Bouquets to Art 2010

My mother's amazing floral design at Bouquets to Art, 2010.

The annual exhibition of Bouquets to Art is back again at the de Young museum this week and it is not to be missed! This show is always fascinating - the whole museum is filled with fragrant flowers and incredible living interpretations of the many works of art within. This year I'm especially proud because my Mom, Mary Ellen Wilson, has a floral design in the show, and it's really something to see! I've been hearing about this for weeks, as you can imagine, so it's fantastic to see the final result looking so spectacular.

The process of Bouquets to Art begins months in advance when the designated floral designers are allowed to choose five works of art from the de Young's permanent collection. Of these five, each designer is guaranteed to be assigned one as the inspiration for their arrangement. My Mom was assigned Henry Benbridge's Portrait of Mrs. Robert Shewell, Jr. from 1790 - a beautiful portrait full of silvery grays and deep burgundies. In one of those puzzling things of this era, Mrs. Robert Shewell was known as both Mary and Sarah - something that was very confusing in researching her. She was about my own age when the portrait was painted and for some reason shows a great deal of spleen in the image. I love the work, but she does look pinched.

But how do you turn a portrait into a flower arrangement? The designers of Bouquets to Art are allowed to use different props, textiles, and accoutrements in their designs, however there is a long list of forbidden items too. Wicker baskets, dried flowers, and many other things are outlawed because of their propensity for bugs or decomposition - things that are extremely important to consider when working among priceless works of art.

When I the beginning of my Mom's arrangement around Easter it was still in pieces. She had her ideas, but it was difficult to tell where it was all headed. There was a great base but not a lot of plants, and then there was this weird barrel ring that was supposed to go with it. To be honest, I didn't get it. And, knowing that she's very modest about her creative process, I didn't want to press it. I was confident that in the end she knew what she was doing and the result would work.

When I finally saw the finished piece on Monday night at the opening gala event, I was amazed! The choice of succulents and mosses perfectly compliments the silvery-grays and burgundies of the painting, while the barrel ring captures the round format of the painting. It looks rich and luxurious but still modern. My Mom's description card sums it all up:

MATERIALS USED:

Heuchera - stormy seas, Stachy byzantine - silver carpet/lams ear, Echeveria, Gaura linheimeri - pink fountain, Arabicum - Star of Bethlehem, Origanum - arapacus dictumus - flowering oregano

THE MESSAGE:

Is Sarah Boyer Shewell cold? Are her eyes sneering? Is she refusing to smile? Is she mocking or sweet? She is 34 in the portrait and has been married for 17 years.

RELATIONSHIP OF THE BOUQUET TO THE ART:

The Arrangement: The sheet metal base is for her powdered hair and her cool look. The barrel hoop is again her hair or the circle she is within. The heucheria is almost the color of her gown - darker however. The echeveria is cool and beautiful - stiff. The flowering oregano is a hint of something soft - her shawl or something within? The Star of Bethlehem is for her pure white skin. The mosses are used for age - her portrait is 220 years old.

People at the party kept coming up to it and snapping pictures, talking about her fantastic arrangement, which of course made me puff up with pride. Yay Mom!

Of course there are hundreds of amazing floral designs in the museum for Bouquets to Art. My favorites were in front of Wayne Thiebaud's Three Machines, 1963 and Robert Henri's O in Black with Scarf, 1910.

Bouquets to Art runs for just one week so you must get there as soon as possible! The floral designs will be on display through Saturday and that's it! Tickets are $20 for adults, giving full access to the museum. Get ready to be enchanted and amazed by the floral delights!

Comments

[Genevieve]

Being a succulent lover, I love, love, love it. But even if I weren't, your mom's display is still a wonder and so thoughtfully constructed. What fun! What artistry! Congrats Mary Ellen!

http://www.lilyspruce.com/blog

[einat Lahav]

Thanks for your beautiful inspiration!!!
For a "Night of Inspiration in White", would you have any ideas, links and recommendations?
Thanks so much in advance!
Einat.