Art in Bloom // 2013

Art in Bloom 

April 2013

Huntsville Museum of Art

Hosted By: Women's Guild

I participated as one of the Floral Interpreters for this year's Art in Bloom hosted by the Women's Guild at the Huntsville Museum of Art.  This year I chose 'Wedge' by Robert Levin as the piece I that would be interpreted through the use of floral design.  This piece spoke to me because of its raw simplicity - the mixed driftwood and sea glass tied as one using rope. 

I have recently had a new found love for string gardens, so in turn I chose to create a beautiful string garden as the interpretive piece for Robert Levin's work of art.

Robert Levin's 'Wedge' // Inspiration for Floral Design

Mary Nelle Clem with String Garden Floral Interpretation + 'Wedge'

String Garden Floral Interpretation by Bluebottle + 'Wedge' Sculpture by Robert Levin

Orchid Detail in String Garden

Orchid + Dusty Miller Details in String Garden

Summary of Floral Design + Bio of Mary Nelle

Art in Bloom

Art in Bloom 

May 2011

Huntsville, Alabama

Hosted By: Huntsville Museum of Art

I participated in the Iron Florist Competition hosted by the Huntsville Museum of Art.  Myself along with floral designers out of Birmingham and New York City, competed to design a floral arrangement that represented a painting we were given in a limited amount of time.  We also had to incorporate a "Secret Element" into out design which we did not receive until the start of the competition.

This was near the beginning of the competition.  You can see in the background the photograph that served as our inspiration for the design.

Me on the big screen working to finish my design

Here the competition was coming to a close

This was one of the members & judges of the Huntsville Museum of Art giving a synopsis of Bluebottle

My famous weatherman who gathered tokens for the winner of Crowd Favorite

The final design with the inspiration painting

A close up of the arrangement

I added petals to the eyebrows and mouth of the vase to add extra detail to the arrangement

Paper butterflies were also incorporated throughout the arrangement

Me and my daughter, Mary Catherine

All of the participants and judges

I won Feast for the Eyes from the Judges & Crowd Favorite!

The secret ingredient was a paint roller and brush....

The final product!

This was such a fun event to participate in!  It was also an excellent learning experience and such a  pleasure to meet other designers from Birmingham & New York.

Atlanta's Junior League Annual Ball

This past fall, I volunteered my time to assist John Grady in the set up of his floral designs for this years Annual Swan Ball.   I had the opportunity to learn a more hand on experience of designing for an event of this magnitude. 

HGTV's Laurie Smith

HGTV's, Laurie Smith, hosted a lecture at Athens State University this past fall.  I had the opportunity to design the floral arrangements and dinner presentation for this event.