Pedestal Floral Artist Inspiration Statements
Each of our Art in Bloom Pedestal Floral Artists has been assigned one specific piece of art from Mia’s permanent collection to interpret. These artworks are on display throughout the museum and viewable in Mia galleries. Meet these dedicated floral artists, see their artwork, and read in their own words how the piece inspired their floral design.
Pedestal Floral Artists by Last Name
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Thea Adams
Interpreting: Green River
Gallery: 354
Years of participation: 22
Affiliation: Ikebana International – Sogetsu School
From the PFA:
The luminous blue-green river grabbed my attention! I imagined my Norwegian grandfather fishing with his father along the banks of this glacier-fed river.
An heirloom mead (drinking) bowl carried from Norway in the late 1800s complements the rugged shoreline. Rice flowers and meandering plumosa fern depict rapids and the movement of the river. Additional homage to my Scandinavian roots is the Norway spruce used to draw attention to the trees in the background.
Paula A. Allan and Abbi A. Allan
Interpreting: Butterflies at Dawn
Gallery: 251
Years of participation: 21 and 8
From the PFA:
This represents the days of Art in Bloom, the art pieces with flowers look the same. Yet if you come every day, the same is slightly different. So it will be with our interpretation of Butterflies at Dawn. We chose blues shades for the butterflies and yellow hues to give a glow to the dawn in the print.
Comes the warming dawn
Awakens the butterflies
All greet the day
Tatiana Allen
Interpreting: Madonna and Child Enthroned
Gallery: 343
Years of participation: 6
From the PFA:
I chose this painting to interpret because it seemed to have a lot more going on than meets the eye. I learned this artist painted other versions of this same painting, all of which look quite different. There’s something about this one I found off-putting. I didn’t notice all the bizarre details right away, but the symbols like the cherubim, the fly, the sliced squash, the apples, and the humble decanter of carnations at their feet are my favorite parts. I find the subject matter of mother and child timeless and holy regardless of whether one subscribes to a particular religion.
Written by Phyllis Andrews before she passed away after 42 years of Art in Bloom participation
Interpreting: Winter Landscape
Gallery: 359
From the PFA:
Winter Landscape resonates with our Minnesota hearts and souls. Our design incorporates elements from the winter scape of the painting. The “S” shaped container reflects the blue lines at the base of the ice curtain. Mitsumata sticks represent both the ice curtain as well as the birch trees at the top. White flowers and evergreen foliage echo the textures and colors the artist uses in this painting
Emily Anose and Susan Anose
Interpreting: Les Trois Graces (The Three Graces)
Gallery: 321
Years of participation: 2 and 2
From the PFA:
Feminine joy, captured by a mother-daughter power team. The Three Graces embody friendship, beauty, and love, as attendants to Aphrodite. May you feel as joyful and beautiful as these three.
Ally Anthony
Interpreting: Still Life with Pheasants and Plovers
Gallery: 351
Years of participation: 4
Affiliation: Cottage Grove Hy-Vee
From the PFA:
Growing up in a household with hunting dogs, quail and pheasants were never too far off the menu. By selecting this piece, I’m paying homage to my roots and remembering the countless hours of working with our loyal labrador, Brandy.
Sue Bagge and Chad Bagge
Interpreting: Riverside Retreat
Gallery: 203
Years of participation: 42 and 15
Affiliation: Ikebana International Chapter 121
From the PFA:
The fan painting of ink and color on silk drew me into the strong brush strokes of nature set on the left side and low. This technique created tension and interest in the drawing. The view on the right side was more muted emphasizing the left side. Then I saw the home among the trees next to the riverside. The trees created with wonderful brush strokes stood out in this gallery of brown fans. Chad Bagge’s vase with interesting glaze supports tree forms and colorful flowers to add interest of spring.
Debra Banks
Interpreting: The Captive Krishna
Gallery: 212
Years of participation: 2
From the PFA:
When I first saw The Captive Krishna painting, I was drawn to the colors and the lush scene. After I spent more time with the painting, I could see the conflict and tension between the figures. Also the landscape has a plantless garden anticipating rain from the dark clouds.
I immediately thought of the Joni Mitchell song “Down to You.” The verse in particular is, “Just when you’re thinking you finally got it made, bad news comes knocking at your garden gate.”
In my arrangement, I’m trying to show uncertainly, conflict, and beauty, with texture, movement, and color.
Mary Bejblik
Interpreting: Saint Paul the Hermit
Gallery: 330
Years of participation: 10
From the PFA:
The floral arrangement tries to portray the life of Saint Paul the Hermit as he spent his life in the desert in contemplation and prayer. He utilized the gifts around him for survival. The white chrysanthemum portrays the loyalty and devotion to God and Paul’s innocence and honesty to his family. Paul led a very simple life that yielded heroic virtue.
Barbara Belknap
Interpreting: False Start
Gallery: 305
Years of participation: 7
Affiliation: Cottagewood Garden Club, barbarabelknapdesign.com
From the PFA:
I was drawn to Frank Bowling’s False Start for its expansive pink field and outlines of continents—suggesting movement, displacement, and connection. In my interpretation, I use the language of flowers to move beyond expected meanings. Red and pink often symbolize love and romance, but they also hold tension—passion and warning, compassion and urgency. Through layered blooms, sculptural foliage, and clustered berries, I explore how color shifts emotion. Rather than replicate the painting, I translate its energy into a living form—one that I hope invites reflection, encourages empathy, and imagines a more peaceful, connected world.
Lisa Berg
Interpreting: Three Bathers
Gallery: 371
Years of participation: 20
From the PFA:
I love Matisse’s flattened and heavily outlined forms of the three women in this work and wanted to find lush, sculptural vessels to reflect their poses. The next challenge is to create a floral arrangement that captures the warmth of the earth beneath their feet, the lazy sailboats on the water behind them, and their own languid moods.
Paige Bosler and Wendy Lutter
Interpreting: Shoulder Bag
Gallery: 259
Years of participation: 4 and 7
From the PFA:
Our floral interpretation of Stella Young Bear’s Shoulder Bag celebrates the four-pointed motif, bold color story, and sense of playful movement. Using flowers and varied textures, we echo the mixed materials and dimensional quality of the original design. The four-pointed form becomes the structural anchor of the arrangement, radiating color and energy outward. Inspired by the vibrant palette of the bag and our experience of the Dyani White Hawk exhibition, the piece reflects a dialogue between craft as art and women’s work, contemporary expression, and joy, honoring the spirit of the bag through flowers that feel bright, dynamic, and alive.
Beena Brown
Interpreting: Screen
Gallery: 319
Years of participation: 5
Affiliation: Tulsi
From the PFA:
This floral reinterpretation takes root in the strength and rhythm of Samuel Yellin’s wrought‑iron screen. What was once forged in metal is reborn in living form, where repetition becomes breath and structure softens into bloom. Flowers trace the original geometry, replacing iron with color, fragility, and quiet movement. Each blossom forms a fleeting link, honoring craftsmanship while embracing impermanence. As Pablo Picasso reminds us, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life,” and through transformation, this work allows history to bloom anew.
Robin Brown, David Brown, and Patty J Flowers
Interpreting: Corolla lamp
Gallery: 379
Years of participation: 6, 4, and 5
From the PFA:
For a Moment
I walk through a field of flowers
One bloom stands out
There in a field of yellow and pink
Is a single, vibrant vermilion flower
A tiny bloom on a stem
This scarlet-orange bloom stands
Hidden
Against the tall green and pink flora
I take note of this special little treasure
For when we would walk
The surrounding landmarks
The towering stems of cone flowers and black-eyed Susans
A day passed, the field vividly enchanting
We look down through the thicket of tall flowers.
Seeking to share the same moment
The bloom has passed
We move on
Monica Buller Cabral
Interpreting: Portrait of Eliza Ann and Adelia Dusenberry
Gallery: 304
Years of participation: 9
Affiliation: Roger Beck, consultation/floral selection
From the PFA:
O Melville! thy soul
Sustain me
More than all the Buddhas
That have passed
With the water
Under the Brooklyn Bridge
—Jack Kerouac
Drifting into a dream, my senses are awakened by the scent of brine from the Atlantic Ocean. I imagine I’m home in New York, but where?
I hear ship bells, screaming gulls, dock workers hammering, crafters making harpoons.
I start walking faster, headed to the home of Orlando Hand Bears, the notable portrait painter, to view his most recent work, a double portrait of Eliza Ann and Adelia Dusenberry. I’m almost there. Please join me.
Christy Campbell and Madeline Campbell
Interpreting: The Bronze Horses of San Marco
Gallery: 357
Years of participation: 6 and 6
From the PFA:
We were drawn to the horses and the feeling of the unique vantage point of Venice’s famous St. Mark’s Square through the artist’s captured perspective. We used the shapes and structures of the flowers to build architectural elements as well as incorporate their colors to create our own “postcard” of the painting. We hope you enjoy the point of view portrayed in both the painting and our floral interpretation of the Bronze Horses of San Marco.
Amy Chapman
Interpreting: Zurich
Gallery: 371
Years of participation: 11
Affiliation: AmyAble Gardens LLC
From the PFA:
Zurich is a tapestry of colors and shapes and that guides my design. Vertical floral elements mimic the feel of Kirchner’s buildings and the light. Individually there are a variety of colors and shapes, my aim is to arrange separate elements to create a tapestry of blooms. Gallery 371 is one of my favorites, and I’m excited to have an arrangement in this gallery.
Sommer Collins, Ivy Collins, and Aurora Collins
Interpreting: Half armor
Gallery: 340
Years of participation: 2, 2, and 1
Affiliation: ExploreWell LLC
From the PFA:
We were drawn to the symbolism of this sculpture of armor. It reminds us how often we move through life wearing armor, protecting ourselves from getting hurt. On a lighter note, Aurora and Ivy couldn’t resist a small nod to the Tin Man from Wicked.
