VISITOR  CENTER

 Upon your visit to The Botanic Garden, you will be welcomed by our Visitor Center. This beautiful building was once the Traverse City State Hospital’s Granary, built around 1886. Come inside to see the original stone walls and tunnel that originally connected the farm’s root cellar to the Granary’s lower level.

The Visitor Center’s lower level includes a gift shop, information desk, restrooms and drinking fountains. On the second floor, above the gift shop, is the Three Seasons Gallery open from April through October where we feature local artists who display and sell their two dimensional art. Upstairs, the second floor, is also a classroom/meeting room where most of The Botanic Garden classes and workshops are held.

This bright and beautiful room is also available for rental year-round for your special event.

Because environmental sustainability is a guiding principle of The Botanic Garden, many components of the renovation were designed for LEED certification. Energy saving lighting, heating & cooling and water conservation systems were incorporated. The Visitor Center’s V-shaped roof collects and stores rainwater for garden irrigation. Recycled materials were utilized wherever possible, including wood paneling from Manistee’s Vogue Theater. Even old cast iron cow water buckets from the adjoining barn now serve as lighting fixtures in the classroom!

Interested in renting the Visitor Center as a space for your next personal or professional event? Click here to learn more!

GARDEN  TOURS

THREE SEASONS ART SHOW

FEATURED ARTISTS

The Visitor Center is open from April – October. We exhibit art from featured artists on the upper level, above the gift shop. Works of art by featured artists are on display and for sale. Please keep reading to learn more about the artists currently featured in the Visitor Center.

2024 Fall Session

Katie Lowran (Northern Michigan)

Artist Solo Exhibition “Wild Things”
August 30, 2024 – October 31, 2024

Meet Katie Lowran – a passionate fine art acrylic painter who creates breathtaking artwork that captures the essence of people, places, and nature. Her paintings are a testament to her love for life and her unique perspective on the world around her. With a gentle and unhurried process, Katie infuses texture and layers of vibrant colors to create a truly emotional experience for her viewers. Her medium of choice is acrylic paint, which she skillfully manipulates to produce stunning masterpieces with buttery smoothness.

Since 2019, Katie has been on an incredible journey as an artist, honing her craft and producing astonishing works of art, including commissioned works. Currently residing in picturesque northern Michigan, Katie continues to bring her passion to life through her one-of-a-kind artwork. Katie is a member of the Crooked Tree Arts Center, the Glen Arbor Arts Center, the Elizabeth Lane Oliver Center for the Arts, and the Northwest Michigan Arts & Culture Network, Michigan.

Her “Wild Things” exhibition celebrates the untamed beauty of the natural world, bringing together a vibrant collection of artworks featuring animals, flowers, and people. It explores the intricate connections between all living things, capturing the essence of nature’s wild spirit through dynamic compositions and evocative imagery. Visit her exhibit in the Three Seasons Gallery on the upper level of the Gift Shop and Visitor Center at The Botanic Garden at the Historic Barns Park, Traverse City.

Works of art are on display and for sale, including seven first-run limited edition prints and notecards.
A portion of the proceeds benefit The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park.

Artist Reception
Thursday, September 12, 2024 5:30pm-to 7:30pm
Meet and mingle with the artist.
Music by pianist David Chown. Refreshments provided.

To learn more about her Life and Work as an Artist: visit  https://www.katielowranart.com/about or  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_lowran_art/

2024 Summer Session

Jessica Kovan (Beulah, Michigan)

Artist Exhibition “Living In The Questions”
June ​25, 2024 – August 20, 2024

Jessica Kovan is a mixed media artist, environmentalist, educator, and most recently orchardist. Her art is characterized as thoughtful, storytelling and layered. Drawing inspiration from the world around her, she explores the intersection of art, nature, the environment, and human decision making. Her work is personal, expressive and focused on making the spirit of the times visual.

Jessica’s art raises awareness for issues she is passionate about. Her most recent body of work focuses strongly on climate change and habitat loss. Her art practice seeks to utilize sustainable and recyclable materials. She designs art and workshops to provide avenues for people to understand themselves in relation to the world.

Jessica is a signature member of the International Society of Experimental Artists and the International Society of Acrylic Painters. She is a member of Artists for Climate Awareness and a certified GOLDEN Artist Educator. Her artwork has been featured in North Light Books, The Best of Mixed Media, Strawberry Moon Magazine and on-line in CreateMixedMedia. Jessica’s paintings are in private and corporate collections nationally and internationally. With a PhD in Adult Education, Jessica enjoys combining her love for painting with her love for teaching.

To learn about her artwork, workshops, online classes and thoughts about creativity, visit www.jessicakovan.com.

2024 Spring Session

Wendy McWhorter (Kewadin, Michigan)

The Botanic Garden is proud to announce the opening of the “Bloom” art exhibit by acclaimed artist Wendy McWhorter. The exhibit will run from April 19 to June 20, 2024 in the Three Season Gallery, showcasing McWhorter’s stunning oil paintings inspired by the beauty of gardens, blooming trees, and rural farmsteads throughout Northwest Michigan. The opening reception for “Bloom” will take place on Friday, April 26 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at The Botanic Garden. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the artist and enjoy refreshments and appetizers while admiring McWhorter’s vibrant artwork. All are welcome to join!

McWhorter’s oil paintings capture the essence of the region’s natural landscapes, with a focus on floral still life that adds a touch of elegance to the exhibit. Her passion for plein-air painting, cultivated from April through October, infuses each piece with a sense of authenticity and vitality. The exhibit features paintings of gardens, blooming trees and rural farmsteads throughout Northwest Michigan. Wendy’s artwork is shown at Charlevoix Circle of the Arts, True North Interiors in Charlevoix, and True Blue Gallery in Alden. Michigan Blue Magazine will feature McWhorter in its upcoming summer issue, further solidifying her reputation as a leading artist in the region.