Celebrating Fenner Nature Center’s
Visitor Center Mural
This project was made possible with support from the City of Lansing Arts Projects Grant Program, funded by the City of Lansing and administered by the Arts Council of Greater Lansing.
In February 2026, Fenner Conservancy released a Request for Proposal asking artists to submit proposals to muralize the Visitor Center building’s exterior. At the time, the building stood bare without a stroke of art. After months of preparing, Fenner Conservancy selected Michigan-based artist Dania Grevengoed to give the building a fresh coat of nature! She worked alongside Fenner staff to ensure the artwork represented both Fenner Conservancy and the environmental education the staff cares so deeply about.
Stages of the Mural
In August 2026, the vision came to life, and the walls are no longer barren. Stretching across the Visitor Center is an array of diverse habitats and wildlife that highlight Michigan’s native species. It will especially be a colorful backdrop for the thousands of program attendees, school students, festival-goers, and visitors who come to Fenner. This artwork will greet hundreds of people every month and serve as a teaching tool for educators.
Local Involvement
With the mural located at a nature center in the heart of Lansing, we wanted to involve community members and let them make their mark on their city. Using a paint-by-numbers method, Dania led volunteers as they shaped the mural and filled in the colors on the walls. In a short time, the community members who showed up made the work that much more fun. Everyone rolled up their sleeves and took part in what would be a monumental part of Fenner.
Community Impact
The mural has already made the space much more welcoming to locals and tourists alike. Students gather behind the Visitor Center, see a visual of the space they visited, and connect it to what they learned. Every year, Fenner Nature Center welcomes hundreds of students from local school districts for field trips and environmental programs. Pictured above is a group from ABNL (Annie’s BIG Nature Lesson), captured in September 2026.
In October 2026, thousands of guests will show up to the 52nd Apple Butter Festival, many of whom may take photos in front of the mural. This mural has some pretty sights, but it also features Fenner’s flower logo above the native plants, directly above the Native Plant Garden. Not only does the “Fenner flower” stand tall, but Fenner Nature Preschool’s logo also appears on the corner of the building, floating above a Common Snapping Turtle, inspired by Fenner’s longtime animal ambassador resident, Bowser (who just celebrated his seventeenth birthday!).
Mural Walkthrough
Go on the journey of how this mural came to life! Join Dania Grevengoed as she walks you through the mural and how it came to be, then hear longtime Fenner volunteers react to the mural for the first time.
Want to see the mural yourself? Fenner Nature Center is open from dawn to dusk. Or check out our Visitor Center hours below so you can come inside to meet our animal ambassadors, explore the educational displays, and get involved with the work we do!
Visitor Center Hours
Mon: CLOSED
Tue – Fri: 12 PM – 6 PM
Sat-Sun: 9 AM – 3 PM
Meet the Artist
Dania Grevengoed (that’s me!) is an artist and muralist currently residing in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
My work is mostly a contemporary ode to the green growth of the natural world, influenced by the introspective narrative on ideals within nature, and a fascination with the concept of the sublime. What does this mean for murals?
As a muralist, my work is primarily focused on native species and hyperlocal wild plants. I believe everyone and every space deserves access to the benefits and peace of nature.
I portray the native plants and wildlife, with a special focus on plants that have a special impact on the location where I’m painting. My murals are freehanded in order to portray the organic nature of the wild world we reside in.
I have been making murals since 2020 and have installed 60+ murals in private and public spaces across North America.
About Fenner Conservancy
Fenner Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the managing body of Fenner Nature Center and Fenner Nature Preschool, connects people to nature in the heart of Lansing through conservation, education, and stewardship. Through the efforts of this organization, Fenner Nature Center continues to serve as a place of connection for our community and a regional resource for environmental education.