Art in Bloom 2013 brings stunning floral designs to the museum of fine arts, St. Petersburg.
ST. PETERSBURG - Art in Bloom, sponsored by The Stuart Society and the MFA, is a vibrant spring tradition and presents some of the most imaginative floral designs in the area. The exhibition and festivities begin Saturday, March 9, with the premiere of the exhibition and “Flowers After Hours,” the preview party in the evening.
Talented Florida artist Christopher Still will be the special guest during “Conversations with the Designers,” on Sunday, March 10, from 2-4 p.m., and author Kathryn Crisp Greeley is the speaker at the Art in Bloom Luncheon on Monday, March 11.
The floral arrangements will remain on view through Tuesday, March 12. Bonus demonstrations will be held during the week, before Art in Bloom begins. Debbie Baxter is the chair.
The designs respond to individual works in the collection and entire Museum galleries and spaces. They have been created by both talented professionals and “hobby” designers. Many are members of area garden clubs. There will be docent-led tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday. Mary Maloof is chairing the installation of the designs.
The MFA Café will serve a unique dish with a floral theme each day from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The Café will be open on Monday - an exception. The Museum Store is “Channeling Georgia,” in honor of Art in Bloom and the Museum’s Poppy (1927) by O’Keeffe. Candles, pillows, tableware, magnets, and pens will celebrate O’Keeffe’s brilliant painting. Barbara DeMaire’s white earthenware sculptures of the female form will be on view in the Store. Kathryn Crisp Greeley’s handsome book, The Collected Tabletop: Inspirations for Creative Entertaining, will also be available.
Admission to Art in Bloom includes the special exhibitions Philip Pearlstein’s People, Places, Things and Photographing the City. The Philip Pearlstein retrospective features 62 paintings, drawings, and prints by this American master. Many have never before been seen by the public or outside of New York City. Photographing the City includes choice images from the Museum’s impressive photography collection.
Art in Bloom schedule
• Saturday, March 9: The exhibition opens to the public from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and is the centerpiece of “Flowers After Hours,” the preview party from 6:30-9:30 p.m. The Iron Florist Competition will spotlight two of the city’s finest floral designers, who will compete for the best arrangement. Distinguished journalist Craig Kopp, anchor of All Things Considered on WUSF, will be the emcee. Gourmet hors d’oeuvres, wine, and cocktails will be served in the Conservatory, and music will enhance the evening. The dress is cocktail attire. Patron tickets begin at $150, and individual tickets are $85. Jill McGrath is the chair. For reservations, please contact Carol Piper at pmpiper64@gmail.com or 727.521.1706.
• Sunday, March 10, noon-5 p.m.: The exhibition continues. Join many of the designers in the galleries for “Conversations with the Designers” from 2-4 p.m. They will share their inspiration and approach and answer questions. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about flowers, floral design, and art.
Award-winning Florida artist Christopher Still, standing beside the actual work, will discuss his impressive painting Orchids (1991), from the MFA Collection. To prepare for his painting, Mr. Still learned about the flowers from a renowned horticulturist. Floral designer Dale Wybrow will also be on hand to share how she was inspired by Orchids.
A resident of Tarpon Springs, Mr. Still has earned critical acclaim and a large following for his artistic exploration of Florida. He was commissioned by the Florida House of Representatives to create 10 murals depicting the state’s history and beauty for their chambers in Tallahassee. His paintings, part of many museum collections, can also be seen at St. Petersburg City Hall, Tampa International Airport, and Ruth Eckerd Hall, among other venues. He is a graduate of the prestigious Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, where he received a full scholarship through a national competition. He was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 2010.
As a special event, gifted glass artist Stephen Rolfe Powell will introduce his work in the Marly Room at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Mr. Powell has shown his work and presented demonstrations around the globe. He founded the glass program at Centre College in Kentucky, where he has taught since 1983, and designed the school’s state-of-the-art glass studio. His work is included in major museum collections, both in the U.S. and abroad, and was part of the MFA exhibition, Global + Local: Studio and Contemporary Glass on Florida’s West Coast, in 2012.
• Monday, March 11, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: The floral designs remain on view at the Museum. The Art in Bloom Luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. in the Palm Court Ballroom of the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club. Author Kathryn Crisp Greeley will be the speaker. The owner of her own design firm in North Carolina, Ms. Greeley has more than 30 years of experience in interior design and the creation of unique theme parties.
Her new book, The Collected Tabletop, features decorations and place settings for 13 occasions, as well as hand-painted menus, favors, and easy-to-prepare recipes. At the luncheon, she will explain how to devise an unforgettable party.
Patron tickets for the luncheon begin at $150 and individual tickets are $65. For reservations, please contact Carol Piper at pmpiper64@gmail.com or 727.521.1706. Jean Getting Irwin is the chair.
For more information, please call 727-896-2667 or visit www.fine-arts.org. For café reservations, please call 727-822-1032.
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