RiverBrink Art Museum and the Garden Club of Niagara are partnering for Art & Blooms 2023, their third joint venture.
On display at RiverBrink in Queenston from March 24 to 26, the event features floral designs by members of the Garden Club of Niagara, each inspired by art from the collection at RiverBrink.
And for the first time, inspiration also comes from pieces in an exhibition by a local artists group, SWFT (Supporting Women, Femme and Trans) artists.
Barbara Bedell, Garden Clubs of Ontario president and a Niagara-on-the-Lake resident, also participated in the 2011 and 2017 exhibitions.
She says creating a design inspired by a work of art is different from making a floral design for a room, or from the work of decorating for the annual Christmas display at McFarland House.
A work of art presents a smaller focus, concentrating colour, composition, direction or sense of motion.
Grimsby’s Lil Haworth was inspired by the soaring architecture in the painting “Vue de Paris” by German/French artist Olivier Foss (1920-2002). Her floral design with strong verticals and incorporated rectangular components won the Visitors Choice award.
SWFT Group artist Mori McCrae is well-known in the Niagara art community and has participated in other multimedia presentations. McCrae is eager and curious to see how an essence of her own creation will be transformed into something else.
Similarly, Rajshree Jena, whose own work is influenced by folk art traditions of her native India, appreciates the concept of inspiring floral design, and is happy to be part of the event.
The weekend begins March 24 with a ticketed preview reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Garden Club floral designers and SWFT artists will be on hand.
Art & Blooms includes Breath of Spring, a floral arrangement demonstration, on March 25 at 11 a.m. by Bedell and Haworth.
And that afternoon at 3:30, art historian Penny-Lynn Cookson will speak about “The Power of the Rose” – a symbol of love and romance, religious faith, war and of hidden meanings.
From Friday through early Sunday afternoon visitors will be able to cast a vote for their favourite art and floral design pair.
For more information visit www.riverbrink.org.