We are a mother–daughters team, and participating in this event gives us a chance to set some of that armor down. Creating together lets us bring both our gifts and our imperfections to share. There’s no right answer here—just the joy of making something with this joyful community. This is our second year participating, and it’s so fun! Special thanks to Sandy Collins for inspiring us.
Joy Cotter
Interpreting: Figure of a Rabbit
Gallery: 204
Years of participation: 2
From the PFA:
The Rabbit: Alchemy of Finding Joy
Step closer. Meander the dream-lit forest; reflections cast in the fluorescence of the rising moon. From its quiet lunar habit, it emerges through cloudlike hush, descending along cascades of starlit luminaries.
Jasmine at dusk, delicate rose, and soft lilies permeate the mossy forest; drifts of dewy peony carried through the valley, while whispers of spice dance among citrus grasses. Upon the hillside, an orchid’s ascending smile.
In the moonlight, small moments are found.
Did you find it?
Cara Dalton
Interpreting: Pastoral Landscape
Gallery: 313
Years of participation: 1
Affiliation: Flowers by Miss Bertha
From the PFA:
What could be better than being immersed in a lush green forest with open seas? This painting speaks peace and tranquility to me—where one can sit in silence while deep in thought or exploring the land. I chose to focus on the woodlands scene by creating my own landscape where anything could happen. I hope you enjoy the installation as much as I have creating it.
Namrata Damle and Brett Cornforth
Interpreting: Prestige Bowl (Purukei)
Gallery: 262
Years of participation: 6 and 2
From the PFA:
This purukei bowl with its beautiful expertly carved ornate handles is a representation of a rich wedding tradition in the Admiralty Islands. The bowl carved from a single piece of wood was used to carry coconut oil at the bridal feast and represents a spirit ship. I chose flowers and foliage (and of course a coconut) to represent the contents of this metaphorical ship of blessings so deeply rooted in tradition. I hope visitors are able to enjoy the beautiful vibrancy of the flowers and the abundance they represent.
Amy DeCook
Interpreting: Pottery Lamp
Gallery: 215
Years of participation: 3
From the PFA:
I was drawn to the quiet grace of this Eastern Han dynasty pottery lamp, where small birds perch above a vessel once meant to carry light. In my arrangement, birds-of-paradise rise upward, echoing the birds and the sense of lift and vitality they suggest. Soft green tones reflect the lamp’s subtle glaze, while curving stems mirror its rounded form and balanced design. I hope visitors notice how ancient artisans and contemporary floral design both look to nature to express harmony, movement, and light.
Wendy Dehkes
Interpreting: Battledore
Gallery: 357
Years of participation: 8
From the PFA:
I was drawn to the painting Battledore by Albert Joseph Moore for its beauty and graceful design. It shows a woman in flowing robes inspired by ancient Greek and Roman art, holding a battledore used in an early game like badminton. The scene reflects Moore’s belief that art should focus on beauty and aesthetic experience.
I plan to reflect the delicate lines and harmonious colors using greenery such as ruscus, plumosa, eucalyptus, or ferns. To represent the woman, I may use peach roses or lilies. The container is still a mystery.
I hope my floral interpretation brings you a feeling of calm and maybe even a smile. Enjoy!
Beth Dietz and Kris Gendreau
Interpreting: Tablecloth
Gallery: 261
Years of participation: 6 and 6
From the PFA:
Four generations
Women protecting culture
Beauty and function
Mary Donovon and Sally Donovan
Interpreting: Steamwheeler on the Upper Mississippi
Gallery: 303
Years of participation: 11 and 1
From the PFA:
“And the Mississippi’s mighty
But it starts
in Minnesota
At a place that you could walk across
With 5 steps down”
—Indigo Girls
The Mississippi is the backbone of our country. It connects Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. It sustains our food, culture, and land for millennia. It’s a symbol of what’s possible in the United States.
Waking along the Minnehaha Creek, an arm of the Mississippi, is my connection to this river and the rest of the world. My flowers re-create this experience as peacefulness on a summer day, with a serene blue sky and gentle waters flanked by the late summer trees.
Moira Donovan
Interpreting: Guardian Lion, a pair
Gallery: 208
Years of participation: 2
From the PFA:
These gentlemen called to me this year using the character of their faces, the material they are composed of, and the fact there are two of them—creating a team, or a partnership. While the coloring of the stone is nothing to be impressed by, it is to be respected. The hue of their bodies in tandem with their stances causes one to hesitate briefly before comfortably joining their alliance.
Encourage yourself to question what they were created to guard. Because, of course, they are guarding. One lion calls attention to a thing, but two lions impose a feeling of significance.
Susan Doyscher and Nadia Lewis
Interpreting: Scholar’s Rock
Gallery: 218
Years of participation: 3 and 1
From the PFA:
Tai Lake Rocks
Bai Juyi/Po Chu-i
Emerald green mists and several autumn colors
Large waves left ten thousand ancient marks
Scraped and whittled to produce flat shards of green jade
If sliced into pieces, they become like the offspring of bluish-green clouds.
Wind erosion leads to their holes and crags
Moss penetrates or covers to guard their openings
Specific younger versions off several mountain peaks
Are like the grandchildren of Mt. Hua.
Mary Ellen Elliott
Interpreting: Wedding robe with design of musical instruments and flowers
Gallery: 223
Years of participation: 10
Affiliations: Richfield Sunflower Garden Club
From the PFA:
I’ve always enjoyed exploring Mia’s collections and was immediately drawn to this incredible deep blue silk and intricate embroidery of this uchikake (wedding robe). Since this April marks our 50th wedding anniversary, I thought this robe made a wonderful and appropriate choice. To create my Ikebana-inspired design, I’m incorporating blue dendrobium orchids, curly willow, roses, and chrysanthemums. I’m using a Northern Clay Center vessel for my arrangement.
Diane Enge
Interpreting: Foaming Waves
Gallery: 219
Years of participation: 25
From the PFA:
I was inspired by the unexpected colors, dramatic lines, and patterns of this oceanic screen. I utilized the twirls and swirls of fantail pussy willow branches and dark hooded calla lilies to mimic the rolling motion of the waves. As the waves surge up and plunge downward, the image of a frothy seafoam texture is formed. This texture is designed with compact silver dusty miller and accents of gypsophila (babies breath). Thank you for viewing my interpretation of Foaming Waves, and enjoy your visit to Art in Bloom 2026.
Katherine Enge
Interpreting: Two Muses (Erato and Melpomene)
Gallery: 343
Years of participation: 8
From the PFA:
I was drawn to the colors and movement in the fabric!
Abi Englund
Interpreting: Deer in the Forest
Gallery: 321
Years of participation: 2
Affiliation: Bachman’s
From the PFA:
I was first drawn to the deep greens and dark tones of this painting. I come from a family that appreciates nature, and deer will always remind me of my dad, Matthew (who passed away 20 years ago).
I’m honored to be representing this beautiful painting in floral form for this year’s Art in Bloom!
Denese Erickson
Interpreting: Dream of the Red Chamber
Gallery: 217
Years of participation: 20
Affiliation: Sponsored by The Minnesota Peony Society
From the PFA:
The Minnesota Peony Society is pleased to be a part of Mia’s celebration of art and flowers. Most of today’s hybrid peonies find their ancient, genetic history as wildflowers in Asia. You’ll find beloved peonies in many works of Asian art. We feel right at home creating a floral interpretation of this beautiful Chinese textile Dream of the Red Chamber. Our peonies belong here. Many of us have relationships with peonies in family gardens that are treasured and handed down through generations.
Heather Feather
Interpreting: Black and White Pot #1
Gallery: 259
Years of participation: 15
Madison Feather
Interpreting: Plate
Gallery: 243
Years of participation: 8
Rachael Finglovsky
Interpreting: Fourth Family Octagon
Gallery: 280
Years of participation: 6
From the PFA:
Like the octagon’s swirling mirrors, I incorporated flowers to draw the viewer in through beauty and movement, evoking peace and unity. Though less complex and geometric than Farmanfarmaian’s mirror work, I sought to echo its understated yet striking impact through living materials.
Barbara Foss and Timothy Foss
Interpreting: Earth-colored Wall
Gallery: 251
Years of participation: 14 and 14
Affiliation: Ikebana International, Ichiyo School
From the PFA:
A hazy melancholy rises for me when I look at Earth-colored Wall. It stirs a memory of an ancient garden structure, worn by time. I love its warm, earthy tones—the colors of soil that nourish tangled flowers and vines and the quiet life that comes from decay and renewal. For me, Hokada Yoshida’s wall welcomes Timothy Foss’s pottery into a small spring festival of growth and beauty. Perhaps romantically, I think of H. P. Lovecraft’s poem A Garden and its “very Maytime sunlight”—a reminder that somewhere, the garden is my heart.
Adrienne Frank
Interpreting: Cinerary Box with Cover
Gallery: 241
Years of participation: 1
Elizabeth Franklin and Celeste, Charles, and Mara Schumacher
Interpreting: The Comtesse d’Egmont Pignatelli in Spanish Costume
Gallery: 307
Years of participation: 15, 15, 15, and 15
Affiliation: Edina Garden Council & Kelodale Garden Club
From the PFA:
The little dog is barking, the guitar is at her side, but the Comtesse has found a moment to sit and stretch before the next round of activities. Her white dress was the basis for our floral interpretation. Often used as a neutral, here white is a bright light, focusing attention with a sense of calm, simplicity, and new beginnings. We soon will be celebrating a wedding in our own family—and hope this arrangement conveys a setting of peaceful calm within the whirl of activities.
Lilia Fremling
Interpreting: Travelers at a Busy Ford before a Panoramic Landscape
Gallery: 312
Years of participation: 3
From the PFA:
I’m honored to participate in Art in Bloom this year.
