MEDIA CONTACTS
TAMMY PLESHEK, MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ARTS, (612) 870-3171; TPLESHEK@ARTSMIA.ORG
LYNETTE NYMAN, MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ARTS, (612) 870-3173; LNYMAN@ARTSMIA.ORG
ANNE-MARIE WAGENER, MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ARTS, (612) 870-3280; AWAGENER@ARTSMIA.ORG
Print-quality Images Available Online: http://www.artsmia.org/press
ART IN BLOOM 2008:
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF TIMELESS ART. FRESH FLOWERS
APRIL 30—MAY 4, 2008
Minneapolis, January 3, 2008—The Minneapolis Institute of Art celebrates its twenty-fifth year of “Art in Bloom” in unprecedented style. To mark this milestone, each of the seven curatorial departments at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) will display artworks that include aspects of floral design. Organized by the Friends of the Institute, this highly anticipated event showcases the talents of more than 170 floral artists, whose spectacular floral arrangements interpret works of art in the museum’s collection. In addition, professional florists provide lavish displays outside the galleries. General admission is free.
The Friends Children’s Fund will be the beneficiary of this year’s event. This recently established fund provides enriching opportunities for young people to experience and be inspired by the world of art. Priority is given to projects that develop critical thinking skills, bring children to the museum, reach underserved children and communities, and broaden museum programming for children. Over the past twenty-five years, Art in Bloom has raised more than 2.3 million dollars, enabling the Friends to support museum education programs and special projects, purchase art works, fund docent programs, and sponsor special exhibitions. Most recently, Friends funds were used to purchase an important pastel by Elisabeth Louise Vigée-LeBrun and to co-sponsor the Georgia O’Keefe Exhibit.
Art in Bloom kicks off this year’s special four-day festival with a Gala Preview Party on Wednesday, April 30. From Thursday, May 1, through Sunday, May 4, more than 170 exquisite floral arrangements created by individual and garden-club floral artists will fill the museum with color. These arrangements will be shown alongside the masterworks that inspired them. Lectures, demonstrations, luncheons, events, and the Garden & Gift Shop are also offered throughout the weekend.
Thursday’s highlights include a lecture by Derek Fell, “The Magic of Monet’s Garden,” at 10 a.m., Carol Fell’s demonstration “Floral Design Inspired by the French Impressionists” at 2 p.m. On Friday, Nico De Swert presents his demonstration “Birth of Spring.” The museum will extend its hours and remain open until 9 p.m. on Friday evening. Saturday includes Ron Morgan’s lecture, “In the Company of Flowers,” and a French-themed family event will take place in the afternoon. Lectures and demonstrations are ticketed events. Reservations recommended.
About the Minneapolis Institute of Art
The Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA), home to one of the finest encyclopedic art collections in the country, houses more than 80,000 works of art representing 5,000 years of world history. Highlights of the permanent collection include European masterworks by Rembrandt, Poussin, and van Gogh; modern and contemporary painting and sculpture by Picasso, Matisse, Mondrian, Stella, and Close; as well as internationally significant collections of prints and drawings, decorative arts, Modernist design, photographs, and Asian, African, and Native American art. General admission is always free. Some special exhibitions have a nominal admission fee. Museum hours: Sunday, 11 A.M.-5 P.M.; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, 10 A.M.-5 P.M.; Thursday, 10 A.M.-9 P.M.; Monday closed. For more information, call (612) 870-3131 or visit www.artsmia.org.
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