ROANOKE, Va. (March 8, 2017) — Everything’s coming up roses (and peonies and sweet peas!) at the Taubman Museum of Art this spring with Art Go Bloom, a special four-day fundraiser featuring an exhibition of fresh floral arrangements inspired by works on view in the galleries.
Expert gardeners and floral designers from the Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs will create and display one-of-a-kind floral creations that reflect the beauty and creativity of 20 works of art on view.
Participating garden clubs include Designer’s Atelier, Hunting Hills Garden Club, Mill Mountain Garden Club, Roanoke Valley Garden Club, Sugarloaf Garden Club and Westchester Garden Club.
“With the fine art and fresh flowers paired side by side, guests will be delighted by the creative floral interpretations of art throughout the Museum,” said Della Watkins, Taubman Museum of Art executive director. “We’re honored to work with the Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs to present this event, with proceeds benefiting the Museum’s education, exhibition and event programming for the upcoming year.”
During this special four-day fundraiser, daily general admission to the Museum is $10 for adults and $5 for youth who are 17 and under. This includes admission to Art Go Bloom and the ticketed exhibition, American Impressionism in the Garden, featuring works by artists such as John Singer Sargent and Frederick Childe Hassam on view together for the first time.
Guests also can enjoy Art Go Bloom “a la carte” floral-themed activities such as workshops, demonstrations, tastings, afternoon tea, and tours. Daily general admission is included in the price of these a la carte tickets.
Tickets to Art Go Bloom and the related “a la carte” activities are available by calling (540) 342-5760.
Art Go Bloom activities include the following:
Fresh Floral Topiary Workshop
Join floral and event designer Mary Jo Thompson for a hands-on workshop and create a topiary centerpiece with fresh blossoms to take home! The workshop is appropriate for all flower arranging skill levels. All materials will be provided including oasis, flowers and container. Advance registration is required since space is limited.
Date: March 23, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Tickets: $45 each
“Tussie Mussie” Tour
Paint and petals, sculpture and stems—this special guided tour highlights select floral arrangements inspired by the Museum’s works on view. The gorgeous, fresh floral masterpieces created by talented members of the Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs are paired side-by-side with the artworks that inspired them. Learn the history of the works, the meanings of the flowers, and what brought about the beautiful pairing.
Dates:
March 23, 11-11:30 a.m.
March 24, 11-11:30 a.m. and 3-3:30 p.m.
March 25, 11-11:30 a.m.
March 26, 3-3:30 p.m.
Tickets: $15 each
Flower Power: A Curatorial Floral Inspirations Tour
Taubman Museum of Art Deputy Director of Exhibitions and Collection Amy Moorefield will provide an hour long, guided tour of her chosen works of the day and the Art Go Bloom floral creations inspired by them. As the person who oversees the Museum’s exhibition programming and permanent collection, Moorefield has deep insights into the history, inspiration and meaningfulness of the works on view. Paired with her knowledge about the birth of America’s garden movement and the growth of our nation’s gardening culture, this is an arts, history and culture lesson not to be missed!
Dates: March 23, 24, and 25, 1-2 p.m. each day
Tickets: $20 each
The Language of Flowers Tour
Though flowers and other plants have held significance for centuries, it was during the Victorian Era (1837-1901) that a large list of meanings was assigned to flowers, and the language of flowers—floriography—came into being. While nearly every flower has multiple associations, this tour will discuss meaning for common blooms most often based on the appearance or behavior of the plant itself. Guests will get to know many plants, from “ambitious” hollyhocks to “bashful” peonies to “faithful” ivy, on this “scent-sational” 45-minute flower hunt led by the Museum’s executive director, Della Watkins.
Dates: March 23, 3-4 p.m. and March 26, 1-2 p.m.
Tickets: $20 each
Tap Go Bloom Takeover
Tap Go Bloom is the official opening celebration for Art Go Bloom and will celebrate the members of Designer’s Atelier, Hunting Hills Garden Club, Mill Mountain Garden Club, Roanoke Valley Garden Club, Sugarloaf Garden Club, and Westchester Garden Club, whom contributed their immense talents to create the fresh floral arrangements on view in the galleries.
Guests will enjoy live music, a live floral demonstration by noted horticulturist David Pippin, and meet the Art Go Bloom floral designers. Tap Go Bloom Takeover also will feature a bouquet of fine wines and craft beers alongside delicious tapas-style plates by noted restaurants including River & Rail, Fork in the Alley and Rock & Roll Diner Food Truck. The galleries will be open throughout the event, giving guests their first opportunity to experience the artworks and floral creations on view together.
Tap Go Bloom is sponsored by River & Rail, Fork in the Alley, Rock & Roll Diner Food Truck, and Blue Ridge Beverage.
Date: March 23, 4-7 p.m.
Tickets: $45 in advance, $55 day of event
Party Flowers with David Pippin
Richmond horticultural extraordinaire David Pippin is a sought-after designer of inspired floral
arrangements, a popular consultant on garden design, a provider of garden-themed hands-on programs for children, and an educator with a wide range of horticultural knowledge and experience. Using the garden for inspiration, Pippin will create a variety of arrangements to excite guests’ palette for spring. He will show some of the various techniques he uses to create larger arrangements for parties and weddings.
Date: March 24, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Tickets: $40 each
Art for Inspiration Workshop with David Pippin
This hands-on workshop with noted floral designer David Pippin will draw inspiration from works of art in the Taubman Museum of Art collection. Pippin will help guests create their very own interpretive floral arrangement to take home. Participants should bring their own floral clippers and a vase or vessel for their arrangement. Garden gloves and aprons are optional. All floral material will be provided.
Date: March 24, 2-4 p.m.
Tickets: $80 each
Afternoon Sparkling Tea
Featuring the fine teas of White Oak Tea Tavern, guests will enjoy a sampling of premium tea and sparkling wines along with a generous selection of cakes, pastries, and baklava. The Afternoon Sparkling Tea is sponsored by White Oak Tea Tavern, Viva la Cupcake, Athens Grill, Fresh Market, Hollywood’s Restaurant & Bakery, Caspari and Blue Ridge Beverage.
Date: March 25, 2-3 p.m.
Tickets: $30 for adults, $12.50 for youth or $15 for youth with admission to Art Venture, the Museum’s interactive children’s gallery
Floral Demonstration with Matilda Bradshaw
Using a dozen roses from a local supermarket’s flower department, noted floral designer Matilda Bradshaw will share how to use the same roses for a buffet table, then make a few changes to “recycle” the design for a seated dinner party. Guests also will learn how to make a Pave design and then add plant materials to change it into a Phoenix design.
Date: March 25, 3-4 p.m.
Tickets: $20 each
Chocolate + Wine Pairing
Few things in life are better than chocolate, wine and flowers. Put all three together for an afternoon of pure enjoyment! This seated dining experience will explore the differences between artisan South American and European chocolates as well as how pairings with wine pull forward their rich complexities. Guests will enjoy coursed pairings led by chocolatepaper and Blue Ridge Beverage.
Date: March 26, 2-3:30 p.m.
Tickets: $45
Creative Floral Design Demonstration with Brenda McManaway
Brenda McManaway, a master flower judge for the National Garden Clubs and a regular instructor on floral design for the Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs, will demonstrate the creation of five floral designs, both traditional and abstract. Creative floral design was first introduced in the late 1950’s as flower shows flourished throughout the United States and as the garden club members’ talents expanded. Many members studied art during this time and applied their knowledge of international art history and its creative movements to floral designing. Today, creative floral design is an acknowledged art form in which creativity, imagination and originality are essential ingredients.
Date: March 26, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Tickets: $20 each
