Floral Masterpieces

"I never for a day gave up listening to the songs of our birds, or watching their peculiar habits, or delineating them in the best way I could. "

John James Audubon April 26, 1785 –January 27, 1851 was a French-American ornithologist, naturalist and hunter. He was well known for his expansive studies to document all types of American birds and for his detailed illustrations that depicted the birds in their natural habitats. His major work, entitled The Birds of America is considered one of the finest ornithological works ever completed. Audubon identified 25 new species. When the book was published it was 2 feet wide and 3 feet tall with 435 life size colored plates of North American birds.  

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This floral piece set on its side was outside the entrance to the Institute

Art in Bloom, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts' Annual  floral festival and fundraiser, features 157 floral arrangements inspired by the works in the MIA's collection. It runs from April 25-28 in Minneapolis, MN. This year's them is "Global Nature". But don't fret if you can not get there in time as I have a virtual tour of the event.

This festival is such a visual treat with all the creativity and imagination that goes into the design of each floral piece. The designers inspired by a particular work of art set about to match it with line design and color. 

This arrangement replicates the official Art in Bloom poster hung on the wall.

Claude Monet

Sculptured piece Women in Veil

When I got to this gallery in the contemporary section I thought it was under construction with large blue draping cloths spread out only to find out this is serious work of sculpture called "Posture is Everything."

The artist molded silicone as her medium and landscape was her inspiration. The silicone is draped over wooden stands  to create a ghostly outline of a forest from which trees have been felled to provide material for these processed woods. And instead of leaves, a blue skin is  draped as if the sky had molted and landed here. The effect was a bit disorienting but did make you pause to think and for me I thought truly the sky had fallen!

  

This was one of my favorites with the graceful lines of the floral piece to mimic the lines of the metal piece behind it.

Bella specially requested this photo of molded plastic dog made by a Japanese artist.

This is the floral piece that goes with the dog photo. The artist was inspired by the fact it was made by a Japanese artist so this piece was titled Dog Likes Sushi. Look carefully in the picture. The dog bowl with floral pieces in it are made to resemble sushi foods. Quite creative!

This arrangement was just plain fun and whimsical. The artist's creation was inspired by the Cardinal in the painting.

I should mention that this year a lot more of the artists were quite imaginative with their vessels or containers used to hold the floral arrangements. One artist used her grandmother's milk pail from Norway and some made their own containers. Truly talent abounded at this festival.

This could be your next DIY craft. Just take books stack them in a pile, cut a deep hole through them and insert a vase.