To me this painting feels like progress. I’m inspired by the color and texture of this piece.
As a floral artist, I’m interested in exploring how natural materials can reflect similar techniques found in other artistic mediums and aim to explore texture and depth within my interpretation.
Thank you to all who’ve made this event possible and to my family and friends who’ve supported me as I have grown as a floral artist.
Kristi Gauvin and Merodie Peterson
Interpreting: Pillow
Gallery: 204
Years of participation: 4 and 4
From the PFA:
In Chinese tradition, pillows symbolize rest, dreams, intimacy, and the quiet space where thoughts and fortunes turn. Blossoms suggest renewal, fleeting beauty, and auspicious wishes carried into sleep. The pillow becomes more than a support for the head. It represents a threshold where nature’s imagery and human wisdom meet in moments of reflection and hope.
Our interpretation brings those blossoms to life and we hope our imagery allows peaceful reflection.
Becky Haaf
Interpreting: The Artist’s Daughter, Julie, with her Nanny
Gallery: 351
Years of participation: 7
From the PFA:
This is The Artist’s Daughter, Julie, and her Nanny by Berthe Morisot, a founding female impressionist. I love the subject—a woman teaching a girl to sew, working on a project together. I also love that the painting is done by a woman! There were not that many female impressionists at that time.
I used two vases representing each person, then added rounded shaped flowers and the colors to represent their facial features. In between the two vases are antique embroidered pieces with colors in the painting.
Stephanie Hagen
Interpreting: The Destroyer
Gallery: 301
Years of participation: 2
From the PFA:
I was drawn to the colors and techniques for this layered composition, distilling the familiar into harmonious line, color, and “notan” (light/dark). Painted en plein air, a fleeting moment is captured that fades as the sun alters form and shadows. The title, referencing the Colorado River’s effect on the seemingly immovable landscape, echoes Dow’s influence on reshaping the historically elite world of art away from literal imitation in favor of analytical minimal abstraction. The visual composition lends itself to a harmonious array of lavender, blue, and coral flowers in a layered, cascading structure that will inevitably fade with time.
Jo Ann Hall
Interpreting: Night
Gallery: 253
Years of participation: 4
Affiliation: Minnesota Peony Society
PFA Statement:
I was inspired by the appearance of delicate flowers floating in space.
Kathleen “Kat” Hanson
Interpreting: Lotus
Gallery: 203
Years of participation: 20
Affiliation: Richfield Garden Club
From the PFA:
I was attracted to the strength of the lotus flower and leaf. As I viewed the painting more closely, I appreciated the contrast of the soft folds of the fan and the intensity of the flower and leaf. In my mind, I imagined hot sunny summer days sitting on the veranda while the fan creates a gentle cooling breeze.
Lauri Hanson
Interpreting: Saint Ambrose
Gallery: 330
Years of participation: 3
From the PFA:
Our eyes are drawn heavenward in this painting. The triangle composition gives the sense of solid ground—strong and stable. The lush colors and textures are rich, dignified, and serious. As the focal point, and scriptures glow white in the painting. This beautiful portrait honors those who step out in boldness for the truth: the Trinity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
My floral arrangement is meant to complement the dignity, strength, and depth of passion for the truth portrayed in this painting. Color, texture, and height are the elements I used to help in that endeavor.
Tricia Hardy
Interpreting: Catskill Mountain House
Gallery: 323
Years of participation: 9
Affiliation: Hardy Floral, Events and More
From the PFA:
This piece reminds me of the many adventures I had with my older sister, Ton’ee. As kids we lived in a house that was nestled up against a hill. We’d climb the hill and look over the vast valley below. When we got older, we continued to love nature and being outdoors. She was the first person to support me in Art in Bloom. Art in Bloom was something, as artists in our own ways, we both connected on. We lost Ton’ee just four months ago to cancer. When I saw this piece, I knew she was speaking to me. The colors, the place on the flat rock to stand, look at the richness of the land below, the river, and the adventures that await ahead.
Joan Hawk
Interpreting: Yup’ik Dancer V A pendant and necklace
Gallery: 260
Years of participation: 12
From the PFA:
Denise Wallace, the artist of this Mia exhibit, produces jewelry that’s inspired by her Alaskan Native heritage, creating this necklace in 2009.
Upon further exploration, I learned that the Yupik tribe is primarily found in southwestern Alaska. My initial online search for Yupik dancer yielded many current Yupik dance results. This style of dance is termed yuraq, and its rituals include ceremonious elements of hand-held dance fans, costumes, and specific dancer roles and placement for both men and women.
Lois Ann Helgeson
Interpreting: Snow, Boulevard de Clichy, Paris
Gallery: 359
Years of participation: 24
From the PFA:
Snow, Boulevard de Clichy, Paris, oil on canvas, was created by the French artist Paul Signac in 1886. The painting exhibits vertical elements and traffic movement within the white of a winter scene—all created with the use of tiny colored dots of paint. Influenced by fellow painter, Georges Seurat, Signac became an advocate of the painting style, Pointillism. He abandoned the brush strokes of Impressionism, moving to experiment using small dots of color to create images—images that form in the eye of the viewer. He became known for his scientific approach to harmony and balance through color.
Lori Helmen
Interpreting: The Denial of St. Peter
Gallery: 313
Years of participation: 3
From the PFA:
I loved how the artist expertly draws the eye to the face of the servant girl who appears to glow in the candlelit darkness, illuminating the truth she speaks to Peter who would prefer to remain hidden in shadows. Attempting to create a similar feeling of truth illuminating the darkness, I chose to surround bright white flowers with deeper shades, while moving the attention to the right with lighter tones, as if compelling what remains in shadows to be revealed. I hope visitors will be curious about the biblical account of Peter’s denial as foretold by Jesus, the Light (John 12–13.)
Mary Kay Herman
Interpreting: Covered Tureen
Gallery: 324
Years of participation: 7
From the PFA:
Bonjour! I’m thrilled to interpret the tin-glazed tureen earthenware with all the French country flair! I love all things Rococo and was thrilled to incorporate the beauty of this era into my piece.
I looked to the life of Marie Antionette for inspiration, with her love of country living that was reflected in the earthenware of her time.
Perhaps our first “Cottage Core” influencer, Marie adored flowers and lead a dual life from elaborate gated gardens to patches of simple farm flowers.
So I invite you to my French garden creation with fleur-de-lis gate above, ivy below, roses, tiny topiary, and daisies you might have seen in the time of Queen Marie.
Jenny Hindbjorgen
Interpreting: Needlepoint representing the god of Longevity and Eight Immortals
Gallery: 217
Years of participation: 8
Julie Holland
Interpreting: Portrait of Anna Buchner
Gallery: 342
Years of participation: 15
From the PFA:
I enjoy scrutinizing Renaissance-era paintings for illustrations of lavish fabrics, clothing, and jewelry, such as these worn by Anna Buchner. I chose flowers that complement the orange tones and delicate textures of her garments and jewelry. I have arranged plant materials to echo her posture. I also enjoy searching thrift stores for the perfect container.
Trân B. Huỳnh
Interpreting: Half-length Portrait of Bodhidharma
Gallery: 220
Years of participation: 5
Affiliation: Ikebana International Chapter #121 of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Sogetsu School of Ikebana
From the PFA:
Just as this painting depicts the Indian monk Bodhidharma gazing up at the words “look inside to become a buddha,” this floral arrangement invites the viewer to look inside themselves.
Lynn Indihar
Interpreting: Autumn
Gallery: 251
Years of participation: 7
From the PFA:
I’ll use the muted colors, lines, and angles in this modern Japanese wood block print as my inspiration. I always enjoy learning more about the artist with whose art I am paired. Yoshida Chizuko was a groundbreaking 20th-century female painter and printmaker who helped bridge modern abstract art with traditional Japanese art
Lauren Inserra
Interpreting: Shiva and Parvati with Companions
Location: Gallery 212
Years of participation: 6
From the PFA:
I was drawn to this piece because of its rich, warm colors and the amount of intricate details. It’s the kind of painting that forces you to slow down to be able to see everything that is going on in it. There is a sense of happiness and life in this scene that I find really inviting. I love nature and I wanted my arrangement to capture that same “full of life” energy. My hope is that this floral piece feels just as welcoming as Purkhu’s work, encouraging you to stop for a moment and appreciate all the small details.
Noriko Ishida
Interpreting: Walking Shakyamuni Buddha
Gallery: 213
Years of participation: 26
Affiliation: Sogetsu Study Group, Ikebana International
From the PFA:
Shakyamuni Buddhas is prince of Thailand and teacher of people.
Kari Jaksha and Barbara Proeschel
Interpreting: Court Robe
Gallery: 218
Years of participation: 10 and 10
From the PFA:
We chose this Qing Dynasty woman’s court robe for the colors and intricately embroidered birds, butterflies and flowers. These decorations are aesthetically beautiful and also meant to invoke blessings. Roosters and flowers symbolized prosperity, fame, and beauty.
Flowers were chosen that are meaningful to the Chinese in order to create an airy arrangement in a typically Asian style. The black vase mirrors the robe’s black border, which were normally heavily embroidered with symbols like butterflies and flowers. We feel this is a lovely expression of art in bloom.
Carla Jefferson, Bonnie Hector, Deb Carpenter, Deb Nedden, and Ann Cathcart
Interpreting: Processional image of a Large Swan (Velya Annam)
Gallery: 211
Years of participation: 16, 16, 4, 4, and 2
Affiliation: Minnesota Herb Society, Northern Clay Center vessel by artist Leila Denecke
From the PFA:
We are inspired by the 2026 Herb of the Year, Turmeric, a healing herb, used for centuries in India. We were drawn to the vibrant colors of the swan. Our floral choices echo the earth tones of red, gold, and orange of turmeric and the swan. We reflected on the swan as an effigy of Kali, representing time, power, destroyer of illusions, and death. These aspects of the goddess bring change and healing.
