Flowers bloom at the Wadsworth this weekend as annual 'Fine Arts and Flowers' event begins today

Apr. 28—HARTFORD — The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is holding its annual celebration of spring with its 40th annual Fine Arts and Flowers, starting today and running through Sunday at the museum on Main Street.

The event features 51 local floral designers and design teams who created flower arrangements, inspired by 59 works of art from throughout the museum.

As part of the museum's annual fundraising events, there will be a $5 surcharge to regular admission prices to the museum.

Alexis Jacqueline Martinez, who works in development of events and special programs at the museum, said Fine Arts and Flowers is "an enduring tradition that we hope to continue to grow into our community."

Melissa Erdman, a member of Friends of the Wadsworth and co-chair for Fine Arts and Flowers, said, "We're always trying to evolve the event to offer additional programming and get people in to see it."

Martinez said that this year the museum is building out a variety of programming for the event.

"On Friday we'll have a lecture and demonstration with Ruth Loiseau," she said. "She's been a floral designer through six White House administrations. She'll be doing a live demonstration and lecture. She'll also be raffling seven arrangements that she's creating."

Loiseau's presentation is scheduled for 1 p.m. today.

On Saturday at 1 p.m. there will be a competition where three designers will be presented with an artwork that has been in the Wadsworth's vaults and not seen publicly since 2004.

"The designers will have 30 minutes to create an arrangement inspired by the artwork," Martinez said. "All the designers will have access to the same materials."

A judging of the three pieces will happen immediately afterward, she said, after which guests can visit with some of the other arrangment designers throughout the museum.

On Sunday, Semilla Café of 1283 Main St. will be hosting a Tea Moment in Avery Court at the museum from 2 to 3 p.m.,

Martinez said, "They're coming in and bringing some of their tea to sample."

There will also be live music throughout the weekend.

Acts will include pianist Mary Di Paola today at 3 p.m., CT Virtuosi Players quartet on Saturday at 2 p.m., and the Argyle Sax quartet on Sunday at 3 p.m.

A boutique will be set up in the museum as well, Erdman said, with vendors selling ceramics, hats, glass, jewelry, handmade cards, bow ties, and other items.

There are some changes in Fine Arts & Flowers, including Lego arrangements, she said.

"We're using the Lego arrangements more as staging versus interpretations of art," she said. "Our Lego enthusiast group is doing seven Lego arrangements that will be stationed around the museum."

"There have been protocols that have been followed for a long time," Martinez said. "This year, we're trying something different. It allows us to open up our doors to other kinds of floral design ... that isn't just a traditional floral design."

Jennifer Angle of Tolland, owner of Wood & Word Blooms in Coventry, will present one of the new interpretations.

"For the arrangement, I was given Justine Kurland's series of photos, 'Girl Pictures,'" Angle said.

"For many years, she went around different parts of the United States and found girls and depicted them as fictional runaways. When you look at them, some of the things that caught my eye were the ways she depicted the girls. Girls with inner strength. Heroes of their own little stories. I think about all of the past they've left behind. They are not afraid to jump in the fire and dangerous situations in these photos. They're all taken out in nature. I'm coming from that element of them not being demure and not being afraid of danger. I'm working from that angle," she said.

Unlike arrangements that have been traditionally been used at Fine Arts & Flowers, Angle is using elements that are dried up, such as sola wood flowers.

"They're created from a plant in bits and pieces," she said. "It's like making a paper flower but with wood. I'm using the wood flowers and dried elements.

"It's exciting," she said. "I feel honored they bent their rules to allow someone who does an alternative to fresh florals to participate. It's kind of trailblazing."

Annette Peck of Manchester, lead floral designer at Persimmons Petals, part of the YWCA in Hartford, is making her second appearance at Fine Arts & Flowers and is doing one arrangement inspired by two works, one on Josef Albers' "Homage to the Square" and one on Jon McLaughlan's "Number 17."

"When I looked at them, the geometric shapes and the colors set off my creative ideas right away," said Peck, who was last year's runner up for the People's Choice Award for Best Arrangement.

"I knew I was going to keep my arrangements straight forward and contemporary in design. Layering the colors. I can make my interpretation blending both pieces. Gives me a bit more freedom. They're abstract with rectangular and square shapes.

"I really enjoy being a part of it," Peck said. 'It's a great event, knowing it's a fundraiser for the Wadsworth. It's so exciting to see the arrangements from other floral designers, seeing how everyone else uses their imaginations and skills. That's the best part."

Christine Gooding of South Windsor, an amateur designer with her daughter, are doing an arrangement inspired by six paintings by Thomas Cole.

"It's a large, antique six-panel door," Gooding said. "Probably middle-1800s. The top four panels have been replaced by paintings."

Gooding said the beauty and juxtaposition of the paintings with the door inspired her.

"We have a wooden vessel with four upright linear black metal decorations. In that we have a very flowing muted color arrangement and it's been really fun to do."

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