Art in Bloom 2011
Thursday, April 28 through Sunday, May 1, 2011
“Sensing Spring” Balance and wellness the theme for 2011
MINNEAPOLIS, MN, MARCH 10, 2011-
Art in Bloom (AIB), the annual celebration of art and flowers presented by the Friends of the Institute, returns for its 28th year to the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) on April 28. This year the popular event focuses on the five senses and encourages wellness through the appreciation of nature. “Sensing Spring” celebrates Honorary AIB Chair Ruth Stricker Dayton, founder of The Marsh—A Center for Balance and Fitness, in Minnetonka. AIB co-chair Pauline Altermatt said, “Ruth’s philosophy of wellness and her interest in and generosity toward the MIA make her a perfect fit for this role.” Linda Boelter, co-chair, added, “It’s important to find a balance within our hectic environment so we decided to make
this our focus this year.”
Art in Bloom is a perennial favorite at the MIA. More than 160 floral interpretations, as well
as lavish displays by commercial artists are on display throughout the museum. Floral artists choose works of art in the permanent collection at the MIA and create interpretive arrangements that range from intimate to spectacular, which remain on view for the four days of the event. Viewing the exhibits and joining group tours are free of charge and regularly draw crowds of more than 20,000 visitors. Ticketed lectures, demonstrations, and luncheons, as well as sales at the Garden Shop provide the Friends with funds to support their many projects at the MIA. To date, AIB has raised $2.7 million to finance educational experiences, exhibitions and programs, art acquisitions, museum needs and free monthly lectures.
“Every year Art in Bloom brings thousands of visitors to the museum,” Friends President Katie Searl said. “With the floral arrangements interpreting artwork in the museum’s vast collection, the visitor is encouraged to examine art in new ways, bringing the museum’s vision statement of ‘inspiring wonder through the power of art’ to life.”
Speakers this year include Nancy Clarke, head floral designer at the White House for 30 years, with her address, “A History of Flowers at the White House,” Thursday, April 28, at 10:30 a.m. Landscape designer C. Colston Burrell will present “Sacred Space/Play Space: Celebrating the Mystique of the Garden,” Thursday at 1:30 p.m. Floral demonstrator Robert Hampton, AFID, will give a lecture/demonstration, “Fresh Classics: A Celebration of the Spring Senses,” Friday at 10:30 a.m. And local writer Bonnie Blodgett, author of Remembering Smell: A Memoir
of Losing—and Discovering—the Primal Sense, will present “Fragrance in the Garden,” Friday at 1:30 p.m.
In addition to these talks, AIB will offer a Gala Preview Party on Wednesday, April 27; Flowers After Hours on Thursday evening; and Family Day on Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with games for children, inspired by My Garden by Kevin Henkes.
This year’s signature image is the MIA’s stunning oil painting by the Dutch still-life painter Georgius van Os.