Members of the Minnesota Herb Society have been participating in Art in Bloom since 1985. Our vessel is courtesy of the Northern Clay Center.
Dennis Kelner
Interpreting: On the Thames, A Heron
Gallery: 357
Years of participation: 7
From the PFA:
I wanted show off my skills in how to convey a moment of serenity and peacefulness. My love for herons drew me to this piece. The beautiful colors of fall and the ripple of the boat in the river, which I am sure the flowers in this piece represent. I wanted to make sure that viewers could interpret this piece how they see fit, but I wanted to keep the colors and moment captured in the flowers.
Barbara Kennedy
Interpreting: Maebyeong with grass pattern
Gallery: 206
Years of participation: 26
Affiliations: Sogetsu Study Group-Ikebana International
From the PFA:
The MAEBYEONG shape is significant in defining Korean celadon ceramics with its tall vase and curved shoulder. In Ikebana we begin with vase selection. I chose a graceful and curved edged vase, its glaze and color emphasize both natural greenery, flowers, and elegance. I’ve added bamboo to emulate the tall grass impressed vertical lines. I’m inspired by both the celadon color and bamboo invoking a feeling of calm and serenity.
Susan Ketcham and Lisa Hirst Carnes
Interpreting: Still Life with Fruit
Gallery: 310
Years of participation: 3 and 5
From the PFA:
Two Tables, One Truth
Verrocchi understood what every gardener knows: beauty arrives already fleeting. The two tables, bursting with grapes, succulent peaches, scattered figs, a pomegranate, seeds exposed, are a meditation on abundance and decay held in perfect tension.
This arrangement mirrors that tension. Peaches blush toward coral, petals open past their prime, and greenery darkens at the edge. In both paintings, butterflies frame the upper field—here, then gone. Flowers emulate this same truth.
The fruit will soften. The petals will fall. The arrangement, like the paintings, insists we appreciate the now, while the table is still full.
Angie Koebler
Interpreting: The Age of Bronze
Gallery: 355
Years of participation: 10
Affiliation: Northern Clay Center vessel, by artist Olivia Tani, DeerScare Deer & Rabbit Repellent for Gardens
From the PFA:
Profoundly Unclassical
Considered the Father of Modern Sculpture, Rodin and many of his most notable sculptures were criticized, clashing with predominant classical traditions in which works were decorative, thematic, and predictable. Rodin experimented with assemblages and transformations and departed from traditional themes—often dismantling, reassembling, and borrowing from existing sculptures in endless combinations. If the accidental enhanced the energy and spirit of the sculpture, it was accepted as artistically necessary. I’m emboldened by his practicality and inspired by this gallery, entwining ideas and objects found in the artwork surrounding us.
Barbara Kramer
Interpreting: Pulse
Gallery: 280
Years of participation: 18
From the PFA:
I was attracted to this artwork by its vivid color and curving, complicated lines winding around open spaces. This sense of movement drew me to follow the flow.
I wanted to create an arrangement that took this dynamic energy into full bloom. To do this, I chose ginger flowers for their color and bold lines. I have used other flowers in different textures and shades of red to depict the subtle variations of color, form and motion.
I hope you, the observer, will follow the arcs, look through the spaces and see the interconnected whole.
Amy Kubas
Interpreting: Roof Ornament, a pair
Gallery: 215
Years of participation: 9
From the PFA:
One plays with fire, and one plays with flowers.
Carol Kuschke and Georgia Heisserer
Interpreting: Portrait of Dom Pascal Le Tonnelier
Gallery: 308
Years of participation: 5 and 5
Affiliation: University of Minnesota Women’s Club
From the PFA:
The French monk, Dom Pascal Le Tonnelier, appears contemplative and concerned. He led the Carthusian monks who were known for their silence, strictness, and austerity. His work-worn hands rest on a book that may reveal his appreciation of knowledge. The artist used predominately shades of cream with pink undertones. We also used shades of cream, ivory, and pink to produce an understated design. The elevated vase replicates the color of the predominant book. The use of ragged twigs attempts to mimic the character of his hands and eyebrows. Dark green leaves show our table interpretation, which grounds the design.
Ronald Kvaas and Beth Oelke
Interpreting: Portrait of a Burgomaster
Gallery: 311
Years of participation: 7 and 7
Affiliation: Lake Owasso Garden Club
From the PFA:
This is a bold, powerful painting of a large, aristocratic man in black with striking red and gold accents.
The interpretation required dense, painted Oregonia foliage for a heavy black presence. Alstromeria and tiny James Storie orchids provide the richness of red and gold brocade.
I feel this 360-year-old painting exhibiting male wealth and privilege is a phenomenon still all around us today.
Kristin Langerud, Mary Langerud, and Nike Alade
Interpreting: Thangka of Hierarchs of the Sakya Lineage
Gallery: 255
Years of participation: 9, 9, and 9
Jenny LeDoux
Interpreting: Bust of Diana
Gallery: 319
Years of participation: 1
From the PFA Statement:
As I write this, I’m five months pregnant with my first child, my son, and already I’ve found myself faced with many of the themes associated with the goddess Diana, such as wildness and wildlife, the moon, childbirth and fertility, protection, independence, and the unbroken feminine spirit.
I chose to echo the contrast of strength and serenity in Falguière’s work with a ring of blue and white flowers to represent the untamed wilderness and night sky. This surrounds and protects the precious inner bouquet of red and pink flowers, symbolizing the pregnant womb, full of new life.
Darwin Lee
Interpreting: Ganymede and the Eagle
Gallery: 307
Years of participation: 2
From the PFA:
I chose to create a floral piece inspired by Ganymede because I was first drawn to its softness and innocence in the sculpture by Bertel Thorvaldsen. It felt calm and gentle—almost comforting. But when I learned the story, I was surprised. Knowing that Ganymede was taken by Zeus changed the way I saw that same moment. The innocence was still there, but it felt more fragile and a little sad. In my floral piece, I wanted to hold onto the feeling—something beautiful and soft at first glance, but with a deeper emotion underneath.
Lucy Lee
Interpreting: Christ and Saint Peter at the Sea of Galilee
Gallery: 324
Years of participation: 4
From the PFA:
In Christ and Saint Peter at the Sea of Galilee, we encounter a moment suspended between fear and salvation. Peter, overwhelmed by the waves, reaches toward Christ’s steady hand.
Even during moments of sorrow and uncertainty, Minnesotans respond with care, courage, and love for their neighbor, not division and fear.
May the Lord hold the souls we remember in His hands, guide us through uncertainty, and continue to lift us toward hope.
Stefanie Levi, Izel Davila Luinenburg, Atzin Davila Luinenburg, and Rita Ruacho Rodriguez
Interpreting: Cradleboard
Gallery: 260
Years of participation: 8, 8, 8, and 1
Affiliation: The Clay Pit in South Minneapolis
PFA Statement:
How loved, safe, and cozy the Kahnawake baby felt bundled and fastened to this beautiful cradleboard! Wrapped with care, they could sleep or watch the women gathering and gardening berries, roots, leaves, and flowers and sense the beauty of the forest. Once their legs could carry them, they walked the land in the ways of their mother’s Bear Clan, growing wise in the ways of healing—as nurturers, fierce protectors of the People, embodying survivance.
We’re happy and honored to interpret this cradleboard! Excited to be a creative quartet for our first time this year! (A trio til now.)
Lori Lippert
Interpreting: The Birthplace of Herbert Hoover, West Branch, Iowa
Gallery: 303
Years of participation: 4
From the PFA:
American Regionalism in the 1930s and ’40s was a reaction against French art and Expressionism. Regionalists rejected abstraction and celebrated American themes, particularly the American Midwest.
Wood’s career and life and the story behind this work raise topics still relevant today. What is the image of ourselves we want others to see? What is “American”? What do we value in artistic expression?
While you may reflect on those themes while viewing this piece, I decided to simply embrace the voluptuousness of the painting. Looking at it, I’m bowled over by a late summer Midwestern day, swimming in deep greens and russets, almost feeling the heat.
Myrna Little
Interpreting: Night View of Saruwakamachi
Gallery: 239
Years of participation: 8
Affiliation: Ikebana International – Ichiyo School
From the PFA:
I was drawn to the moon and the night sky in this painting with subtle hues and quiet movement. The crowd of theater and teahouse patrons, slowly unwinding and musing upon the evening’s events, also drew me in. The white flowers and the circular element of the basket used in the arrangement reflect the characteristics of the moon. The full display of the arrangement is stylized to capture the essence of the Edo period and the simplicity of the floral design creates room for thought. I hope visitors experience a sense of balance between artwork and arrangement.
Donna Lovell
Interpreting: A Fishing Party Off Long Island
Gallery: 323
Years of participation: 2
From the PFA:
“The best of all good company.”
—John Greenleaf Whittier
Seven men working side by side toward a common purpose is the very definition of meaningful cooperation, in life as well as in art. A sense of unity is so central to our humanity that we find beauty and joy in harmony, synergy, and balance.
Mattie Lufkin and Karl Friedrich
Interpreting: God of Thunder [right of the pair Gods of Thunder, Wind, and Rain]
Gallery: 223
Years of participation: 4 and 1
From the PFA:
Mattie Lufkin: I see how earths’ elements rely on one another to exist. Without these natural forces influencing each other, there could be no thunder. In partnering with sculpture artist, we combine the elements of metal, fire, water, flowers, and yes…divine spirit, the most powerful life force!
