Art in Bloom 2016

Art in Bloom...a feast for the senses, a delight for those who love art and flowers!  This special exhibit is at the North Carolina Museum of Art through Sunday.  I went with two of my Anything Art buddies yesterday.

Many of the floral arrangements were inspired by paintings or other works of art in the museum's permanent collection.  They could have similar colors, shapes, textures...or just represent the concept of the artwork.

This huge arrangement of orchids was near the entrance to the museum.

Here is an example of an arrangement inspired by a painting.  We thought it was amusing and clever. Even the pottery represented the painting well.  It earned my friend Ruth-Ellen's Viewer's Choice award.

Portrait of Emy, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff

Arrangement by Bonnie Mirmak, Pinehurst, NC

Proving that you can make something pretty out of almost anything, check out the arrangement made in a rubber tire, inspired by Raqqa II by Frank Philip Stella.

That's my friend Toni behind the arrangement!

Floral arrangement by Doug Odom, Purple Poppy Florist, Wake Forest, NC

Here is Toni's Viewer's Choice.  She is an archaeologist, and loved the arrangement whose structure and shapes were inspired by these African sculptures, specifically the one of the right called Veranda Post with Divination Priest and Drummer  by Lamidi Olonade Fakeye.

Floral arrangement by Debra Graham, Bloomers Floral Design, Burlington, NC.

 In fact, there were many arrangements inspired by sculptures rather than paintings.  I think it must have been a good starting point for the florist to structure their creations.  I loved this one inspired by Adoring Angel (German.)

Floral arrangement by Anahit Hakobyan, Viva La Flora, Laurel, Maryland.

It was fun to walk into the gallery space and try to guess which artwork inspired the arrangement.  I was sure that this one went with the painting behind it in the photo.

Floral arrangement by Kathryn Herdrich, The Watered Garden Florist, Raleigh, NC

Wrong!  It was inspired by this painting of Harriet Tubman helping some slaves to escape.  Hmmm.

Forward, by Jacob Lawrence

My Viewer's Choice vote went to this charming recreation of a country home with architectural elements and framed family photos.  It was not inspired by a specific work of art, but was a large standing exhibit.

Cydney  Davis-English, The English Garden, Raleigh, NC

There were so many wonderful shapes, textures, colors and fragrances to experience, both indoors and out.

We were at the museum for six and a half hours, including lunch and snack breaks.  It was a wonderful day with good friends.

Catching Up

We spent Easter week and a little bit longer at our mountain cabin.  It was very restful, and I think it helped Charlie a lot to be off work for awhile and be in his "happy place."  We enjoyed walks and rides over the mountains, and also seeing all the nieces and nephews who came up for the opening day of trout season.

Most of the trout that were caught in the creek were transported to our fishing pond, so the kids can catch them again and again.

Here is my sister's granddaughter Holly enjoying the tire swing.

The trees up there still did not have any leaves.  They are a few weeks behind Raleigh.

But back home, it is dogwood and azalea time!  We have huge mounds of azaleas surrounding our Raleigh home.

Yesterday I went on an excursion with friends Marcia and Laurie.  We went to Pittsboro, North Carolina, to visit the French Connections shop.  Marcia wanted to select some fabric for her quilt featuring fabrics from Provence.

It is a most eclectic and charming shop in downtown Pittsboro!  In addition to fabrics from France, they carry fabrics and many other items from West Africa and lots of metal sculpture from Mexico.

If you look closely, you can see Yours Truly standing next to the giant metal rooster!

She ended up purchasing a yellow fabric with lavender sprigs for the backing, and a navy and yellow print for the binding.

After we finally finished buying fabric, we walked to the Pittsboro Roadhouse  for delicious chili and sandwiches.  Then we browsed our way back through some great little galleries and shops.

I found this chenille baby throw, which I intend to make into a quilt. It was less than twenty dollars at Reclamation Home Furnishings and Company.

Today I have been doing a little painting in my art journal and Bible.  I'll post that work another time. Tomorrow I am off to the North Carolina Museum of Art with my art quilt bee.  It's time again for Art in Bloom, a pairing of art work and floral masterpieces.  We really enjoyed it last year, and can't wait to see the new creations!

Here are some pictures from last year's event.

The exhibit is only Thursday through Sunday, so better reserve your tickets and make your plans if you want to go!

Art in Bloom

Flowers, artwork, friends, food, and family made for a perfect day yesterday!

It began with an excursion (about two miles down the road from me) to the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh.  Four of us from the Anything Art bee met for the special exhibition of Art in Bloom, which will run through this Sunday.

Florists from across the state created spectacular arrangements inspired by paintings or sculpture in the permanent collection.   I tried to take photos of the flowers with the inspiration piece.

This Monet is one of my favorite pieces in the permanent collection.

Another of my favorites is The Garden Parasol, by Frederick Carl Frieseke.

Here is Aphrodite and the arrangement she inspired.

 This arrangement cleverly includes elements of the waves and the tall ships.

One of my favorite pieces was this very colorful, tall arrangement that coordinated with every painting in its gallery.  But it was inspired by the ebony chest behind it.

Outdoors there was an installation as well.

Some of the galleries just had large arrangements not inspired by just one piece of art.

Based on the opening morning, I would say that this exhibition was a smashing success.  I hope they will repeat it in the future!

The four of us went to one of my favorite nearby restaurants, Bella Monica's,  for lunch.  That takes care of the flowers, artwork, friends, and some of the food of the day.

But...it was also my husband's birthday!  More food and fun, this time with family.  We went out to eat with our son Dave, his wife Emily, and our sweet munchkin Charlie.

They gave "us" His and Hers fishing poles and some great chairs so we can try fishing in the pond behind our Raleigh home.  We had a couple of very warm days this week, and I could see the fish swimming about from the back deck of our house.  

The fun will continue this weekend with more family and friends as we make what is now an annual tradition of a trip to Asheville to experience as many beer breweries as we can!  There are over forty in Asheville and surrounding areas.  Good times!