For the last part of the Bouquets to Art 2010 tour, we will explore the lobby areas of the De Young Museum where San Francisco Bay Area floral artist created floral arrangements for the annual fundraiser.
I was delighted to find the lobby display by Howard Arendtson of H. Julien Designs in Berkeley. I saw these giant fiddlehead ferns all wrapped up in newsprint on a special-order shelf at the San Francisco Flower Mart a few days before this event. I guessed that they were intended for "Bouquets", as everyone at the mart calls it, and couldn't wait to see how they were going to be pressed into service.
The fiddlehead ferns looked like they were ready to uncoil and grow into tree ferns like the ones in the atrium situated along the gently sloping staircase directly behind this arrangement.
The repetition of slate and triangular green grass was clever and I'm guessing that the "T" refers to the torqued tower of the museum building.
Diane de Pauli of Woodlands Floral in Kentfield created an explosion of green anthuriums, red gingers, kangaroo paws, and golden pincushion proteas spewing out of a grouping of glass cylinders.
Around the corner, in the foyer by the elevator to the observation tower, is one of my favorite collections at the museum. Local artist, Ruth Asawa, crocheted heavy gauge wire to construct a dazzling set of hanging sculptures that create two-dimensional shadow partners.
The glass globe fishing buoys and succulents completed the nautical mood of Asawa's "fishnets".
To learn more about Ruth Asawa, watch this enlightening video. It showcases more of her inspiring art and shows the crocheted sculptures hanging from the rafters of sun room in her home.
To see more flower posts, visit Today's Flowers here.
34 comments:
The image of those giant ferns is amazing.
Thank you for posting the lovely video of Ms. Asawa. I wasn't aware of her work.
Oh, I do love this museum!! Wish I were going to be there again this summer.
Thank you for leaving such a beautiful comment on my blog. It made my day. Your post is so different and creative. I love taking tours of the unexpected. Its very challenging visually and really appreciate the effort you put into it. Thanks for sharing.
Anne-Marie
Thank you for sharing this magnificent artist with us. The video was enthralling and your photographs were fantastic.
An English Girl Rambles.
Absolutely stunning!
Another awesome post!
The ferns remind me of underwater and I'm really taken with the shadows. :)
Thanks for sharing.
teh first one is simply MARVELOUS
http://graceolsson.com/blog/2010/06/jennifer-hallbergcelebrate-life/
I loved all the photos but that first one took my breath away. The contrast between those colours and the various shades of grey is fantastic. Many thanks for such brilliant post.
Greetings from London.
Love the ferns! and the reflections! what an interesting form to take on..........
thanks...
Is that cement as a backdrop? I think it works very well for the fishnets and shadows. Beautiful. Your photos are also artistically done, as always. I appreciate the care you take.
Thank you for leaving me this comment...'We saw many sea turtles on our trip to the Galapagos Islands.' I went and looked at your posts about your trip and other posts on your blog. It's nice to meet another nature lover...the earth can use all of us that it can get....Michelle
There are some really creative people out there! Wish I could bend plants into creative designs!
really interesting stuff! those fiddleheads are realllly, really neat! Looks like a great time!
Dear Kala,
The first time I saw the ferns in the atrium at the De Young, they were swaying back and forth in the wind. It was glorious.
Dear Patrick Gracewood,
I'm happy to lead Ms. Asawa in your direction. She is an institution here in San Francisco. Your sculptures are impressive also. Welcome to Dutchbaby!
Dear Relyn,
I too am so sad you won't be coming here after all. Maybe next summer. In the mean time, I'll keep taking pictures for you.
Dear A 2 Z,
Thank you for visiting Dutchbaby all the way from Quebec! I'm glad you enjoyed this post.
That has to be one of the most interesting museums in the country! This bunch is very shadowy and mysterious.
Dear Denise,
You are most welcome! Welcome to Dutchbaby, Denise! I see that you are also very good at flower arranging.
all are amazing!
Dear Kris,
Thanks for your visit here and thank you for doing the important work on promoting simple foods.
Dear Carletta,
Those ferns do cast an underwater feeling, like they are in Neptune's World.
Dear Grace Olson,
I thought Leighsa Montrose, the designer of the first photo, did a marvelous job in selecting flowers in the same spirit as Asawa's sculpture.
Dear Cuban,
I love the urban feeling that the concrete gives the wire sculptures. The flowers do indeed provide a great organic contrast.
Dear melissashook,
The ferns are so large, they look prehistoric.
I was surprised to learn from the video that Ruth Asawa was not the one to insist on using strong spotlights to emphasize the shadows of her wire sculptures.
Dear Ruth,
Yes, that is cement. This foyer usually takes on a stark, minimalist tone. That's why it is such a delight to see the splashes of color during Bouquets to Art.
Thank you for your very kind comment :)
Dear Michelle at ramblingwoods,
I am so touched that you left me this note and browsed through my blog even through this difficult time in your family. My thoughts are with you, Michelle.
Dear lisaschaos,
Most definitely; creative to the nth degree!
Dear Johnny Nutcase,
Those fiddleheads were huge! They were wrapped up in full newspaper sheets and their curled heads still stuck out considerably.
Dear Susan,
I know you like all this intrigue :)
I discover something new here at the De Young Museum each time I go.
Dear webbloggirl,
Thank you for your visit and welcome to Dutchbaby!
Your blog is beautiful, and your photography, amazing!!!!
Dear lisa,
Thank you for your kind words. Welcome to Dutchbaby.
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