gift of The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation.
Credits:
Kimberly Ferguson | Marketing Coordinator & Designer | 989.631.2677 | kferguson@dowgardens.org