Art in Bloom Returns to the
Grand Rapids Art Museum

Weekend celebrating the combined beauty of art and floral design

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GRAND RAPIDS, MI, March 3, 2017
The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) is pleased to announce the return of its bi-annual spring celebration of art and floral design, Art in Bloom. From Friday, March 24 – Sunday, March 26, 2017 the weekend-long event presents the work of talented floral designers from across West Michigan.

Art in Bloom celebrates the arrival of spring at GRAM by inviting local floral designers to create elegant and thought provoking arrangements inspired by works from the Museum's permanent collection. The floral designs will be presented alongside their corresponding artwork in the Museum's Level 3 galleries.

“We’re thrilled for the return of Art in Bloom,” commented GRAM Manager of Corporate Partnerships and Fundraising Events, Marnie McGuire. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for floral professionals to showcase their design skills and creativity center stage at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, and offers a new lens for our visitors to experience GRAM’s permanent collection through. It’s definitely a can’t-miss weekend!”
 
A panel comprised of floral and art experts and members of the Grand Rapids creative community will select the Juried Winner, which will be announced at Art in Bloom’s opening reception on Friday, March 24. Visitors can cast a vote for their favorite floral composition for the selection of the People’s Choice Award, to be announced on Sunday, March 26.
 
The pieces on view in Art in Bloom from GRAM’s collection range from Frank Gehry’s Power Play Armchair to Alexis Rockman’s Tropical Migrants. The floral designers’ sculptures are intended to emphasize, challenge, and build upon elements and concepts within a selected work of art, creating a dialogue between the two pieces.

The 2017 Art in Bloom line-up features 17 floral designers from the Midwest region and their interpretation of 17 works from the Museum's collection:

• Brenda Brown, freelance florist

          Virgin of Mercy, by Bartolomè Bermejo Martin Bernat

• Alyssa Ferguson, Fleurology Designs

          Lady in Opera Cloak (Portrait of Miss C.), by William Merritt Chase

• Shelby Ferguson, The Day's Design

          Configuration, by Stuart Davis

• Beth Gumina, Gumina's Flowers

          First Chair, by Michele De Lucchi

• Kate Holton, Kennedy's Flowers & Gifts

          View in the Valley of Oberhasle, Switzerland, by Asher B. Durand

• Geniene Hourigan-Culp, freelance florist

          Forest, by Werner Drewes

• Hayley Hungerford, Hyssop Press

          Power Play Armchair, by Frank Gehry

• Mari Ignatoski, Ginko Studios Floral Design

          Balcony Railing, by Hector Guimard

• James Jaarda, Design Collective Floral and Gifts

          Summer Sea, by Childe Hassam

• Rachel Koert, freelance florist

          Mantel Clock, by Meissen Manufactory

• Angela Mabin, Flowers and Fascinations

          Transcendent Presence, by Richard Pousette-Dart

• Brennan Marie, Overgrowth Floral

          Tropical Migrants, by Alexis Rockman

• Skeeter Parkhouse, Wasserman's Flowers and Gifts

          Rocking Chaise, by Gebrüder Thonet

• Marisa Rakowski, Ludema’s Floral and Garden

          Survival Does Not Lie in the Heavens, by Dario Robleto

• Jennifer Stehouwer, Ball Park Floral & Gifts

          Face of a Woman, by Emil Nolde

• Gary Wells AIFD, CFD, freelance florist

          Eight-Fold Screen, by Eugene Masselink

• Bradley Youngstrom, freelance florist

          Untitled (Large Dango), by Jun Kaneko
 
The three-day exhibition and competition includes a full floral-focused schedule of events throughout the Museum. On Saturday, March 25 from 11 am – 12 pm., Ron Platt, Chief Curator, and Alice Waterous AIFD, CF, CFD, PFCI, a floral design consultant from Grand Haven, are leading guests on the Art in Bloom Tour—an exploration of the works by Art in Bloom’s talented floral designers. The final performance of GRAM’s winter Sunday Classical Concert Series, on March 26, from 2 – 3 pm, takes on a floral twist with Music in Bloom; GRAM Studio is featuring a floral-inspired workshop, Creativity Uncorked: Floral Painting, where guests can learn how to mix colors and create colorful floral compositions. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit artmuseumgr.org/bloom.

Schedule of Events:
 
Friday, March 24, 2017
6 – 9 pm: Art in Bloom floral design on view and People’s Choice Award voting opens
6 pm: Opening Reception
7 pm: Juried Winner announcement
7:30 pm: Creativity Uncorked: Floral Painting

Saturday, March 25, 2017
10 am – 5 pm: Galleries open and People’s Choice Award voting continues
11 am – 12 pm: Art in Bloom Tour with Ron Platt and Alice Waterous AIFD, CF, CFD, PFCI
12 – 1 pm: Little Member Morning
1 pm: Drop-in Studio

Sunday, March 26, 2017
12 pm – 5 pm: Galleries open and People’s Choice Award voting continues
1:30 pm: People's Choice Award voting closes
2 pm People’s Choice Award announced before Sunday Classical Concert Series
2 pm Sunday Classical Concert Series: Music in Bloom

Support for Art in Bloom is generously provided by Karl and Patricia Betz, Gregory and Rajene Betz, David and Kimberly Moorhead, Dirk C. Hoffius, Pat and Chuck Bloom, Joseph H. Doele, West Michigan Master Gardener Association, and Holland Litho Printing. 

About the Grand Rapids Art Museum
Connecting people through art, creativity, and design. Established in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, the Art Museum is internationally known for its distinguished design and LEED® Gold certified status. Established in 1910 as the Grand Rapids Art Association, GRAM has grown to include more than 5,000 works of art, including American and European 19th and 20th century painting and sculpture and more than 3,000 works on paper. Embracing the city’s legacy as a leading center of design and manufacturing, GRAM has a growing collection in the area of design and modern craft.

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