Karl Friedrich: Raijin, the Thunder God, manifests electricity and plasma cutting through steel. Thunder clouds entered Minnesota. We the people became the lightning. Electricity has the power to create or destroy. We the people stand united together in strength and peace. This sculpture is dedicated to Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Carol Lui
Interpreting: Birds and Flowers
Gallery: 206
Years of participation: 21
Affiliation: Ikebana International Ichiyo and Ohara Schools
From the PFA:
I’m using an antique Imari vase, a famous style of Arita Porcelain founded in Japan by Korean Master Yi Sum-Pyeong (d. 1655) during the time period of the Joseon Dynasty, the time period of this screen painting.
Heather Lura and Joe Lura
Interpreting: Miao Hat
Gallery: 210
Years of participation: 1 and 1
From the PFA:
“Every silver lining’s got a touch of grey.”
—Grateful Dead
Yasuko MacNabb
Interpreting: Old Boar in Snow
Gallery: 237
Years of participation: 19
Affiliation: Sogetsu Study Group
From the PFA:
This year’s arrangement presents a personal challenge for me. While ikebana traditionally grows upward from the base, this work intentionally flows from the top downward. Inspired by a wild boar enduring the harsh winter, the piece reflects strength and resilience. The white tones suggest a quiet snowy landscape, where a single red flower stands out vividly, symbolizing the powerful life force of the animal.
Lauryn Magwaro
Interpreting: Ashura
Location: Gallery 252
Years of participation: 4
Affiliation: Northern Clay Center, vessel by Leila Denecke
From the PFA:
This floral vase transforms rigid geometry of Ashura into a living composition. Varying shades of red create depth and intensity, echoing the artwork’s bold contrasts. Stems extend at deliberate, angular directions, disrupting traditional symmetry and suggesting motion within stillness. Each element extends with intention, creating movement and tension rather than softness. Negative space is preserved to emphasize contrast and form, allowing the arrangement to breathe. This piece reimagines abstraction through organic materials, where structure, movement, and emotion are held in a delicate yet dynamic equilibrium.
Kathryn Malody
Interpreting: Altar
Gallery: 253
Years of participation: 34
From the PFA:
I was initially drawn to this print because of the contrast of vibrant colors with the heavy solidity of the base. It also has a certain rhythmic movement of lines. My mind compresses the image, layering the two sides of the Altar. The trimmed aspidistra leaves repeat the curves on either side of the image and also imply the black circle. The angular heliconia flowers represent the red and orange shapes in the center of the print.
Jamie Manning
Interpreting: Flowers and Insects of Spring and Fall
Gallery: 222
Years of participation: 5
Affiliation: Pottery Vase created by Sandy Budziak
From the PFA:
Flowers and Insects of Spring and Fall Haiku:
Insects Awaken
Snow Melts into Peonies
Breathe Deep the Wonder
Laurel Manoles, Caryl Manoles, and Erin Estafanos
Interpreting: Saint John the Baptist as a Youth
Gallery: 341
Years of participation: 5, 5, and 5
From the PFA:
Our family team is delighted to create a floral arrangement inspired by this painting of John the Baptist. We were drawn to the artist’s skillful use of color, texture, movement, and symbolism. John the Baptist pointed to Christ, the Lamb of God, and we hope our arrangement does the same.
John Markovich and Elizabeth Jordan
Interpreting: Haniwa of a Female Shrine Attendant
Gallery: 205
Years of participation: 2 and 1
From the PFA:
I feel incredibly fortunate to be participating in AiB and have the opportunity to collaborate with other PFAs. You, my girlfriend Liz, and my dear friend Julie inspire me.
Jill May
Interpreting: Money Tree
Gallery: 201
Years of participation: 2
From the PFA:
Discovered in ancient tombs, this stunning piece from the Chinese Han Dynasty is thought to have been created to sustain its owner in the afterlife, bringing wealth, prosperity, and safe passage. I’ve chosen to interpret this intriguing bronze sculpture with delicate greens and nuanced textures. The money tree motif emerges from the repetition of coin-like designs throughout the sculpture, which I chose to use circles found in nature to symbolize coins. A phoenix-like bird or fenghuang crowns the sculpture, portrayed in color and shape that signifies its magnificent ascent to the skies.
Max, Sadie, and Gabi May
Interpreting: Through Birds, Through Fire but Not Through Glass
Gallery: 376
Years of participation: 5, 5, and 4
From the PFA:
Through Flowers, Through Fun but Not Through Realism
Lou McCarthy and Ren Souvannavong
Interpreting: Fusang tree
Gallery: 215
Years of participation: 1 and 1
Tara McCarthy
Interpreting: Basket
Location: Gallery 254
Years of participation: 14
From the PFA:
I was drawn in by the beautiful beading and woven materials, and then enjoyed imagining this basket being a joyful part of a Somali wedding. I’m awed by the skill and artistry of the patterns. I love that this piece is ceremonial, visually pleasing and also functional. I’ve always been inspired by practical items that are stunning works of art. Each year I like to select an art piece that teaches me something and that I’m excited to bring attention to. I hope you spend some time looking closely at the beadwork patterns and skilled weaving.
Perry McGowan
Interpreting: Portrait of Robert Koehler
Gallery: 302
Years of participation: 9
Affiliation: Friends of Life
From the PFA:
Both artist and subject are celebrated here. Philip Little masterfully influenced Minnesota art history well beyond painting. Just outside this gallery, the spectacular windows of the Little house offer one example. The painting’s subject, Robert Koehler, laid foundations for both Mia and MCAD. His masterpiece, featuring his wife, son, and dog, hangs in this gallery. Their legacy, we share today. Their monument is the museum that surrounds you.
I’m honored to participate in Art in Bloom. I cherish the enrichment within these walls and the sharing of blooms with so many dear friends in a much-anticipated right of spring!
Kristen McWilliams and Phillip McWilliams
Interpreting: Dragon and Phoenix Vase (Meiping)
Gallery: 217
Years of participation: 8 and 8
From the PFA:
The phoenix and dragon are symbols of pleasing relationships, good luck, and persistent strength. Like sky and clouds in spring, plants pushing through hard soil searching for the sun, and the lovely purity of white and true blue flowers, these imaginative, fanciful creatures simply bring a smile and a hope of fresh new life to us.
Gail Mengelkoch
Interpreting: Firescreen
Gallery: 379
Years of participation: 7
From the PFA:
I originally chose this beautiful metal fire screen in 2020 for Art in Bloom, but we were canceled because of Covid, and I’m very excited to be able to portray my vision for this piece so many years later! Smooth, curved lines of metal represent water, falling from a fountain, feeding the lush greens below, as its physical structure stops fire from escaping its place. I used bright strong colored flowers to represent how it would look with a fire in the fireplace. I employed flowing grasses and curved greenery to symbolize the shape of the metal on the fire screen.
Lisa Meyer
Interpreting: Portrait of the Drummond Family
Location: Gallery 306
Years of participation: 5
From the PFA:
I’m in awe of this portrait due to its size, as well as the intensity of the red coat.
My inspiration comes when I begin selecting the flowers and get a feeling of how the art wants to be expressed. I’m often surprised by what ends up being the focal point and how the arrangement comes together.
This year my son Christian, an MSU Aviation student, created the vessel I’m using.
Kathleen Moccio
Interpreting: Diego
Gallery: 376
Years of participation: 4
From the PFA:
Diego was the artist’s brother, lifelong muse, and collaborator. The enduring relationship between the artist and Diego inspired me to design a piece that reflects the vibrancy of a deep relationship. But also the vulnerability of openly sharing with another. Of allowing ourselves to be examined. Seen.
Ultimately, the embrace of acceptance despite perceived flaws. Thank you for embracing Art in Bloom. I hope you enjoy the show.
Ann Moe
Interpreting: Cart with Ox and Farmer
Gallery: 215
Years of participation: 3
From the PFA:
Oh, noble person in eternal rest, I provide you with sustenance to carry you on in your journey. I fill your cart with rice, vegetables, and fruit for your table, wheat for bread, millet for porridge, flax for cloth, and flowers to brighten your path. May my gift bring you peace and prosperity.
Mary Ann Morgan and Stacey Morgan Robertson
Interpreting: Green Wall
Gallery; 253
Years of participation: 10 and 3
Affiliation: Mary Ann Morgan Studio
From the PFA:
Green Wall by Yoshida Hodaka is full of subtle highlights and changes of color throughout, which draws one in. As a professional artist, I admire its detail. Historically, I have used fused glass to create my vessel for Art in Bloom, which is made from four separate panels. My daughter works with me to create the pieces in my studio that we cook in a kiln for 14 hours, reaching a max temperature of 1425°F. A fun challenge this year is finding blue flowers that will stay fresh for four days in the dry museum air.
Adele Morris
Interpreting: Noah’s Ark tzedakah box
Gallery: 362
Years of participation: 12
From the PFA:
Tzedakah is Hebrew for “doing the right thing.”
The tzedakah box is a small container found in Jewish homes into which people drop spare coins each day. When full, the container is emptied and the contents given to a good cause. By making the act of giving oft-repeated, the tzedakah box elevates the giver’s character and also defines the space it occupies as a center of kindness and caring.
Contemporary ceramicist Jonathan Lipnick uses the Biblical account of Noah’s Ark as the accessible theme for this tzedakah box, adding experiences from his own upbringing to the decoration.
Sena Muledhu
Interpreting: Fantasy Coffin
Gallery: 250
Years of participation: 2
Beverly Munson
Interpreting: The Poet with the Birds
Gallery: 377
Years of participation: 20
Affiliation: Richfield Garden Club Council
From the PFA:
I put myself into the scene of laying under the tree watching the sky, birds, and tree branches and relaxing in nature and escaping from the troubles of our current world situation. Also I totally enjoy choosing new flowers. Rice flowers will be similar to the puffy clouds, and assorted green branches will create a beautiful tree and create the flower design.
