After what seems like an endless winter, the signs of spring are detected everywhere: warmer than average temperatures, Cardinals preseason baseball, and Art In Bloom, the St. Louis Art Museum’s annual exhibition. On Thursday, March 5, 2015, the St. Louis Art Museum hosted a preview party for Art In Bloom, a celebration of art and flowers. The actual show ran from March 6-8, 2015.
The preview party provided a unique opportunity to spend an informal evening with James Farmer, landscape and floral designer, best-selling author, and editor-at-large for Southern Living Magazine. Besides wining and dining, guests initially could view over 35 floral interpretations of works of art found in the Museum’s collection, created by regional florists and garden clubs.
Meredith Holbrook chaired the preview party committee. Brown Shoe Company took the lead sponsorship of the event. Other preview party patrons comprised Meredith and Jim Holbrook, Advanced Nursing Services of St. Louis, Inc., Hill Investment Group, Leslie Lux, and Becky Smith.
Friday-Sunday, visitors could not only compare the floral arrangements against the art that inspired them but also attend various special presentations. James Farmer held a session on “The Bounty of the American Garden” where he explored his passion for the garden-to-table lifestyle. He discussed the way you can incorporate your kitchen garden into the food, decor, and flavor of everyday life.
Other notable guests included Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo, authors and florists from Studio Choo, San Francisco. They focused on the styles and techniques behind floral arrangements as approachable recipes that can be re-created at home.
Whether you attended the preview party or the exhibition, Art In Bloom confirmed spring’s imminent presence.
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- Becky Smith, James Farmer, landscape designer and author, Tracy Chivetta, Alden Pflager, Meredith Holbrook, Leslie Lux
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- Carol Ann Jones, friends board president, James Farmer, author, designer, editor, Meredith Holbrook, event chair
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- Leena and Ravindra Shitut
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- Sponsors are recognized.
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- Kim and Gene Diedrich, Anne and Bill Corrigan
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- Tony and Ann Eisel, Susan Levin
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- Lauren Brown, Martha Baur
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- Susan Marie and Michael Z. Reed, Mary and Bob Officer
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- Carrie Polk, Brent Benjamin, director
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- Jodie Finney, Sarah Hager, Lauren Brown, Martha Baur, Betsey Brown
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- John and Dottie Fischer
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- Jeana and Buddy Reisinger, Alden Pflager
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- Margie and Don Franz
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- Bridget Weible, floral designer, judges choice best creative design
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- Chuck and Carol Ann Jones
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- Jeff and Melissa Snodgrass
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- Liz and Bob Baisch, Susan Block, Ulrike Schlafly
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- Celeste and Robert Roberson
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- Pamela Markle, Valerie Stewart, Samantha Stewart
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- Doug Ackerman, Katie Trout
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- Jill Rizzo, Katie Chirgotis from Studio Choo, San Francisco; Sarah Hunkins, Retta Leritz
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- Ann Carroll Wells, David Diener
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- Karen Bryan, Molly Danforth
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- Barbara Barenholtz, Milton Hieken
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- Don and Susannah Danforth
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- Tony and Ann Eisel, Allen and Kim Klippel
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- Rachel Oliver, Molly Danforth, Kristen and Rick Holton
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- Dottie and Kent Kreh
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- James Farmer, Hal Wellford, Graham Bundy
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- Tim and Margaret Hanser, Don and Susannah Danforth, Hal and Amanda Wellford
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- Jane Winter with “Wildflowers”
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- Terry and Alden Pflager, Jerry and Peggy Ritter
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- Doug Wolter with his floral creation, based on Max Beckmann’s “Fisherwoman”
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- Isabelle Montupet, Tracy Chivetta, Kathleen Rogers, Jane Winter
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- Decadent Dessert Display
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- Table right out of Southern Living Magazine
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- Beautifully appointed table
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- The Aching Hearts
