It’s finally spring in San Diego! Hello baseball! Hello tourist dollars! Hello flowers!
Article by Kristen Schweizer
Speaking of flowers, you won’t see a more singular or memorable display of flowers than The San Diego Museum of Art’s signature fundraiser. Their annual Art Alive is in its 34th year, and it has only gotten better. The floral exhibition and events begin Thursday, April 23 and run through the weekend.
This year, internationally celebrated Rene Van Rems will transport us back an entire century, to 1915, with his design featuring inspiration from times past. He’s no stranger to the challenge, van Rems has competed in six of the past 33 Art Alive Rotunda Designs. The 2015 theme of times past is clear; Old English and lush garden style floral designs will grace the entry, staircase, and upstairs lobby – all grown in California, of course.
His rotunda is the crown jewel of the collection, you’ll have to see the entire floral design (which required 40 Rene Floral Training Center students to assist) to believe it, but it is by no means the only design to get excited about. This is only the entry to over 100 floral interpretations of famous works from the Museum’s Permanent Collection though this coming weekend. These floral elucidations of the Museum’s paintings are stunning in scope, and a great reason to attend.
The weekend officially opens with Friday night’s BLOOM BASH. The art, flowers, food, cocktails, live music and dancing would be cool enough – but their incredible events team has also added CHOR BOOGIE, a painter, muralist and color shaman. He has been painting with spray paint for over 20 years, and has built an astonishing, world-wide career – including murals at the Olympics in Beijing, a segment of the Berlin Wall, and a recent 30×60 foot commission of Michael Jackson and Madonna in the heart of Times Square. His work alone would be enough to visit, but it’s only a piece of the festivities. If that was not enough, it is the incredible floral fashion show of the guests that make this event one not to be missed. “See and be seen” is taken to a whole new level when a gentleman won’t look out of place in a tulip-inspired ascot.
I have included the entire schedule of events below, each one more interesting and cool than the last. However, these petals shall wilt with the weekend so do not wait and miss out! Check out The San Diego Museum of Art this weekend!
Schedule of Events
Thursday, April 23, 2015 | Museum closed
Art Alive 2015 Premiere Dinner | 6:30 p.m.
Premiere Dinner attendance is an exclusive benefit offered to Honorary Committee Premiere Patrons.
Friday, April 24, 2015
Members’ Preview | 7:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Floral Exhibition | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Purchase Tickets
The Museum Store Jewelry Trunk Show* | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
BLOOM BASH | 7:00 p.m. – midnight | Purchase Tickets
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Floral Exhibition | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Purchase Tickets
The Museum Store Jewelry Trunk Show* | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Floral Lecture | 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. | Purchase Tickets
Garden of Activities* | Noon – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Floral Exhibition | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Purchase Tickets
The Museum Store Jewelry Trunk Show* | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Floral Masterclass |10:00 a.m. – noon | Purchase Tickets
Garden of Activities* | Noon – 4:00 p.m.
Monday, April 27, 2015 | Museum closed
*Free after Art Alive general admission
