Because Flowers are Ephemeral…
Artist and former concert pianist Marlene Siff invited me to Art in Bloom at the Katonah Museum of Art in Katonah, New York. Her artwork Fanfare is pictured above. Eugenic Pavelic, floral designer from the Greenwich Garden Club, immitated the fan shape with rainbow colors, and Dr. Seuss-like flowers and plants, pictured below. She avoided making a heavy, dense arrangement, which would have been attempting to compete with Marlene’s large, technicolor artwork.
The show was only open for one weekend due to the ephemeral nature of the floral art arrangements that accompanied the visual art. I was shocked by the works that won best in show. They tended to be more traditional floral arrangements (still gorgeous and breathtaking nonetheless) and mainstream, home decor-friendly, abstract paintings.
The artwork I am featuring in today’s newsletter are paintings and floral arrangements that might not necessarily be home decor. They could be, depending on your taste and boldness! I sought how well the floral artist understood the visual artist’s theme, mood, and aesthetic. I also “gave points” for utilizing creative materials.
Maui Rooster pictured below, photography by Illene Schwartz-Montesinos, features a vibrant and confident rooster with plenty of bravado, “chilling” on the lawn This artwork is NOT cheesy country or “Cottagecore.” the corresponding floral arrangement by Chris Duncan from the Little Garden Club of Rye, emulates the plumage colors and shapes of the rooster, and the jug adds that farmhouse touch with a contemporary edge.
Nate Hill’s Untitled Study for the Library Field (below) a mixed media artwork was abstract and contemporary, and the accompanying floral design by Julia Herrman from the Garden Club of Darien captured the essence of Nate’s painting via the use of colored lucite sheeting, polished obsidian cubes, textured glass disc, sponges, and a black glazed Ikebana Ishi Vase. I was surprised none of my “picks” won! I did not have a chance to vote because the winners were selected earlier. What do you think of these artworks?
