Article contributor – Denise Gehrke AIFD CFD
The Milwaukee Museum of Art has finally had the chance to bring back their popular Art in Bloom event.
Started in 2008, this annual event, that stalled for 2 years, celebrates spring and features floral designers and artists from all over Wisconsin.
Various pieces of artwork throughout the museum are assigned to Floral Artists as the inspiration for each of their floral designs. Designers are paired with the artwork through a lottery.
Proceeds from the sale of tickets benefits the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Art Museum Garden Club.
This year, tickets for these timed entries to the gallery were sold out well before opening day. Because of the pandemic, the event was very much scaled back. There were no additional design programs or speakers, and the marketplace was nonexistent.
Contributer Denise Gehrke AIFD shared her entry here. Members Emily Newbauer AIFD, Lisa Belisle AIFD and Melissa Maas AIFD also participated in the event.
From its website, The Milwaukee Art Museum collects and preserves art, presenting it to the community as a vital source of inspiration and education. 30,000 works of art. 400,000+ visitors a year. 125 years of collecting art. From its roots in Milwaukee’s first art gallery in 1888, the Museum has grown today to be an icon for Milwaukee and a resource for the entire state.
Denise Gehrke AIFD
Representing Waukesha Floral and Greenhouse
The inspiration for Denise’s design was a bright red Alexander Calder mobile titled,
“Just a sumac to you dear”Using red aluminum wire and a base of curly willow, she flowered her armature with Gloriosa Lilies.
Lisa Belisle, AIFD
Representing Floral Elements Education and Design
Lisa’s artwork to interpret was from Cornelia Parker entitled, “The edge of England”
Created from Chalk, wire, and wire mesh created in 1999
Her design echoed the suspended elements of the artwork with steel designed by Gingerworx, incorporating Hydrangeas, Hyacinth, Solidago, Roses and Veronica.
In creating this piece, she states, “As our world is rapidly changing, we each have a Chicken Little voice in our head saying, “the sky is falling” Hopefully, clouds of flowers falling will soften the blows of reality we are about to get knocked over with. Change can also mean growth and renewal ahead.”
Her entry won second place Thursday, Friday and third Saturday, plus People’s Choice Award on Sunday.
Melissa Maas, AIFD
Emily Newbauer, AIFD
Emily Newbauer, AIFD was a consultant and was in charge of a wall at the entrance to the galleries.
Her shop Belle Fiori and her designers created this beautiful signature entry piece.
