Art in Bloom Celebrates 30 Years

Art in Bloom Celebrates 30 Years

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 – This spring, the galleries at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) will be in flower once again as the Friends of the Institute presents its 30th annual Art in Bloom (AIB). Held Thursday, April 25, through Sunday, April 28, AIB will celebrate “timeless art and fresh flowers,” showcasing more than 150 floral displays inspired by works of art in the MIA’s collection. General admission to AIB is free and the event regularly draws crowds of more than 25,000 visitors.

The theme of this year’s AIB is “Global Nature.” Visitors can expect to experience various aspects of globalism throughout the museum, including live music from different cultures. The theme is a nod to the MIA’s new strategic plan, which, in part, emphasizes globalism.

A still from artist Jennifer Steinkamp’s video installation Hurdy Gurdy Man (Chrysanthemums) serves as the signature image for this year’s event. As a special treat, Steinkamp will give a presentation about her artistic process Thursday afternoon. She will also join Flowers After Hours, AIB’s Thursday evening social event. Steinkamp’s involvement with AIB is especially timely as the MIA will install a new work by the artist this spring.

Ticketed events during the annual fund-raiser include a Thursday morning keynote address by Chris Giftos, retired master floral designer for The Metropolitan Museum of Art, a post he held for 33 years. A live auction of Giftos’s flower arrangements will follow his address. Ardith Beveridge will present on Friday, with a lecture in the morning and a workshop in the afternoon. Beveridge is director of education at Koehler & Dramm’s Institute of Floristry in Minneapolis. Her arrangements will be auctioned after the morning lecture.

These ticketed events, demonstrations, and luncheons, as well as sales at the Garden Shop, provide the Friends of the Institute with funds to bring more than 10,000 schoolchildren to the museum each year. Proceeds from this year’s AIB will also support a new MIA initiative in the African galleries, designed to reach under-served youth
and communities.

Visit artsmia.org/art-in-bloom or call (612) 870-6323 for the complete AIB program and to reserve tickets for the events.

Generous support is provided by Art in Bloom 2013 Honorary Chair Chichi Steiner, Bachman’s, Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Gabberts Design Studio & Fine Furnishings, Martha Head, Lakewood Cemetery, and Macy’s. Additional support provided by Acendas, Creative Kidstuff, Edina Eye Physicians & Surgeons, Luther Auctions, Sally Mathieu, Velia Melrose, Nash Finch Company, Olson Law Firm, Teresa Pfister, Arturo Steely, and Maxine Wallin.
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ABOUT THE FRIENDS OF THE INSTITUTE
Founded in 1922, the Friends of the Institute is a volunteer organization of members of the Minneapolis Institute of Art dedicated to supporting, enhancing and sustaining the collections, programs and influence of the MIA. Today, the Friends of the Institute is one of the nation’s largest and most active art-museum volunteer organizations.

PRESS CONTACTS:
Tammy Pleshek, (612) 870-3171; tpleshek@artsmia.org
Anne-Marie Wagener, (612) 870-3280; awagener@artsmia.org
Emmalynn Bauer, (612) 870-6364; ebauer@artsmia.org

ABOUT THE MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ARTS
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, textiles, 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) 870-3000 or visit www.artsmia.org.