Jenae Murphy
Interpreting: Your Dog
Gallery: Target Atrium
Years of participation: 4
From the PFA:
When selecting art this year, I was inspired by the whimsy of Your Dog. I loved the concept of the dog being so large that we are forced to see through a child’s eyes, capturing that sense of joy and wonder. Playing off the artist’s original vision, I decided to expand the scene: by creating a giant tennis ball for the dog to find, I’ve invited the viewer to become a playmate, further immersing us in the sculpture’s world.
Dixie Nelson, Nancy McNee, Brooks Nelson, and Steve Broback
Interpreting: Painting the Town #4
Gallery: 365
Years of participation: 10, 10, 10, and 3
From the PFA:
In Painting the Town #4, artist Carrie Mae Weems conveys the unrest in Portland, Oregon, in 2021 following the death of George Floyd.
Using foliage and flowers, you see how we see the artwork. The stormy, unsettling, dark mass in the door symbolic of fury and turmoil. Surrounding the doorframe are many types of soft, ethereal flowers. Using bright colors of pink, sunny yellow, and tangerine, we feel the flowers represent a future with hope, promise, and renewal.
This is our 10th year of participation in Art in Bloom. We are very happy to again be a part of this wonderful event.
Jack Nelson
Interpreting: Mountains over Lake Hallstatt
Gallery: 321
Years of participation: 2
Affiliation: Petalcore Collective
From the PFA:
I’m heavily inspired by the contrasts in this painting, particularly the way that it plays with shadow and light. This dark-to-light contrast also works with other elements in the painting, such as creating a strong crossing line that puts an emphasis on the two figures in the boat on the lake. It also reinforces the strength of each horizontal plane in the artwork. I want my floral interpretation to predominantly utilize those aspects, while working in other similar elements and principles that translate to my medium.
Karla Newman
Interpreting: Black Cherries
Gallery: 226
Years of participation: 21
From the PFA:
A mezzotint begins as a copper plate roughened using a spike-toothed rocker. The inked and printed surface yields a uniform, black ground. The plate is then burnished to create tones, working from black to white.
Inspired by the reverse technique, my interpretation starts with a mound of black cherries. The top, covered in variegated greenery mimics the print’s middle and light tones. Looking into the arrangement through the holes creates depth, an illusion achieved by Hamaguchi using tonal range.
Inspired too by Luxardo cherries in an old fashioned, and the bucket, cherries, and cut holes are reminiscent of Hi-Ho! Cherry-O!
Mab Nulty and Ceallaigh Smart
Interpreting: Abandoned House, Coahoma, Mississippi
Gallery: 363/364
Years of participation: 11 and 5
Affiliation: Print the Love
From the PFA:
As floral artists who run a photography nonprofit, we were drawn to this image’s quiet tension—the flatness, the sense of abandonment, a mysterious narrative. Why would someone leave these behind? Succulents became our natural medium: low, grounded, sharing the photograph’s muted palette and texture. Like the original work, the beauty lives in nuance and fine details. We added instant photographs as unexpected blooms, creating a paradox: the photos stand upright like flowers in nature, while the living plants echo the flatness of the prints. 3D becomes 2D and back again—flower as photograph, photograph as flower. A quiet reversal.
Pam O’Hara, Jo Franklin, Julie Zdenek, Pam O’Hara, Mary Kay Bougie, Emily Zdenek, and Megan DeMaris
Interpreting: Brook in the Mountains
Gallery: 302
Years of participation: 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, and 2
Affiliation: We’ll be using a Northern Clay Center vessel, by artist Monica Rudquist
From the PFA:
Ault’s scenes convey the still, anxious quietude of a fragile America amid global unrest, yet filled with potentialities…we can’t help seeing the current parallels.
We chose white flowers that have been symbols of resilience and resistance against fascism (white rose, WWII), war (daisies, 60’s), and tyranny (jasmine, Arab Spring). Mock orange blossoms (our parents’ wedding flowers) and pussy willows (known for their resilience, were mom’s Lenten tradition as a sign of new life).
Ayan Orshe
Interpreting: Table and Fruit
Gallery: 367
Years of participation: 3
From the PFA:
“Hesitations Outside the Door”
By Margaret Atwood
I’m telling the wrong lies,
they are not even useful.
The right lies would at least
be keys, they would open the door.
The door is closed; the chairs,
the tables, the steel bowl, myself
shaping bread in the kitchen, wait
outside it.
Karen Ortiz
Interpreting: Josef Ekberg; Project manager: Gunnar Gunnarson; Manufacturer: Gustavsberg, Gustavsberg, Sweden, Covered Vase, 94.35a,b
Gallery: 379
Years of participation: 16
From the PFA:
I was first drawn to this vase because of the beautiful color green, then I noticed the movement the artist created with flowers and greenery. This floral piece has open space for the opportunity to show movement of the lily grass as it curves in and out among the other foliage and flowers.
This interpretation is dedicated to the people of Minneapolis because they have shown the world what peace looks like.
Jen Pacyga
Interpreting: Cranes
Gallery: 221
Years of participation: 8
Affiliation: Bachman’s
From the PFA:
This “Siege or Dance or Swoop” of cranes are shown on this screen—and are probably gregarious and highly vocal, using specialized calls. The Red Crowned Cranes stand 5 feet tall and are a symbol of longevity with their felicitous symbolism used for birthdays and the new year. I hope you enjoy my interpretation of the screen using large mums, mini callas, and carnations with yellow glads and smaller yellow mums as background.
Debra Page and Elaine Seekon
Interpreting: Plank Mask
Gallery: 254
Years of participation: 3 and 1
PFA Statement:
This traditional, tribal plank mask, created by the Bwa people, has 3 discrete sections, 3 defined shapes, and 3 distinct colors. We decided to focus on those elements and first made vase choices, specifically looking to size, shape, and texture as our design criteria. We then chose flowers to provide depth and texture variety, to deliver contrasting colors, and to respond to a vibrant and diverse locale. We sought to tie all these elements together in a natural response to the art. Our goal was to develop an arrangement reflective of the mask and the traditional design aspects included in the Bwa culture.
Micky Paine
Interpreting: Sake vessel
Gallery: 221
Years of participation: 8
From the PFA:
This is my eighth year participating in AiB and feel the experience sparks my creativity and appreciation for the institute. I chose the saki vase for the color and shape. By using various shapes and textures, I will depict the interpretation. This is always a wonderful event to see how creative everyone is.
Shayla Petersen
Interpreting: Housetop variation quilt
Gallery: 304
Years of participation: 4
From the PFA:
When randomly pieced-together scraps create the most beautiful functional art, combining artistic, intricate designs with deep emotional, historical, and tactile value.
Lezlie Pinske
Interpreting: Saint-Séverin No. 2 (recto)
Gallery: 367
Years of participation: 8
From the PFA:
Open the heavy wooden doors and step away from the bustle of Paris into the quiet peace of Saint-Séverin. This Gothic church, built in the 13th century, stands in the fifth arrondissement in Paris’s historic Quartier Latin.
As sunlight moves from east to west throughout the day, the stone columns inside Saint-Séverin take on shifting hues through the stained-glass windows. Here and there, small red lights glow—votive candles, visible signs of prayer.
Breathe deeply and notice the lingering scent of incense in this sacred space of peace, healing, and remembrance.
Richard Raiche
Interpreting: The Japanese Bridge
Gallery: 377
Years of participation: 19
From the PFA:
I’m drawn toward architecture. This bridge was fascinating to me. So I decided to build it.
Nancy Rand
Interpreting: Daiitoku Myōō, the Wisdom King of Awe-Inspiring Power
Gallery: 220
Years of participation: 8
Affiliation: North Star Lily Society
From the PFA:
I love this museum because I love history and “old stuff.” This deity is 1,000 years old. An almost unimaginable time span. If an evil spirit threatened the Buddha, I guess this menacing deity would succeed. His fierce faces, weapons, and halo of flames here are softened by the beauty and joy of lilies. Minnesota is lucky to have the perfect climate for lilies, and we have several internationally respected hybridizers. We lily enthusiasts are already dreaming of our 2026 gardens while our bulbs sleep underground and will soon burst forth. Don’t be AFRAID to enjoy.
Linda Leraas Ray
Interpreting: Fishing Vessels Offshore in a Heavy Sea
Gallery: 309
Years of participation: 19
From the PFA:
I’m reminded of how my great-grandparents sailed from Norway in 1870 on an older sailing ship, “The Harmony.” Due to terrible storms, it was thrown off course along the coast of Africa, therefore taking several more weeks to arrive in Quebec, running low on food that they had to provide for themselves on the journey. It’s truly remarkable that they arrived safely and made their way to Minnesota as early settlers. While the blue skies promise calmer days ahead, we’re all blessed by others to come to our rescue in the midst of life’s challenges.
Mayumi Redin
Interpreting: Black Place I
Gallery: 301
Years of participation: 25
Affiliation: Bachman’s
From the PFA:
I am fascinated with Georgia O’Keeffe’s skillful portrayal of mystery in this painting. She uses monochromatic textures to show movement and drama. Using dried Midollino and fresh flowers, I tried to capture these characteristics I see in her painting.
Brianne Reeves and Autumn Bockman
Interpreting: The Reader
Gallery: 354
Years of participation: 3 and 3
From the PFA:
The 1860s was momentous for women’s liberation, despite common belief. At the time, France’s youth literacy rate hit over 80% for the first time, meaning women of all income levels had access to knowledge that could make their lives better.
Lousia May Alcott, Charlotte Bronte (posthumously), and Harriet Beecher Stowe were all celebrated during this time. Inspired by literature and the worlds it opens, this floral arrangement reflects the blossoming of possibility in a world overwhelmed by shadows.
