Art and Flowers Combine at Milwaukee Art Museum’s Art in Bloom
– The Museum’s popular annual event returns April 11–14 with art-inspired floral arrangements, workshops, lectures, a fashion show and family-friendly activities. –
Milwaukee, Wis. – March 5, 2019 – Art and flowers will come together for the 12th year to celebrate the return of spring at Art in Bloom at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Presented by Educators Credit Union, the popular annual event will give visitors the opportunity to view more than 38 art-inspired floral installations on display throughout the Museum, Thursday, April 11, through Sunday, April 14. Each arrangement is inspired by a specific work in the Museum’s Collection and created by local florists.
“The fantastic and colorful floral installations inspired by works of art in our Collection are a highlight of spring in Milwaukee,” said Krista Renfrew, Director of Special Events at the Milwaukee Art Museum. “Visitors appreciate the fresh and fragrant perspectives these floral experts bring to the galleries.”
Art in Bloom will feature a variety of additional activities and programs including floral workshops and presentations, docent-led tours, family-friendly activities and a marketplace offering items by local artists, home goods, jewelry, clothing and garden accessories. All lecture presentations in Lubar Auditorium are open to the public and included with Art in Bloom admission.
At the popular Beauty in Bloom: A Floral Fashion Show, models will walk down the runway wearing couture-inspired gowns and accessories that local artisans create entirely out of flowers, with inspiration drawn from the Gilded Age of the Museum’s exhibition Bouguereau & America. This ticketed event takes place April 13 at 7 p.m. inside Windhover Hall and will include hors d’oeuvres, valet parking and a cash bar.
Also on April 13, four floral designers will show off their pruning skills, speed and ingenuity at the floral design competition “Pruned,” inspired by competitive cooking shows. Admission to Pruned is free with Art in Bloom admission.
“Art in Bloom is an exceptional Milwaukee tradition that Educators Credit Union is proud to support. These artists continue to amaze us every year with their ability and talent,” said Shannon Huot, Educators Credit Union Senior Vice President of Marketing. “We want to ensure they are able to put that work on display for all to see and admire.”
In previous years, more than 10,000 guests have visited the Museum during the event.
Art in Bloom is presented by Educators Credit Union, with additional support from Milaeger’s home and garden store.
Media Sponsor: MKE Lifestyle Magazine
Event Information
Dates:
Thursday, April 11: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Friday, April 12: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Saturday, April 13: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sunday, April 14: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Daily Admission: $5 for Members; $24 for adults ($19 advance tickets); $22 for seniors and students ($17 advance tickets); Free for children 12 and under. Members’ children 17 and under are also free. Admission for Educators Credit Union Members is $5.
Special Membership Offer: Visitors receive free admission for two when joining or renewing their Museum membership at the door—and get a $10 gift card to Milaeger’s if they join or renew at the Family/Dual level or above. Offer only valid on-site, April 11–14, 2019
Website: mam.org/bloom
Special Programs
Afternoon Tea Service
Thursday, April 11, 4 p.m.; Friday, April 12, 4 p.m.; Sunday, April 13, 4 p.m.
Northwestern Mutual Room
An afternoon tea with fresh scones, sandwiches and pastries (requires reservation, sold out).
Farm-to-Table Dinner
Thursday, April 11, 6–8 p.m., Café Calatrava
Dine on locally sourced courses, and hear from local producers and growers, who will share their stories (requires reservation, $85).
Beauty in Bloom: A Floral Fashion Show
Saturday, April 13, 7 p.m., Windhover Hall
See couture-inspired gowns and accessories created by local artisans, and made entirely out of blooms (ticketed, standing-room only, $50/$40 Members ).
Additional Programs
The Incredible Edible Landscape
Thursday, April 11, 1 p.m., Lubar Auditorium
Learn to grow fruits, vegetables and herbs anywhere, with Lisa Hilgenberg, Horticulturist at the Chicago Botanic Garden. She will share strategies for incorporating edible plants into the landscape and how to harvest them. Free with event admission.
Curing & Preserving Botanicals
Thursday, April 11, 1 p.m., Northwestern Mutual Room
Find out what household products can help preserve your plants and flowers with Michael Alt, Owner of Alt’s, then leave with botanicals to try out the methods for yourself. Reservations required, $45.
