Sunday, June 13, 2010

Bouquets to Art 2010 - Part IV


DSC06509_1467 Ruth Asawa

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.

DSC06500_1458 Fiddleheads

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.

DSC03371 De Young Ferns

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.

DSC02852 cas roof to de young

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.

DSC06503_1461 Woodland Floral Kent and Sickler

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.


DSC06514_1472 Ruth Asawa


DSC06510_1468 Ruth Asawa

Leighsa Montrose AIFD carefully chose plant materials that also cast intricate shadow patterns.

DSC06513_1471 Ruth Asawa Leighsa Montrose AIFD

The glass globe fishing buoys and succulents completed the nautical mood of Asawa's "fishnets".

DSC06508_1466 Ruth Asawa

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:

Kala said...

The image of those giant ferns is amazing.

patrickgracewood said...

Thank you for posting the lovely video of Ms. Asawa. I wasn't aware of her work.

Relyn Lawson said...

Oh, I do love this museum!! Wish I were going to be there again this summer.

A 2 Z said...

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

DeniseinVA said...

Thank you for sharing this magnificent artist with us. The video was enthralling and your photographs were fantastic.

An English Girl Rambles.

Pretty Zesty said...

Absolutely stunning!

Carletta said...

Another awesome post!
The ferns remind me of underwater and I'm really taken with the shadows. :)
Thanks for sharing.

http://graceolsson.com/blog said...

teh first one is simply MARVELOUS
http://graceolsson.com/blog/2010/06/jennifer-hallbergcelebrate-life/

A Cuban In London said...

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.

melissashook said...

Love the ferns! and the reflections! what an interesting form to take on..........
thanks...

Ruth said...

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.

ramblingwoods said...

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

Unknown said...

There are some really creative people out there! Wish I could bend plants into creative designs!

Johnny Nutcase said...

really interesting stuff! those fiddleheads are realllly, really neat! Looks like a great time!

Dutchbaby said...

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.

Dutchbaby said...

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!

Dutchbaby said...

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.

Dutchbaby said...

Dear A 2 Z,
Thank you for visiting Dutchbaby all the way from Quebec! I'm glad you enjoyed this post.

Susan said...

That has to be one of the most interesting museums in the country! This bunch is very shadowy and mysterious.

Dutchbaby said...

Dear Denise,
You are most welcome! Welcome to Dutchbaby, Denise! I see that you are also very good at flower arranging.

webbloggirl said...

all are amazing!

Dutchbaby said...

Dear Kris,
Thanks for your visit here and thank you for doing the important work on promoting simple foods.

Dutchbaby said...

Dear Carletta,
Those ferns do cast an underwater feeling, like they are in Neptune's World.

Dutchbaby said...

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.

Dutchbaby said...

Dear Cuban,
I love the urban feeling that the concrete gives the wire sculptures. The flowers do indeed provide a great organic contrast.

Dutchbaby said...

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.

Dutchbaby said...

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 :)

Dutchbaby said...

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.

Dutchbaby said...

Dear lisaschaos,
Most definitely; creative to the nth degree!

Dutchbaby said...

Dear Johnny Nutcase,
Those fiddleheads were huge! They were wrapped up in full newspaper sheets and their curled heads still stuck out considerably.

Dutchbaby said...

Dear Susan,

I know you like all this intrigue :)

I discover something new here at the De Young Museum each time I go.

Dutchbaby said...

Dear webbloggirl,
Thank you for your visit and welcome to Dutchbaby!

Lisa Gordon said...

Your blog is beautiful, and your photography, amazing!!!!

Dutchbaby said...

Dear lisa,
Thank you for your kind words. Welcome to Dutchbaby.

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