Paintings in bloom: New Hampshire gallery "borrows" from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts an idea for a show that blends the worlds of floral paintings with floral arrangements

Art Business News, March, 2005 by Debbie Hagan

Two designers from Goffstown Garden Club, Diane and Joseph Buckner, created an entire vignette inspired by Judy McLean's painting, "Goffstown, Can You Guess?" The designers brought in a braided rug on which they set a farm table and galoshes. Over that they draped a scarf and placed a vase with flowers.

Most of the designers, however, created arrangements in vases or exotic containers. Many interpreted the paintings through colors and shape. For instance, designer Leann Moccia picked up on the purples and pinks in Dale Begley's pastel painting, "Sunset Dune Walk," by using agapanthus and spray roses. To create the beach effect, she used a vase shaped like a wave filled with shells.

Another designer, Michelle Mensinger, created a similar floral still life to the one in lane Romps' "Bowl with Bright Shapes II." Mensinger's arrangement consisted of vivid primary colors using hydrangea, a spider mum, carnations and lemon leaves. The display won the People's Choice award--voted on by the attendees.

"We were amazed at the attention to detail and the devotion involved with the fiord arrangements;' says Shea. "We were able to see first-hand what an art form it is--all the same elements of design are vital in both types of art."

Jorda, of the NHFGC, cut the ribbon, which opened the show. The gallery served appetizers. For the food table, artist Randy Knowles designed an arrangement symbolic of the fine and floral arts melding together. He wove flowers in a three-sided display that included an artist box, paint brushes, and bits of moulding.

For the opening night, East Colony had 350 guests--a record for the gallery--and Friday and Saturday brought in another 150. Some guests were friends of the gallery or were drawn in by Trolley Night. But the majority of visitors, according to Shea, came through the garden clubs.

"Petals 2 Paint" continued with a "paint in" on Friday. Artists painted still lifes of the flower arrangements, while customers and floral designers watched.

On Saturday, Gayle Vanesse of Deja vu boutique, spoke about art, while Richard Meis, a designer with a floral shop, Royal Bouquet, gave flower arranging tips, and Rebecca Riggle, an East Colony artist, demonstrated painting.

During the three-day event, the gallery sold six pieces, including Yildiz Grodowski's "Petal Vase." Grodowski is a sculptural potter, who created a hand-formed pottery vase. It held Nancy Shephard's floral arrangement of Harry Lauder's walking stick and an Oriental lily. Since the arrangement was part of the art, the customer took both the art and the flowers. All other arrangements stayed with the gallery until the designers retrieved them. Shea was slightly amused watching the buyers of Grodowski's piece speed away. The passenger held the vase in her lap, while flowers flapped in the breeze.

Long-Term Results

Though the artists at East Colony hoped for greater sales, they did see follow-up buys and return visits. "People have come back," says Shea. "I always ask customers if they've been here before." That's when they tell her about visiting during the flower show.