Flowers in Art at the Milwaukee Art Museum
Thursday, April 11, 3 p.m., Collection Galleries
Hear from Barbara Brown Lee, Chief Educator Emerita at the Milwaukee Art Museum, and a more than 55-year Museum veteran, as she shares the stories of certain flower-related works in the Collection. Free with event admission.
The Role of Bees in the Ecosystem and Food Supply
Friday, April 12, 11 a.m., Lubar Auditorium
Gain a new appreciation for bees as Linda Conroy, Owner of Moonwise Herbs, shares the important role they play in the environment and how attendees can develop habitats for them in Wisconsin. Free with event admission.
A Modern Approach to the Centerpiece
Friday, April 12, 11 a.m., Northwestern Mutual Room
Get inspired by the latest floral trends as described by Kevin Ylvisaker, International Floral Design Expert, and make a statement with a contemporary centerpiece. Reservations required, $65.
Gardens and Other Vegetative Gems in Foreign Lands
Friday, April 12, 1 p.m., Lubar Auditorium
Take a photo tour of gardens and plants Dale Siever, Lecturer, and Writer for Sukiya Living, has seen on his global travels. Free with event admission.
Succulent Garden Workshop
Friday, April 12, 1 p.m., Northwestern Mutual Room
Design a beautiful succulent garden for the home, office or patio at this hands-on workshop led by Carrie Kroening from Petals at Silver Spring Golf Club. Reservations required, $55.
Pruned
Saturday, April 13, 11 a.m., Lubar Auditorium
Four designers show off their pruning skills, speed, and ingenuity at this floral design competition inspired by judged elimination cooking shows. Free with event admission.
Spring Centerpiece Workshop
Saturday, April 13, 11 a.m., Northwestern Mutual Room
Learn how to create a nature-inspired centerpiece with seasonal flowers in a loose and organic style, with Courtney Gutschenritter, owner of Courtney Joy Floral, and take home a fresh arrangement for the table. Reservations required, $55.
Container Garden Hands-On Workshop
Saturday, April 13, 1 p.m., Northwestern Mutual Room
Design a container garden filled with gorgeous florals and edible plants with Heidi Hornung, owner of Shady Lane Greenhouse. Reservations required, $50.
Lecture and Book Signing with Marta McDowell
Saturday, April 13, 2 p.m., Lubar Auditorium
Meet Marta McDowell, author of the New York Times bestseller All the Presidents’ Gardens, and hear about her personal experiences working as an instructor at the New York Botanical Garden. Free with event admission. Presented by the Milwaukee Art Museum Garden Club.
Friendship through Flowers: The Ikebana Way Workshop
Sunday, April 14, 10:30 a.m., Northwestern Mutual Room
Learn about the Japanese art of ikebana with Laurie Wareham, Certified Ichiyo Instructor and Junior Master, and gain a new perspective on floral design while creating an arrangement. Reservations required, $65.
The Future of Floral Design
Sunday, April 14, 11 a.m., Lubar Auditorium
International floral design expert Kevin Ylvisaker leads the fast-paced, interactive show on the latest floral design trends, while sharing techniques and creating arrangements on stage. Free with event admission.
Southern Blooms Workshop
Sunday, April 14, 1 p.m., Northwestern Mutual Room
Become familiar with the fragrant blooms and textural greens of the South. Melissa Maas, owner of Bank of Flowers, guides workshop attendees to make a southern-inspired floral arrangement. Reservations required, $35.
Art in Bloom Florist Panel Discussion
Sunday, April 14, 2 p.m., Lubar Auditorium
Welcome Art in Bloom participants as they discuss the work that went into this year’s floral masterpieces. Free with event admission.
Kohl’s Art Generation Open Studio
Thursday, April 11–Sunday, April 14.
During Art in Bloom, visitors to the Kohl’s Art Generation Studio will have the opportunity to paint fresh flowers displayed in Classical urns and vases, inspired by the settings within the canvases in the exhibition Bouguereau & America. The Kohl’s Art Generation Studio closes one hour before the Museum.
Drop-in Tours
Docent-led drop-in tours of Art in Bloom highlights are available Friday through Sunday, at 10:30 a.m., noon, and 2:00 p.m., and last approximately one hour. Tours meet in Windhover Hall. Free with Art in Bloom admission.
