For six days in March, Fleurs de Villes MUSE transformed NorthPark Center into an exhibition hall filled with the natural beauty of vibrant and fragrant floral displays.
But what was the creative and logistical process that turned the ideas behind these designs into stunning displays of living art?
MUSE was described as a floral homage to the muses who inspire great artists, reimagined in fresh flowers and impressive design. The gallery at NorthPark showcased a curated collection of 17 one-of-a-kind fresh floral mannequins from talented North Texas designers in collaboration with local arts and cultural organizations.
Floral artist Sarah Cave of Lizzie Bee’s Flower Shoppe explained that the Richardson florist had been paired with the Dallas Opera and created a display based on Adina, the heroine of the Italian comic opera The Elixir of Love.
The Dallas Opera provided insight that helped guide Lizzie Bee’s design. Working with fresh flowers proved the most difficult aspect of creating the display, Cave said.
“We did a lot of pivoting on the day of the install, which is a challenge,” she explained. “But it’s also a lot of fun.”
NorthPark’s evacuation on March 25, hours before the event opened, added an additional twist to the florist’s preparation.
“That was not normally part of the show,” Cave remarked, chuckling ruefully. “But you just make it work and do what you can.”
Azita Kojoori of Fiore x 7, where flowers are a family affair, explained that the floral design company collaborated with the Dallas Arboretum to create a display inspired by Hunt Slonem, whose Bunnies, Birds and Butterflies installation can be viewed at the Arboretum through Sept. 30.
Fiore x 7 created a skirt inspired by a combination of Christian Dior couture and Slonem’s artwork. Its platform was entirely tulips, which can be found at the Arboretum in abundance this spring.
“Our branding is ‘when art and fashion meet flowers,’” noted Arezoo Kojoori, one of the seven women behind Fiore x 7. “So when we got this amazing opportunity, we tried to bring (Slonem’s) art and mix it with the fashion in the Arboretum landscape.”
Creativity was certain to bloom at MUSE, which brought together local floral talent and non-profit sponsors, including the Kimbell Art Museum, the Meadows Museum, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Nasher Sculpture Center.
Photo and selfie opportunities started early. NorthPark patrons watched the displays slowly take shape during live-build installs on Tuesday, March 24, before the display’s official opening the following evening.
Floral artists returned on Saturday, March 28, to meet the public, pose for photos, and answer questions.
Although the displays are now gone, MUSE delivered an event experience people will be talking about — and sharing — for a long time to come.
Author
Josh Hickman
Josh Hickman is a national award-winning journalist, visual artist, sometime musician, and author of seven books. His writing For People Newspapers often focuses on arts & culture, local small businesses, local history & government, and interesting personal stories. His paintings include a commission for Dallas County and a donation to Parkland Memorial Hospital.
