2col Art In Bloom

Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer, “Vase of Flowers,” hand-colored etching and engraving.

FOR 4-6

ART IN BLOOM 2007 ON VIEW IN MINNEAPOLIS APRIL 25–29 w/2 cuts

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. — Art in Boom’s 2007 debut in the newly expanded Minneapolis Institute of Arts will be like no previous arts and flowers festival presented by the Friends of the Institute. The larger MIA enables more works of art to be on view, meaning a greater variety of works are available for floral designers to interpret in this 24th annual fundraiser.

“Using and enjoying the new wing is one of our main goals for Art in Bloom 2007,” said Vickie Foster, co-chair, with June Kroog, of this year’s event. Honorary chair is Carol Burton. “This is the first year artwork and floral arrangements will be showcased in the new space, and we are very excited about that.”

This year’s theme for the four-day festival, “An Italian Experience,” celebrates Italy, and the signature image is well suited in terms of color and vitality. French engraver Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer’s “Vase of Flowers” from the series, “Books of Several Vases of Flowers Made after Nature,” 1675–85, is a hand colored engraving featuring a lush bouquet of flowers, grouped implausibly together from both spring and summer blooming seasons, in an Italianate vase — and the feeling is very “old European countryside.”

Foster and Kroog have drawn their ideas from Barbara Milo Ohrbach’s lifestyle book, Dreaming of Tuscany. The Friends have invited the author, an expert on gracious living, to speak during Art in Bloom. Her books will be available in the Garden and Gift Shop and Ohrbach will sign books before and after her presentations.

“‘The Italian Experience’ will truly be an experience in every sense,” said Kroog. “You will hear Italian arias performed by [members of] the Minnesota Opera: you will taste and learn about fine Italian food and wines; you will see Italian art in a new way.”

Art in Bloom opens with a gala preview party, “Evening in Venice,” Wednesday, April 25. From Thursday, April 26, through Sunday, April 29, the museum will be filled with professionally crafted floral displays, plus more than 100 pedestal pieces created by individual and garden club floral artists. These arrangements will be on view next to the works of art that inspired them. Throughout the weekend, docent-led tours, lectures, demonstrations, luncheons, events, and the Garden and Gift Shop and Garden Guru Booth will be available to guests.

“Art in Bloom is a labor of love every year by hundreds of dedicated and enthusiastic Friends volunteers,” said Friends of the Institute president Glenda Struthers.

Ohrbach will present a travelogue through Tuscany at 10 am on Thursday. At 2 pm that day, she will share ideas for creating tablescapes, as described in her book, Tabletops.

For information, 612-870-3131 or www.artsmia.org.