At the de Young Bouquets to Art show — Kren P. Rasmussen of Bloomster’s playful comment on Richard Diebenkorn’s, “Berkeley No. 3, 1953.” I like the way this arrangements lets you see the painting through it, while elaborating on the painting. Photo by BF Newhall
By Barbara Falconer Newhall
Art. Bouquets. More art. More bouquets. And crowds and crowds of people. My idea of a good time. I spent the day yesterday at the annual Bouquets to Art show at the de Young Fine Arts Museum in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park — joined by two friends who enjoy flowers and art as much as I do.
Kaori Imaizumi of Blooming Floral Design, Inc., captured the mystery of Robert Henri’s “Lady in Black with Spanish Scarf.” I love this painting; I want to be her. Photo by BF Newhall
The show runs through Sunday, March 23. Don’t miss this chance to see how San Francisco Bay Area floral designers interpret pieces in the museum’s collection. The designs run from opulent, to funny, to sublime to knock-out gorgeous.
For those who can’t make the show, here are some highlights. My favorites are the designs that are meant to be looked at along with the piece they’re paired with, so that together they create yet another work of art.
Fantasy Florals’ flashy, lipsticky comment on Andy Warhol’s “Marilyn Monroe I Love Your Kiss Forever Forever.” Photo by BF NewhallFrom Waterlily Pond Floral Design Studio, a huge, swirling aerial design of twigs and blossoms hangs from the ceiling of Wilsey Court. Photo by BF NewhallA tulip from floral designer Judy Cochran Ward’s pastoral response to George Hitchcock’s 1889 painting “Tulip Culture.” Photo by BF NewhallA detail of a floral design by Takako Ikebana Studio: a simple calla made elegant by the addition of a spig of texture. Photo by BF NewhallRhonda Stoffel created a stark bouquet of white anthuriums and black leaves in response to Alexander Pope’s dead swan. Photo by BF NewhallCatherine Matsuyo Tompkison of San Jose touches up her design for Sean Scully’s “Wall of Light Horizon, 2005.” This was one of my favorites at the show: the red sticks seem to float, repeating the subtle horizontal red lines of the painting. Photo by BF Newhall
A golden sphere of blossoms from Church Street Flowers. Delicious color upon color upon color. Photo by BF NewhallConstance Oakson of the Empire of Flora, Los Altos, created a melange of textures for James Budd Dixon’s equally textured “Untitled, 1947-1948.” Photo by BF NewhallThe de Young glass and ceramics gallery includes Dale Chihuly”s blue and orange “Ultramarine Stemmed Form with Orange,” top right, with bouquet by Bonnie Hart. Photo by BF NewhallIm Chan Cindy Ho’s austere floral design of leaves, callas and hydrangeas frames Robert Motherwell’s painting, “At Five in the Afternoon, 1950.” Like Catherine Matsuyo Tompkison and Kren Rasmussen’s designs above, this arrangement works with the painting to create a new and pleasing whole. Photo by BF NewhallCymbidium from Bloomster’s floral design, above. Photo by BF Newhall
Thanks for this, Barb. It has two immediate associations for me: the wish to know what is current at the DeYoung, which I never visited but regularly heard about and often studied objects in their African collection; and, thanks to you, am reminded that my father ‘always’ went to the ‘Flower Show,’ unaccompanied by me. I always admired the presence of flowers but was never much at putting them there. It must take a certain sensibility that for me does not extend much beyond the appreciation. I will have to think about that.
Jache, If there were no people like you who like to look at flower arrangements, most of the fun would be lost to people like me who love to go out into the yard — or the woods or the weedy empty lot — pick a few flowers and seed pods, bring them home, and try to make some sense of them.
Marsha — I have to admit that I’m one of those people who takes tons and tons of pictures — 587 in this case — in the hopes that I’ll luck out and have a few really good ones in the mix. And some credit has to go to my trusty Canon point and shoot, which can see in the dark. I’ll bet you caught some good ones, too. And thanks for the loan of the chip, btw. But
We were there at the same time and I missed you – lots of folks oohing and aahing though. I was there with my daughter, Jaime Brunetti, a local floral designer “on leave” with 2 babies. You took wonderful pictures! Hope to see you soon, your Tri Delt “sister” Anne
Anne, There were a *lot* of people at that show. I mostly had eyes for those beautiful flowers — you could have been standing right next to me and I’d have missed you!
Please feel free to share links to my posts with one and all and to quote briefly from them in your own writing, remembering, of course, to attribute the quote to me and to provide a link back to this site.
Please feel free to share links to my posts with one and all and to quote briefly from them in your own writing, remembering, of course, to attribute the quote to me and to provide a link back to this site.
0 Responses
Great job with the pictures, Barbara. Beautiful!
Thanks, Jean. What a great day — all that art, all those flowers, all that fun conversation.
Thanks for this, Barb. It has two immediate associations for me: the wish to know what is current at the DeYoung, which I never visited but regularly heard about and often studied objects in their African collection; and, thanks to you, am reminded that my father ‘always’ went to the ‘Flower Show,’ unaccompanied by me. I always admired the presence of flowers but was never much at putting them there. It must take a certain sensibility that for me does not extend much beyond the appreciation. I will have to think about that.
Jache, If there were no people like you who like to look at flower arrangements, most of the fun would be lost to people like me who love to go out into the yard — or the woods or the weedy empty lot — pick a few flowers and seed pods, bring them home, and try to make some sense of them.
These are wonderful, Barbara. I’m so glad I had that memory card because your photos came out much better than mine. Lovely!
Marsha — I have to admit that I’m one of those people who takes tons and tons of pictures — 587 in this case — in the hopes that I’ll luck out and have a few really good ones in the mix. And some credit has to go to my trusty Canon point and shoot, which can see in the dark. I’ll bet you caught some good ones, too. And thanks for the loan of the chip, btw. But
We were there at the same time and I missed you – lots of folks oohing and aahing though. I was there with my daughter, Jaime Brunetti, a local floral designer “on leave” with 2 babies. You took wonderful pictures! Hope to see you soon, your Tri Delt “sister” Anne
Anne, There were a *lot* of people at that show. I mostly had eyes for those beautiful flowers — you could have been standing right next to me and I’d have missed you!