Dawn Renner
Interpreting: Rain Mountain
Gallery: 374
Years of participation: 15
From the PFA:
Rain Mountain, four organic vertical members cut by a sharp horizontal rectangle, presents itself in its face view as a formal intersection of natural shapes with inorganic shapes. Walking around the piece, nature seems to win as it hides the rectangle in its stalks when viewed headlong. Noguchi evokes this victory, nature overcoming, using an entirely inorganic medium. This arrangement is an attempt to present that same victory through an entirely organic medium as the Sansevieria leaves hold strong despite being cleaved by the fabricated Nori.
Terri Ristow
Interpreting: Zun wine vessel in the shape of an owl
Gallery: 214
Years of participation: 13th year
From the PFA:
“Oh no, l took a tumble and was hurt, but am much better now! Silly owl, I forgot I can’t fly. Thank you to everyone who repaired me. I’m happy to be on display again!”
The Zun wine vessel in the shape of an owl is a fan favorite at Mia! This Shang-dynasty vessel was likely used by aristocrats to honor ancestors during ritual ceremonies. I decided to bring the stylized owl to life, with their own personality. I included little tripod wine vessels called Jue, used to warm wine. Did you find a Jue in the Mia China exhibit?
Jodie Rodne
Interpreting: Mirror
Gallery: 310
Years of participation: 9
From the PFA:
I chose this piece for its balance of complexity and simplicity. At their core, mirrors simply reflect light, yet they hold a quiet kind of magic. A mirror anchors us in the present, revealing reality as it is in a single moment. At the same time, it invites imagination, allowing us to see not only what is, but what could be.
This dual nature fascinated me. A mirror can feel both ordinary and mysterious, a simple surface that carries deeper meaning. Through this piece, I wanted to capture that feeling: the delicate space between reflection and imagination, between truth and possibility, where transformation quietly begins.
Nadine Ronning, Mary Bona, and Sally Perovich
Interpreting: Punch bowl and stand
Gallery: 209
Years of participation: 8, 8, and 3
From the PFA:
Washington Irving describes this very bowl in his “Salmagundi.” To him, it represented artistry and social ambience. It inspires us as expressed in the following haiku:
Community bowl
Lotus blooms as we gather
Sharing hands and hope
Carly Rudeen, Molly Houdek, and Abby Rudeen
Interpreting: Cabinet
Gallery: 314
Years of participation: 1, 1, and 1
From the PFA:
Our arrangement was inspired by the decorative panels on Claude Charles Saunier’s 1765 cabinet. The glossy black and gold vessel reflects the cabinet’s lacquer finish and gilded bronze details. The floral elements were designed to echo the imagery found in the cabinet’s gilded panels, which feature florals, greenery, and birds among delicate branches. Our arrangement translates those motifs into a natural composition with gentle movement and layered textures. The result is meant to capture the cabinet’s elegance while bringing its decorative story to life in a living form.
Myra Rusten
Interpreting: Supha
Gallery: 242
Years of participation: 9
From the PFA:
“…The figure’s closed eyes and floating position suggest spiritual introspection and material detachment…” MiA
I was drawn to this piece for its simplicity/complexity. I decided to stay with the white color out of respect for the artists choice. I thought of delphinium, stock, or gladiolus and alstroemeria for the puddle of cloth. For the body calla lilies or painted white aspidistra leaves and for the head and cone I thought of the star of Bethlehem or snapdragons.
I practiced several iterations of the floral arrangement and decided on the following. As the cloth is wrapped around the figure I used the white delphinium to wrap around the body.
Kathleen Saporito and Cristina James
Interpreting: The Exalted Emperors and The Gods of the Five Directions
Gallery: 201
Years of participation: 2 and 2
From the PFA:
As a child I was exposed to Asian art in my very Polish household in Michigan. Years earlier, my grandmother had been a nanny for an ambassador to Japan. I’ve always loved Asian art and was lucky to get this piece. I think that I passed this appreciation on to my daughters, one of whom is working on the arrangement with me.
Our floral design focuses on the colors of the robes of the emperors and gods in the art piece. My grandmother had beautiful roses in her gardens. We’re going to incorporate a rose in our design.
Jessica Schaum
Interpreting: Sparrow hawk (pair)
Gallery: 314
Years of participation: 1
From the PFA:
Two floral interpretations grew in response to the sparrow hawk sculpture across the room.
One mirrors the bird, literally. The other abstracts its energy and movement through line, texture, and materials found in nature.
Birds, nature, and floral design, all our favorites, come together here.
Take a moment to see both. Which draws you in first, the hawk as it is or the spirit it evokes?
Hunter Schmidt
Interpreting: Ritual Bell (Dōtaku)
Gallery: 205
Years of participation: 2
From the PFA:
This floral interpretation is replicating a Ritual Bell from the Yayoi period (almost 2,000 years old). The rich electric color on the Bell drew me to this piece. It’s caused by copper oxidizing, the primary component in bronze. With a mixing of glazes, I mimicked the color of the bell. The vase was made on the wheel from a clay similar to porcelain. The ceramic structure is carved in a way to showcase the flowers and marry the art of ceramics and florals. Though early in the season, some of these flowers are sourced from local gardens!
Shelley Schmokel
Interpreting: Red Wall
Gallery: 252
Years of participation: 27
PFA Statement:
POW! Turning the corner into the gallery, this large painting knocked me back with its intense colors. Red wall, indeed. I chose flowers to convey the intense impact of color—crimson, magenta, orange, ruby, coral. But can you see some small elements that evoke the wall’s subtle details—hanging wires, the flaking plaster at the bottom, a small plaque?
Bruce Smith
Interpreting: The Attributes of the Arts and the Rewards Which Are Accorded Them
Gallery: 306
Years of participation: 2
From the PFA:
When I first looked at this painting my reaction was, “It is so busy and cluttered.” Then, as I studied it, my view totally changed. I saw that each object followed a theme and purpose. This was a very personal reflective piece. Not a cluttered desk, but a desk full of artist’s tools that contained many memories. Finished work, tools of the trade, and awards for work done.
I wanted to create a 3D piece where each floral focal point saluted one of those pieces of Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin’s life.
Cindy Snowberg
Interpreting: Turban snail shell cup
Gallery: 310
Years of participation: 19
Affiliation: Bachman’s
From the PFA:
The creature that created this lustrous shell may have been someone’s lunch. However, it continues to bring joy because craftsmen in different countries across the globe envisioned its inner beauty. I hope to honor that snail and those craftsmen for the timeless art piece they created.
Kate Sobraske and Barbarajo Kuzelka
Interpreting: Figure of a Lar
Gallery: 241
Years of participation: 8 and 9
Affiliation: Botanical Brilliance, Bachmann’s, D. Gies
From the PFA:
Our arrangement is in honor of protection and the many forms in which it is practiced. It celebrates:
Protection by the lar of its household. Protection by the archeologists who carefully excavated this fresco panel from the rubble of Pompeii. Protection by the Minneapolis Institute of Art in preserving this piece of history.
Our arrangement is also in honor of the residents of Minnesota, people who know about something about protection.
Cindy Soule
Interpreting: Untitled
Gallery: 303
Years of participation: 16
From the PFA:
I was drawn to this artwork due to its wonderful colors. Mums, carnations, other flowers, and greenery will be used to interpret this painting.
Mary Spear
Interpreting: Arose
Gallery: 243
Years of participation: 3
Affiliation: Pocket Full of Posies
From the PFA:
I was drawn to Arose by its powerful fusion of femininity and transformation, where the figure unfolds in a living bloom. In my floral interpretation, I echoed this radiating form by layering flowers to create circular movement, using soft neutrals, gold accents, and vibrant greens to reflect both harmony and fragmentation. I was especially inspired by the idea of the feminine spirit as expansive and resilient. I hope viewers experience both the delicacy and strength within the work and reflect on the balance between beauty, disruption, and renewal.
Patrick Stahl
Interpreting: Bishamonten, the Guardian of the North
Gallery: 220
Years of participation: 12
Affiliation: Ikebana #121 Ichiyo School and MZMC
From the PFA:
Bishamonten stands with all Minnesotans, bringing courage and strength as the “Guardians of the North.”
Elizabeth Stephan and Eric Stephan
Interpreting: Pair of elevator grilles, frieze, and overgrille
Gallery: 300
Years of participation: 3 and 3
From the PFA:
Our floral art draws from Louis Sullivan’s geometric vision, honoring his belief that a building’s soul resides in the ornament. Sullivan coined the design principle “form follows function.” Inspired by his desire to harness inorganic as a catalyst for insight and evolution, we shaped this arrangement as living architecture. The palette, reds, greens, yellows, copper, and mahogany, echoes the Chicago Stock Exchange interior from which these elevator grilles once rose. Pycnosaurus globulus (billy buttons) anchors the composition, connecting floral form to Sullivan’s historic grilles and affirming his conviction that beauty emerges when design follows nature.
Paul Sternberg
Interpreting: Guardian Lion
Gallery: 213
Years of participation: 8
From the PFA:
The Khmer Empire did not have native lions, but they extensively depicted them in art, using stone “guardian lion” statues to flank temple stairways and entrances from the 9th to 13th centuries. These lions were symbolic, borrowed from foreign mythology (Persia/India) to represent royal power, strength, and divine protection. My container is wood covered in paper mache clay.
Megan Stickney and Katie Monroe
Interpreting: Curtain
Gallery: 210
Years of participation: 4 and 1
From the PFA:
Every flower on this Qing dynasty silk curtain was hand embroidered to convey wishes and blessings for the receiver. The phoenix represents abundance, good luck, and longevity. The peonies coupled with the hibiscus and peach offer wishes of wealth, long life, and flourishing. The chrysanthemum a wish for joviality and a pleasant life. And the orchid and lingzhi fungus together forming a wish for a long life of success as a scholar-official. Our arrangement dances above the shape, colors, and phoenix motif of the curtain and is our own unique blessing to the viewer.
