Art in Bloom takes over the MAM

Portrait of a Terrier, flowers by Wear'Em Design LLC. (Photos by Benjamin Wick)

Georgia O’Keefe once said, “When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not.”

Refusing the Gifts of the Samnites, with Belle Fiori Ltd. flowers.

Patrons of the Milwaukee Art Museum this weekend only will get a chance to see the natural marriage of fresh-cut flowers and plants with artwork in the various collections. It’s the fifth year for the annual event that you cannot ignore in a space that begs for the viewer to feel beauty under the vision of 45 floral designers from across the Midwest. The various days will also include lectures, seminars, activities, and fine art gardening vendors.  Adventurously, this year features an outdoor wine garden in a heated tent.

On Thursday, there was an Iron Designer competition between Nicholas Konzol from Nicholas Carl Design, Denise Gehrke from Waukesha Floral & Greenhouse, and Pam Borgardt from Milaegers.

We sent our photography intern Benjamin Wick to catalog this year’s entries, and he came up with some great shots.  You can see the results below in the slideshow or check out the entire set linked here. For more information and hours through Sunday, visit the Milwaukee Art Museum website.