The Westmoreland Museum of American Art is ushering in spring with one of its most popular annual programs, \u201cArt in Bloom,\u201d which tasks floral designers with creating displays inspired by artworks in the museum\u2019s collections.<\/p>\n
The exhibit will be on display March 25-29 along with several special events.<\/p>\n
\u201cVisitors can see art interpreted through an entirely different medium,\u201d said Elle Marshall, public programs and community engagement manager. \u201cOur museum is this sort of immersive celebration of spring.\u201d<\/p>\n
This is the third year \u201cArt in Bloom\u201d has been presented at the museum, and it\u2019s proven to be one of its most beloved traditions.<\/p>\n
This year, 20 designers \u2014 including five newcomers \u2014 were matched randomly with a piece of art from the museum and asked to design a floral arrangement that reflects the work. The pieces chosen for inclusion come from many different mediums and collections, Marshall said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will always feature our latest exhibit, which is \u2018Florida Highwaymen: Laudable Landscapes.\u2019 There will be some pieces in there from our historical gallery, from modern and contemporary; it\u2019s all throughout,\u201d Marshall said.<\/p>\n
A touch of fashion is coming to this year\u2019s event; designers Barb Grossman and Sidney Rice have designed a gown inspired by the museum\u2019s Chihuly chandelier that will be on display.<\/p>\n
This year will even feature a group called the Trojan Florists, which is made up of students from Derry Area High School.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a group of three high school students who are learning horticulture, and they are competing,\u201d Marshall said.<\/p>\n
Three awards will be given to displays at \u201cArt in Bloom.\u201d The Director\u2019s Award will be presented by The Westmoreland\u2019s director and CEO, Silvia Filippini-Fantoni. Each of the 20 podium sponsors will vote on the Sponsors\u2019 Award, and the public will vote for the coveted People\u2019s Choice Award during the five days of the exhibit.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe tally all of the votes throughout the week and then it\u2019s announced on Sunday,\u201d Marshall said. \u201cWe get a larger population of people to come on Sunday because
\nit\u2019s a community day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Entrance to the exhibit Wednesday through Saturday is free for museum members, $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 4 to 17, and free for children younger than 4. Sunday is a free Community Day.<\/p>\n
There will be other special programs attached to \u201cArt in Bloom,\u201d Marshall said. On Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the museum will partner with Gracefully Bloomed Creations for a workshop on making traditional Hawaiian headpieces. In the evening Thursday and Friday, the museum will hold \u201cFlowers After Hours\u201d from 5:30 to 8 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are extended hours, so the museum is open until 8 p.m. It\u2019s where you can come and wear your floral attire, you can get a signature floral cocktail, and there will be live music on both of those days,\u201d Marshall said.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, there will be two seatings for a tea party and floral demonstration, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. The event will feature a live floral design by JD Peterson and catered food from Myriam\u2019s Table.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will be a really nice high tea, and then there will be a hat competition,\u201d Marshall said.<\/p>\n