Art In Bloom - Enjoy Beautiful Art And Fabulous Flowers

The Saint Louis Art Museum announces the eighth annual Art in Bloom, a celebration of beautiful art and fabulous flowers, March 2-4, 2007. Showcasing the talents of St. Louis-area floral designers and garden clubs, participants in Art in Bloom are challenged to create arrangements that interpret a work of art in the Museum's collection.

In addition to the magnificent floral arrangements, lectures by renowned television host, writer and garden designer P. Allen Smith and performances by local vocalist Erin Bode and COCA's Ballet Eclectica are scheduled throughout the weekend. The Museum will be open until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 2 and 3.

More than 40 works of art in the Museum's collection have been selected for floral interpretation, including two contemporary works, Jackson Pollock's Number 3, 1950 and Sigmar Polke's Helena's Australia; Piero di Cosimo's Madonna, a painting in the Museum's newly-reinstalled Early European galleries; Fly Whisk, a piece made in India in the latter half of the 18th century and purchased by the Young Friends of the Saint Louis Art Museum in 2004; and Mummy Case of Amen-Nestawy-Nakht, a favorite in the Museum's Egyptian collection.

Floral arrangements that best capture the essence of the artist's work are recognized with awards from both their peers and from visitors with selections for 'Best Traditional Design', 'Best Creative Design', 'Best in Show', and 'Honorable Mention' announced Thursday, March 1.

Visitors can vote for their favorite floral interpretations Friday and Saturday, March 2 and 3, from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. The 'People's Choice' award winners will be announced at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 4.

The eighth annual Art in Bloom is sponsored in part by Brown Shoe Company. Promotional support is provided by KETC, St. Louis magazine and At Home magazine. -- www.stlouis.art.museum