Be The Color

Submitted by Adam Havrilla AIFD AAF PFCI

I started Be The Color because I have seen first-hand what a difference floral artistry has the power to accomplish. I started my movement in 2018 at the South Dakota Florist Association convention, designing a floral runway show with an emphasis on rape survivors. The association gave me the freedom to design a show that makes a difference on a very hard topic. We asked if anyone who survived rape would like to be in the show. Some brave, beautiful, and strong women agreed to be part of the show. The impact was incredible. After the show completed, I had many conversations from people watching the show about how this helped them and how thankful they were for the show. I knew I had a passion for creating social change…..little did I know where it would bring me.

Fast forward a few years to the middle of the pandemic. I had plenty of time to think about life as it is, was, and what was to become. I watched as the world fell into chaos, not only with the pandemic, but with our cities being torn apart. So much sadness was in the air, but there was an underlying sense of hope for the future, coming together of people, and change. It certainly was time for change on every level. Life would never, and could never, be the same.

As the days turned into weeks, months, and then a year, I spent countless hours trying to figure out my future and what it would look like. There were decisions that needed to be made. I knew I wanted my future to be about making a difference. I knew that every career decision would be made regarding how it could change the world, one flower at a time and that flowers have the power to make a difference. I knew life would never be the same. What I didn’t know was how I was going to accomplish this. Let the fun begin!

I thought about what I can do to help my community during this time. My studio was an empty shell with no work happening, so why not hold a floral show? I had been thinking about this show for years, but there was never enough time to make it happen. Now I had the time and space to create the show. Once I let go of the fear of our “new” world, I had the courage to start this project. The purpose of the show was to address some social issues through floral design, color and light. Be The Color immersive exhibit was born, now all I had to do was figure out the details.

Perceptions are often dangerous on how we view the world around us. Humans tend to impose preconceived notions onto something without taking the time to educate themselves on the truth. Color has the power to change those perceptions because of the emotional impact color has. Color is a driving force in everything we do: it dictates when we stop or go; it can alter our moods; it influences our buying habits. My goal was to have this exhibit be something that encouraged the viewer to step in and observe the exhibit based on their own preconceived notions.

Guests of the exhibition walked into a room void of color. The only color seen was yellow bathed over the entire exhibit, and themselves. They used their perceptions to see colors in their own minds. The viewer imagined what the exhibits would look like in their minds’ color pallet. Once they viewed each installation, we gave them the power to shine the light on the actual colors, using a flashlight. The feedback was incredible and extremely thought provoking. Watching them Be The Color and seeing their reactions was priceless. Nothing was as it seemed. It confused some, brought emotions to others, encouraged them all to look past their perceptions.

The exhibit was completed with a remarkable team who believes in representing social injustice issues. Teamwork is always the way to make sure the vision comes to life. We addressed issues such as women’s rights, child abuse, coming together as a community, social media influences, and seeing your true self. The exhibit was nothing short of everything I dreamed it would be.

The decision was made early on to capture the entire process on film so that we could extend the reach of the exhibit, allowing those that could not be part of the exhibit to watch the documentary. I wanted to make sure the stories lived on. The feedback was extremely supportive when we released it. I received calls and messages discussing how the messages were well received. The documentary was everything I wanted it to be and I will be forever grateful for doing it. I cannot thank all of those who have supported this journey and continue to support the movement.

After watching the emotional impact that it had on the viewers, as well as the conversations about social issues that the exhibit unlocked, I decided to create a foundation that deals with social issues through floral artistry. This new floral voice was strong and needed to be heard. I wanted to make sure my future included making a difference as I believe we all have the responsibility to utilize the talents we have to help others. I took the steps to hire the right people to ensure the organization was set up properly. Be The Color foundation was born!

I brought to together a diverse and talented Board of Directors to develop an association whose goal is to better the human race. We believe that we are responsible for leaving this world a better place for future generations. Too often we don’t talk about a social injustice until it affects us directly. BTC asks: “Why do we wait for that?” It is time to discuss the hard topics. It is time to make the world a better place. It is time to open our eyes and see the beauty all around and within ourselves. Floral has the power to be a perfect tool to achieve our goals.

Some facts about BTC:

Be the Color is dedicated to anyone who has ever been made to feel less than a human being.
We are committed to being a completely volunteer-run, inclusive organization. No individual shall profit from our work, and we will consider all causes regardless of religious affiliation, gender identity, race, sexual preference, or political affiliation.
Our events will leave communities in a better place. All event proceeds will either be contributed to relevant organizations within the community or reinvested in the organization to produce our next event.
We believe that humankind’s visceral response to the beauty and color of flowers has innate power to unlock empathy and altruism. Our floral installations harness that power to shed light on, and bring change to, the social injustices they address.

BTC has been working to set plans for 2023 and floral exhibits that promise to make people think in a different way. Stay tuned to see the movement and where Be The Color will be next. See you soon and remember to BE THE COLOR!