Misstropolis

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Flower Power

by Robin Hauck

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“Flowers say so much more than you can put down in words, and sometimes more than you dare to say.” ~ Per Benjamin, Life3.

This month, at the 31st annual Art in Bloom at the Museum of Fine Arts, thanks to the work of Life3 and other avant-garde designers, the flowers are poised to say quite a bit. In addition to the 66 New England garden clubs creating floral interpretations of various museum objects, some of the world’s most sought-after floral designers will use plants, structures, space, color and emotion to transform the museum itself into a living work of art.

Take for example, Andrew Anderson’s approach to the Huntington stairs and rotunda, Art in Bloom’s grandest showcase. “I wanted to go over the top,” the co-owner of Ilex Design admits, “while still paying homage to the museum and the artworks.” His ideas for the space were so outrageous that he had to ask multiple museum authorities for approval. He got it, of course, and you’ll be glad he did. His very modern design aims to “take flowers to another level – beyond arrangements… I’m all about suspended this year.” Reminder: when you enter the rotunda, look up.

A.I.B. events and activities run continuously from April 21 through April 24. The MFA website has a full listing of activities. There are attractions for even the littlest and most allergic visitor. Sat. April 21 is “Family Day,” with art-making activities and performances from 11am to 3pm, all free with admission.

The Art in Bloom Opening Celebration Cocktail Party takes place that night with the city’s most elegant admirers and supporters of the festival getting a first look at the arrangements in the galleries. Tickets to the party are still available, but are going fast.

On April 22, Winston Flowers’ head designer, Marc Hall will present “Botanical Sculptures,” a multi-media presentation designed to wake-up all five senses. “I fell sound asleep in a demonstration once,” Hall laughs, explaining the huge amount of work he put into his lecture, and how careful he was to make his techniques accessible to people who want to try it at home. His lecture, given with David Winston, will include 5 monochromatic arrangements, 2 large screens, a special LED light system and a table he custom-built to become part of the final display.

Hall’s presentations also have a political message. “Our art-form could be an endangered art-form,” he says, because cut flowers are not grown organically anywhere in the country. “We are working with fruits of the earth; we have to become more green-focused.”

All visiting designers will give master classes in addition to their live demonstrations. Third generation designer Remco Van Vliet, who has created legendary arrangements for the MOMA, The Whitney Museum, New York City Ballet, Chanel, and the grand entrance of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, will share his experience with “The Art of Flower and Event Design” on Tuesday April 24.

Life3, a creative collaboration of three designers from Sweden, the Netherlands and Belgium, (Per Benjamin, Max van de Sluis, and Tomas De Bruyne respectively) approaches working with flowers from a very different perspective than their American counterparts. For Life3, floral design is “the art of transforming emotions into an arrangement.”

Marsha Lamson, Chair of the MFA Associates - the volunteer committee which organizes A.I.B., one of the Museum’s largest fund-raisers - says they are expecting over 20,000 visitors this year. After working almost non-stop with her dedicated team of Associates for the past year, she’s probably ready for a little of Per Benjamin’s medicine. He says he is “energized by the connection between people and flowers.” He also says he “communicates emotions through flowers...”

The MFA could be a very quiet place (except the oohs and aahs) during Art in Bloom. Who needs words when you have flowers?!