Second Annual Art in Bloom at the BMCA
June 26-29, 2008

Nothing could be more glorious to the eye than exquisite flowers by Mother Nature combined with fine paintings and sculpture. From June 26-29, the Black Mountain Center for the Arts hosted just such an event, its 2nd annual Art in Bloom.  A flower plus art show, Art in Bloom invited floral designers to use the freshest of nature’s bounty to interpret works of art for the public to view. The entire weekend event, a fundraiser for the non-profit Black Mountain Center for the Arts, was part of the Center’s mission of “bringing arts to the people and people to the arts.”  (Check back for the dates for Art in Bloom 2009 in June.)

Enthusiastically supporting Art in Bloom was Honorary Chair Becky Anderson, an ambassador for our time for the arts, and recently retired Executive Director of Handmade in America.

Area floral designers committed to this show included both Ikebana and traditional floral artists.  The initial show in Black Mountain began when the WNC Ikebana International chapter approached the Center for the Arts about collaborating on Art in Bloom.  Ikebana, the art of Japanese floral arranging, has a strong following in the US, and in the Southeast in particular.  However, the show was not only about Ikebana.  About half the floral designers were Ikebana trained, and the others were traditional designers.  They included Ikebana designers Bob Bannister, Norma Bradley, Susan Cano, Greet Constant, Suzanne Dillingham, Martha Dykman, Patti Quinn Hill, Sally Robinson, Maggie Storey, and Ichiyo Master Teacher Terri Ellis Todd.   Traditional floral designers included Betsey Baker of Biltmore House, Mary Noble Braden & Elaine Young of Bella Blooms, June Bergeron & Emili Fonteneau of Black Mountain Inn, Elizabeth “Libby” Endry of The Gardener’s Cottage, Adrienne Kort of Blossoms at Biltmore, Ralph Coffey of Whitegate Inn, Karen Paradis of Brown’s Floral Design & Interiors, Nancy Shoch of Ivy Cottage, Kay Clegg & Micki Cowan of Periwinkle’s Boutique, former San Francisco florist and NC Master Gardener Sally Wheeler, and floral enthusiasts Royal Phillips, Wilhelmina Headley and Barbara Prather.

The show the floral artists interpreted was a Collector’s Show, pieces by extraordinary artists culled from local collections and collectors, and on-loan to the Center for the Arts for the month of June.  The show, curated by the Center’s Executive Director, Gale Jackson, included both regional and international artists, including Vasilik, Tynes, Hull, Kozikowsky, Lipscomb, Calder, Lappas, Thompson, Walkey, Burr, Kaoru, Watanabe, Sedberry, Vance and more.  This was a perfect opportunity to showcase pieces not generally viewed by the public, as they are in private collections. Art in Bloom began with a ticketed Gala Preview Party, which introduced the floral designers and gave the first view of the floral interpretations at their freshest.  From Friday, through Sunday the public visited the Center to see the “Art Reflecting Art” for a minimal fee.

Several events were held throughout the weekend.  In addition to the Preview Party and the regular show, there was a Garden Tour of Black Mountain gardens on Friday and Saturday.  Garden owners and hosts enlightened visitors, and plein aire painters enchanted them.  Also on Friday, there was an afternoon tea and fashion show, featuring wearable art fashions from Asheville’s premiere boutique, Bellagio (www.bellagioarttowear.com), and concert by the Magills that evening.

Saturday evening’s grand finale was a design symposium by America’s foremost floral designer, Ron Morgan of San Francisco (www.ronmorgandesigns.com).  Back by popular demand, Mr. Morgan wowed the audience with his breath-taking tablescapes composed of both fruits and vegetables, along with greenery and flowers.

Photos by Nancy Mason.