Meadow Near Front of North Carolina Museum of Art
Vernal equinox March 20, 2015, 6:45 PM EDT. Earlier in the week it was sunny and 80°F. Now, following a rainy afternoon yesterday, our first day of spring is overcast and 46°F. Tomorrow the weather should be nice again and warmer, 70°F.
Given yesterday’s rainy forecast it was a perfect time to travel to Raleigh to view a special floral show on opening day at the North Carolina Museum of Art.
Outdoor Display Near Entrance – North Carolina Museum of Art
For this 4-day inaugural event called Art In Bloom, 45 floral designers each were paired with works of art from the museum’s permanent collection and invited to create interpretations of the art using flowers. (This has been done in other cities for a few years, but it was the first time for our state museum).
The displays were fascinating. They were large, rich in color and texture, featuring familiar and exotic materials (such as anthuriums, calla lilies, orchids, roses, proteas, tropical leaves) and they were presented in an array of interesting containers and frameworks.
Included among the 45 designers were my two teachers who, for the last several years, have offered flower arranging classes through the local garden club. Seeing their work in this exhibit was particularly exciting. Unfortunately the quality of the dozens of photos I took were extremely disappointing and does not show their work to best advantage.
Jinny was assigned a Roman statue of Herakles. She responded to the white marble by using shiny and rough metal sculpture and anthurium with foliage. Sorry I cut off the top of the design–I could joke about where my eyes were but I truly was trying to include the description on the front of the stand.
Jinny Marino’s Design
‘Herakles’ – Inspiration for Jinny Marino’s Design
Jinny Marino’s Design
In a different gallery, Betsy’s arrangement was facing a different work of art than her assigned inspiration piece, Sunset (Medusa) (1945) by Eugene Berman. She seems to have played off both works of art.
Design by Betsy Ninninger
‘Sunset (Medusa)’ – Inspiration Artwork for Betsy Ninninger’s Floral Design
Design by Betsy Ninninger
Ikebana
This morning I returned to the museum for another Art In Bloom event.
Ikebana: Classical to Modern. Kyoko Petersen of the American Institute of Floral Design is a professor in the Ikenobo Ikebana school in Kyoto, Japan, the birthplace of ikebana. The presentation highlights classical ikebana arrangements along with newer styles introduced in the 20th century.
The demonstration was marvelous. It was enlightening to watch and listen as Kyoko created a dozen spectacular designs. She worked with many beautiful flowers, including orchids, anemones, peonies, quince and her favorite, camellias.
In some arrangements she strictly adhered to traditional principles set out hundreds of years ago, where nine elements of nature are represented (such as shady side, sunny side, waterfall). There are specific instructions for placement that cannot be altered. She began with this traditional design representing landscape.
Classical Ikebana – Landscape
Several of her designs illustrated 20th century adaptations made by the head master of the Ikenobo Ikebana school where she teaches. (The head master is forty-something generation.) The newer style takes into account people live not in castles, but rather in smaller houses. Also today the designs can take advantage of a wider repertoire of materials than those historically available. Kyoko also demonstrated free-form creations.
This design illustrates the modern simplification the master created in the 20th century.
Modern Ikebana
This was one of my favorite designs. I tried to remember what the unusual leaves are called, perhaps begins with “Renaissance”? The surprising use of yellow pansy at the bottom adds finishing touch.
Modern Ikebana With Three Elements
This final design of the morning was an effusively abundant celebration of Spring, using camellias, peonies, variegated pine and orchids over a framework of weeping willow and weeping cherry. (Sorry for poor photo quality but perhaps you can get an idea.)
Ikebana: Homage to Spring
Ikebana: Homage to Spring
Ikebana: Homage to Spring
Kyoko’s presentation has inspired me to try to learn more about Ikebana. Another event today that was sold out but would have been fascinating, was a hands-on master class with Shane Connolly, Royal Florist. He designed the flowers for the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. If you happen to be local to the Raleigh area, Art In Bloom is well worth your time.
So that is how I welcomed the changing season. And tomorrow I hope to back in my garden.
pbmGarden 
Wow that was some kind of display. I’m going to feel like a real slacker this summer when I cut a few perennials and put them in a Ball canning jar. 🙂 I love the red branches in the second photo.
The Ikebana professor kept reminding us less is more, Judy. I liked the red branches too.
The museum in Richmond, VA has done a similar program, and my Arranger and Stepheny Houghtlin went to it some years ago. Thanks for your photos. Please give dear friend Jinny Marino a big hello for us.
Will do, John!
How interesting seeing how the floral designers interpreted the artwork. I’ll have to keep my eyes open for something like that here.
Stephi, you would have loved this. Hope you find one nearby.
That really is a fascinating exhibit. I love that meadow outside the museum.
I like the meadow too–it’s functional too, filtering runoff water before collecting for reuse.
Lots of wonderful inspiration for vases there Susie. I think ikebana can be a form of meditation too, as it requires a steady hand and a great deal of concentration. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your weekend in the garden!
I like the meditative aspect of Ikebana Cathy. I read online it is supposed to be practiced in silence. Happy weekend to you too!
Interesting concept, Hercules is a very apt subject with the 11th labour of collecting the golden apples (quinces) from the garden of the Hesperides, although this statue isn’t portraying that.
That’s a nice tie-in Christina. I’ll have to go back and read about Hercules’ 11th labor. Thanks.
What a fun activity for the first day of spring. Good planning!
It was very stimulating to see the art and flowers. Happy Spring Marian.
Nice to see something more than just a pretty bunch of flowers, some of the arrangements are events in themselves. I like the idea of creating an ‘arrangement’ outdoors. I might trim my red twig dogwoods back early and place the trimmings amongst the snowdrops for a little extra interest!
Your red twig dogwoods would look great with the snowdrops! Hope you do this…
What a lovely exhibition, I really like the interesting use of art for inspiration. Your higher temperatures are better than ours Susie, it’s round 46f on a good day here. I have my fingers crossed for improvements though!
Fortunately Art in Bloom must have been successful as I heard there is already another one set for next year. Julie, I do hope your temperatures warm up a bit for pleasurable gardening.
Wow what a great event….I can already see that your vases are being influenced by this wonderful art.
Yes, hard not to find inspiration from this exhibit, but so much to learn.