Wilsey Court installation by Sharpstick Studios, Patricia Gillespie (Oakland)
Natalie Stone
Belle Flora, Hiromi Nomura, AFID (San Francisco), inspired by Jo Baer, Untitled (Vertical Flanking Diptych–Blue), 1966 – 1969
Lisa Nagel and Christina Eriksson at the Bouquets to Art Preview Gala in 2016
Anne McWilliams
Since 1984, each spring in San Francisco local floral designers create arrangements inspired by the art at the Fine Arts Museums. This year 125 designers participated in the weeklong floral festival known as the Bouquets to Art. The event opened at the de Young Museum with a preview gala for 1,200 guests on April 4th. Art-inspired bouquets, floral fashions designed and modeled by floristry students from City College of San Francisco, cocktails, entertainment and a sumptuous dinner buffet launched the season. Throughout the week, a record-breaking 67,644 visitors checked out the displays, met the designers and attended related programs and luncheon events.
Scenes from the Opening Night Gala for Bouquets to Art, 2016:
Dara Rosenfeld, Robin Packouz, India Hicks, Kelly Jo Edwards
Floral design by Tuan Tran (San Francisco), inspired by Ruth Asawa ,untitled sculptures, 1950 – 1969
Svetlana Taskayeva, Natalie Stone, Jung Hwa, Lonna Wais, Soyeon Kim
Florals by Asiel Design, Jonathan Asiel and Linnae Asiel (San Jose), inspired by Ruth Asawa, untitled sculptures, 1950 – 1969
Katharine Thompson, Harriet Quarre, Betsy Dixon, Elizabeth Ashley
Natalia Karpenko
Waterlily Pond Floral Design Studio, Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz (San Francisco) inspired by Helen Frankenthaler, Crusades, 1976
Josh Harris, Ruby Wilson, Lisa Harris, Haig Harris
Floral design by Chestnut and Vine, Svenja Brotz and Linnea Brotz (Berkeley), inspired by Sean Scully, Wall of Light Horizon, 2005
Floral design by Ornamento, Orna Maymon (San Francisco), inspired by David Hockney, Seven Yorkshire Landscape Videos, 2011
Allison Huegel, Richard Benefield and Suzanne Vuko
W/E Flowers by Wil Gonzalez Jr, AFID; assistants Lynde Disomma, CFD and Mary O’Hara (Ukiah), inspired by Elmer Bischoff, Girl with Towel, 1960
Photos by Drew Altizer Photography
Bouquets to Art is produced by the volunteer members of the San Francisco Auxiliary of the Fine Arts Museums.
Bouquets to Art 2016 Co-chairs: Allison Huegel and Suzanne Vuko
Committee Chairs: Sandra Bergen, Catherine Bergstrom, Elizabeth Brown, Barbara Cahn, Margie Denning, Kaki Desautels, Claudia Feurey, Wanda Guttas, Barbara Johnson, Lisa Harris, Kaye Hiatt, Kathy Kimball, Nancy Kovar, Patty McCrary, Karen Mohr, Kiki Pescatello, Nancee Rubinstein, Marjorie Shank, Cathy Stanghellini, Kate Sullivan, Rose Welch, Lorna Williams, Toni Wittenmeier
— Related: Red Carpet Bay Area coverage of past Bouquets to Art opening events