Milwaukee Art Museum Announces Inaugural Art in Bloom Exhibition

Presented by the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Garden Club, the inaugural Art In Bloom is an experience of flowers and fine art together in the halls and galleries of the Museum. Art In Bloom showcases the talents of more than 30 renowned floral designers interpreting masterworks from the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Collection, on view Thursday, April 10, through Sunday, April 13, 2008. It also includes lectures, workshops, docent-guided tours, book signings, mother-daughter teas, a multi-vendor indoor marketplace, a Saturday-only garden sculpture sale, and refined dining in the Café Calatrava Garden Room.

Presenting lectures, demonstrations, and book signings will be Ron Morgan-one of the most sought after floral designers in the United States; Tracy DiSabato-Aust, aka “the Queen of Deadheading,” and the 2004 recipient of the Perennial Plant Association’s Garden Media Award; Elvin McDonald, the international editor of Better Homes and Gardens magazine; and Mike Nowak, a Chicago Master Gardener and the host of WGN radio’s “Let’s Talk Gardening.”

“Members of the Milwaukee Art Museum Garden Club and other regional garden clubs as well as professional floral designers will offer creative interpretations of artists’ original visions for the exhibition,” says Margarete Harvey, co-chair of the Art In Bloom exhibition. “You will see surprising uses of materials and innovative concepts in the spectacular floral arrangements. We have a wide range of educational programs featuring prominent experts in floral arrangement and gardening, and a celebratory garden party. We hope everyone can have the opportunity to view the magnificent displays,” she says.

Events will kick off on Thursday with a chance to see Mike Nowak interview the experts behind Art in Bloom live inside the Calatrava-designed, flower-filled Windhover Hall at 5.30 p.m. On Friday, guests will get a look at the floral interpretations and enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and an exclusive opportunity to meet the weekend’s floral specialists during Cocktails and Blooms: Art In Bloom After Hours.

“We are grateful to the Milwaukee Art Museum Garden Club for organizing this exciting exhibition-and to the floral designers and area Garden Club members. The money raised through their efforts will support the Museum’s important education and public programs,” says Milwaukee Art Museum Director Daniel Keegan.

The presenting sponsor of Art In Bloom is the Wisconsin Energy Foundation. Generous additional support by the Milwaukee Art Museum Garden Club and Locker’s Florist. The outdoor garden sculpture sale is sponsored by the African American Art Alliance.

Tickets for the Art In Bloom exhibition, which include admission to the Collection galleries, are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $4 for students with a valid I.D.; admission is free for Milwaukee Art Museum Members and children 12 and under. Ticket prices vary for lectures and demonstrations. Details and ticket information are available at 414-224-3200 or http://www.mam.org/.

Group tours of the Art In Bloom exhibition are available.
Contact Tour Scheduler Passion Terrell at 414-224-3842 or passion.terrell@mam.org

Group Tours with Lunch
Include a docent-guided or audio tour and box lunch. All-inclusive feature exhibition package is $22 per person; Collection galleries package, $20 per person. Available to Adult or Senior group tours.

Feature Exhibition Tours
(per person; driver and escort admitted free)
$11 Adult Groups; $9 Senior Groups; $7 College Groups

Collection or Building Tours
(per person; driver and escort admitted free)
$8 Adult Groups; $6 Senior Groups; $4 College Groups

Museum Hours
Open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursdays until 8 p.m.
Tours are booked every half-hour 10 a.m.-3.30 p.m.; Thursdays 12.30-6.30 p.m.
Tours last one hour.

Museum Parking
Museum Underground Parking
Accessible from Michigan Street or Lincoln Memorial Drive
O’Donnell Park Parking Garage
West of the Museum
War Memorial North Parking Lot
North of the Museum

Plein Air Artists
Shelby Keefe
Mary Ulm Mayhew
Katie Musolff
Tom Nachreiner
Chuck Weber

Garden Sculpture Artists
Chris Leslie
George Ray McCormick, Sr.
Mike Nolte
Demetra Saloutos
Sky Schultz
Vito Valenti
Ann Wydeven
Bruce Yale

Images and interviews available upon request

###