In memory of Horticulture undergrad, Grant Walsh
Grant
Walsh was an extraordinarily creative force who indelibly impacted the Illinois
State University Horticulture Center while he was a Fine Arts undergraduate
student at ISU.
As
Grant was taking Horticulture at ISU, he created all the marketing materials
for the Center. He also created monumental scarecrows for our annual Autumnal
Festival. During an independent study in the spring of 2009, he created a
series of sculptures, and, through them, taught me that sculptures in the
garden are akin to candles on a birthday cake—the finishing touches that give
an object or place its sense of character.
Grant
shaped a series of human figures from plaster and positioned them throughout
the garden as if basking in the sun.
He
also designed a sculpture, fondly known as The Worm, from organic materials
like moss, pine needles, and pinecones that were supported on an interlaced
mound of chicken-wire tubing. The sculpture arose from the ground between two trees. It was wild, whimsical, and eminently suited for the space.
It
was with profound sadness and loss that I learned of Grant’s passing. I am
forever grateful for his singular appreciation for creative beauty, and I feel
moved to share his story and passion with future generations by establishing
the Grant Walsh Student Artist in Residence Program at the Horticulture Center.
Help us to launch the Grant Walsh Student Artist in Residence Program
We need your help to reach our goal of $30,000 to launch and endow the fund for this program. Due to incredible generosity from family and friends in honor of the memory of Grant Walsh, we are already nearly 40% to our goal.
This
new summer program would give an undergraduate student the opportunity and
funds to create outdoor artwork for display at the Horticulture Center, including a stipend or pay.
With your generous support, we anticipate launching the program in Spring of 2024. Thank you for giving!