Heather Succio
Interpreting: The Element of Water
Gallery: 340
Years of participation: 3
Affiliation: Bachman’s
From the PFA:
Water is life—the mover of matter that sustains us, within and without. Through oil on canvas, Italian painter Francesco Bassano (Francesco da Ponte) gives breath to that life—capturing the ebb and flow of rural Italy’s riverside commerce at an early morning Renaissance-era fish market.
And here we are—the floral artist and woven basket, trying to hold the story.
May the water be deep, and still, enough.
Brenda Sussna
Interpreting: Green Field
Gallery: 226
Years of participation: 9
Affiliation: Ikebana International Ichiyo School
From the PFA:
Fresh springtime greens and blues merging in undulating lines inspired my interpretation of this contemporary mezzotint. Was the artist representing a spring rice field from his native Japan, or the green hills of the Bay Area in California, where he lived during the period when this print was made?
I used materials to define lines and textures that reflect the artist’s technique and palette.They include midollini (Italian rattan) apidistra leaves, anemone, mum, purple aster, dianthus, ming fern, and sea lavender. The green container is Japanese.
Please enjoy exploring the subtle qualities of the artist’s work and the fresh flowers that accompany it.
Jan Swanson
Interpreting: Clog-shaped tea bowl with wisteria motif
Gallery: 225
Years of participation: 15
From the PFA:
Simplistic
Patience
White on Black
Mary Lou Theisen
Interpreting: White Vase
Gallery: 242
Years of participation: 10
From the PFA:
As I sit here thinking of my five wonderful grandchildren, I’m happy to dedicate my Art in Bloom floral arrangement to all of the children who visit the Minneapolis Institute of Art to see and learn about all of the beautiful arts displayed in our special museum!
Gene Thill
Interpreting: The Annunciation
Gallery: 308
Years of participation: 3
From the PFA:
Perhaps it was because I grew up in a large loving family, with six brothers and a sweet baby sister who attended St. Mark’s grade school and church regularly, that got me hooked on religious art! I do flower arrangements at the Minnesota State Fair flower show for fun and mild competition. I often brought them to the church after the fair, and Jana, the school secretary, suggested that I present at Art in Bloom. It’s an honor to honor Our Mother Mary with flowers. Especially here at Mia. I hope you enjoy The Annunciation and the arrangement!
Ruth Thompson-Klabunde
Interpreting: Burst bag water container
Gallery: 224
Years of participation: 8
From the PFA:
I wanted to try something different this year. I’ve always been fascinated by hand-built pottery. The colors and form of this vessel from the 1500s was unique and posed a challenge. I decided to try and re-create the clay texture in my container, while representing the water jar colors and form in flowers.
Aubrey Thorburn, Krista Thorburn, and Paige Thorburn Matheson
Interpreting: Composition
Gallery: 376
Years of participation: 4, 4, and 4
From the PFA:
We were drawn to the playful shapes and bright colors in this piece that Arshile Gorky created during his transition from Synthetic Cubism to Abstract Expressionism. We translated the layered composition into clusters of blooms, using organic, biomorphic shapes and vibrant color to echo the painting’s playful, almost child-like forms. We hope viewers notice how the layering of shapes and color can move from painting into a living floral form.
Noni Threinen
Interpreting: Suijin Grove and Massaki on the Sumida River
Gallery: 239
Years of participation: 4
From the PFA:
I fulfilled my life-long dream to visit Japan in November 2025 and was told Mount Fuji was rarely seen…very shy. Knowing chances were slim, I scanned the horizon to find the elusive icon in the distant haze. First at sunset in Tokyo across the Sumida River, a glimpse outlined between high rise buildings. Next on mountain roads to Hakone, parts peeking behind scarlet/orange leaves on sun-drenched trees. Finally on Lake Ashi, an unobstructed view of snow-capped Fuji San framed by clear blue sky. Stunning, breath-taking…worth the trip! Now within this famous woodblock print, its presence inspires my expression in flowers.
Faith Tibbits and Zach Tibbits
Interpreting: Moon flask
Gallery: 210
Years of participation: 3 and 3
From the PFA:
I was initially drawn to how beautiful the construction, painting, and color of this piece is. In looking closer, you can see the artist’s masterful brushstrokes and where the neck of the piece was repaired, giving more life to this otherwise pristine piece. I have also truly enjoyed digging into Chinese history. I read that moon flasks were challenging to make as they often collapsed under their own weight, and I’m hoping to play with this idea a bit more literally.
Yoko Toda
Interpreting: Covered Vase
Gallery: 210
Years of participation: 12
Affiliation: Sogetsu School
From the PFA:
This Covered Vase inspired me because of its impressive beauty and intricate design. We know white jade is an extremely hard rock to carve, and only a few master craftsmen can achieve this high level. Since white jade symbolizes happiness in China, and this design seems to picture the image of heaven, I used beautiful flowers to express happiness and peace. Also, the long delicate curvy stems should express the craftsman’s extreme efforts and endurance.
Jessica Tomaselli
Interpreting: Two camels and a groom
Gallery: 207
Years of participation: 5
From the PFA:
I chose this piece because of the personality the camels display. My design is informed by the sweeping lines and movement of the camels’ bodies.
Amber Tritabaugh
Interpreting: Columna Reticularea
Gallery: 275
Years of participation: 7
Affiliation: Haiku Flower Studio
From the PFA:
structure, transparent
articulated river
shadow line echo
With no guiding color or flower cues, how could I interpret this hard and angular sculpture with delicate organics? In this delicate metal form I see a canvas for contrasts: delicate petals amid sharp angles, natural shapes accenting geometric form. I see an echo of the sculpture’s movement and strength, incorporating color and flowers amidst restraint.
Sonia Tuduri
Interpreting: Before the Bullfight
Gallery: 355
Years of participation: 4
Affiliation: Bachman’s
From the PFA:
I was struck by the size of the painting.
A beautiful Spanish corrida. The blend of people with brilliant colors stands out to represent their different roles in the corrida. I was moved by the anticipation of a life-or-death moment. It shows the human side of a dramatic cultural event.
Chris Tschida
Interpreting: Jug (plutzer) with the Adoration of the Magi
Gallery: 342
Years of participation: 3
Fallon Vannelli and Mary Orchard
Interpreting: Still Life with Fruit, Cakes and Wine
Gallery: 323
Years of participation: 3 and 3
From the PFA:
We were inspired by the quiet richness and moody tone of this painting. Its restrained palette and deep shadow create a sense of intimacy, warmth, and classical balance that, we hope, translates beautifully to floral form.
Sarah Wall-Hauri
Interpreting: Hand
Gallery: 375
Years of participation: 4
Affiliation: Eagan Hy-Vee
Aimee Weber
Interpreting: The Archangel Michael
Gallery: 330
Years of participation: 4
Affiliation: Sky Walker Floral Art and Design
From the PFA:
This painting is so glorious and inspiring for me on so many levels. It’s a blessing to honor Archangel Michael through my art. The color and light in this painting are just magnificent; the golden divine light, the iridescence of the roman uniform, the transparency of the bodice, marbling of colors, vivid and soft, the juxtaposition of light vs. dark, good vs. evil, bold vs. subtle. My interpretation is based on my personal connection with Archangel Michael and what my spirit sees within this painting. The execution of my art is divinely led, and I focused on symbolism with the armature and color matching with the florals for this piece.
Anna Wilson
Interpreting: Basin with Apollo and the Muses
Gallery: 332
Years of participation: 1
From the PFA:
My arrangement interprets Basin with Apollo and the Muses through color, form, and myth. The vessel mirrors the artist’s chosen “canvas,” grounding the design in shared structure. Lush greenery traces the vessel’s curves, while a ring of flowers symbolize the nine muses—harmonious in hue, yet individually expressive. At the heart of the composition, a radiant bloom represents Apollo, the Sun God, illuminating the circle of creativity that surrounds him.
Rebecca Wilson and Heidi Ott
Interpreting: Luxembourg Gardens at Twilight
Gallery: 351
Years of participation: 8 and 8
From the PFA:
I was drawn to this painting because it reminds me of a perfect end to the day, strolling through a peaceful and beautiful garden. The lines are soft, not sharp, and the colors muted. It evokes such a relaxed and settled feeling, the feeling is so palpable in this painting. The real talent is the way that Sargent paints the light, so beautiful.
Magic Yaeger
Interpreting: The Skaters
Gallery: 371
Years of participation: 3
From the PFA:
Inspired by Beckmann’s electric blues and theatrical shadows, cool winter tones breathe with life—sharp lines and fluid curves mirroring skaters’ effortless glide across the ice. In the spirit of Commedia dell’arte, Pierrot and friends are skating through life, raising a Calla Lily flute of laughter. Radiant blooms pulse with drama, dark stems anchor the dance, and brighter colors leap forward, yielding a floral celebration of rhythm, tension, and expressive joy.
Karen Yngve
Interpreting: Egrets in Snow
Gallery: 237
Years of participation: 35
Affiliation: Ikebana International #121
From the PFA:
My floral interpretation for ‘Egrets in Snow’ hanging scroll focuses our attention on two birds surviving a snowfall in Japan. Hunched over and huddled together on a tree branch, the flowers echo the egrets’ low, rounded posture. Arching line material reiterate the branch above the egrets. Small, delicate flowers here and there suggest gently falling snowflakes. Altogether, the floral interpretation and painting harmonize together to create an atmosphere of quiet solitude in nature on a winter’s day.
Lana Zhang and Mary Barsness
Interpreting: Woman’s robe
Gallery: 240
Years of participation: 1 and 1
From the PFA:
Imaging a woman’s red robe,
quiet as breath, bold as fire,
hanging where time pauses. Crimson remembers hands and heart,
threads carrying courage forward.
Unworn, it waits—
a vessel of strength,
glowing without asking to be touched.