Submitted by Laura Daluga AIFD
Nothing touches the florist soul quite like flowers do.
Then again… What about the simple luxury of really taking in a work of your favorite artist? Might that come close? This year’s Art in the Elements theme of ‘ART and ARTISTS’ seamlessly blended these two soul-refilling ideas. Communing in the woodlands while building our designs at ‘Florist Camp,’ for the sixth year we shared meals and tools, ideas and techniques, baby photos, 4-wheeler rides and bug spray. With the twin goals of giving a creative platform to floral artists from all around the Midwest and beyond, while maximizing public exposure to floral art as an emerging art form, we have thrived through the covid-era.
The show’s impact on floral art in the region is being felt by more and more visitors each year, and by participating florists whose efforts directly benefit their floral peers’ educations. Designers once again received hardgoods support from long-time show sponsor OASIS Floral Products as well as support stipends for each display created to offset costs for exhibiting designers via the Great Lakes Floral Foundation, one of the benefactors of the shows’ revenues.
Since 2017, more than 60 designers have created inspiring public floral artwork that has been viewed by more than 7,000 attendees, while raising over $75,000 in support of future florists and continuing floral education through the Great Lakes Floral Association Foundation. This year we added the People’s Choice ballots, where attendees named their favorite design and the winner was a runaway with more than 36% of the total vote all weekend long. Susan Schoedel AIFD’s truly captivating interpretation of Vincent Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ took the inaugural prize, with Bovan Design Group’s larger than life all botanical interpretation of Robin Wright’s ‘Beyond Ithaka’ took the second place prize in public voting. Next year we intend to add a Kid’s Choice Award, they seem to love, love, LOVE this show!
Show dates are being set shortly, think mid-September 2023- and our show theme of ‘A TRIP TO THE MOVIES’ should provoke some creative floral expressions along these cherished woodland paths of ours. What springs to mind for you??
Susan Schoedel AIFD’s version of Van Gogh_s Starry Night ran away with the People_s Choice Award 
Close up of Susan Schoedel AIFD’s interpretation of Vincent Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ 
Bovan Design Group, led by Wanieta Bovan created a massive, spinning butterfly goddess in celebration of organ donation 
Wanieta Bovan created these giant dandelions with foam balls and papyrus 
Suzie Kostick AIFD reimagined a crystal chandelier into a flower tower 
Laura Parker AIFD interpreted a series of painting, each a seasonal celebration of craspedia 
Laura Daluga AIFD’s take on Nick Cave’s Soundsuits 
Garrett Skupinski translated a ceramic bird sculpture into this feathery show favorite 
Detroit Realists of Art paint all weekend long 
Debbie Strand AIFD created this clever floral mash-up of Frank Lloyd Wright and Dale Chihuly
