The New Orleans Museum of Art is getting ready to flood its galleries with flowers again, as Art in Bloom returns from Thursday, March 19 through Sunday, March 22. The weeklong showcase, themed "Marsh Madness," will send floral installations winding through the museum and pair public viewings with a lecture, an online silent auction, and a luncheon-and-fashion show. As in years past, the event raises money for NOMA exhibitions and educational programs while also backing community projects run by the Garden Study Club of New Orleans, as reported by NOMA.
According to NOMA, First Horizon Bank is back as presenting sponsor, with Carroll Gelderman Zimmer and Helen Read Young serving as this year's chairs. The "Marsh Madness" theme draws on the natural beauty of the region's swamps and wetlands, guiding floral designs that will spill across all three floors of the museum.
"Every year, the New Orleans Museum of Art welcomes thousands of visitors for Art in Bloom," said NOMA director Susan M. Taylor in a statement reported by New Orleans Magazine. Patrons and sponsors get the earliest look on Wednesday, March 18, with a patron party from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by a preview party from 7 to 9 p.m. General admission to view the floral displays starts at $23.
Lecture, Luncheon and Fashion Show
Per NOMA, the Art in Bloom lecture series continues with T. J. McGrath on Thursday, March 19 at 10:30 a.m. in the Lapis Center for the Arts. The lecture will be followed by the luncheon and fashion show at 12:30 p.m. at the Pavilion of the Two Sisters. The event page notes that Ralph Brennan Catering and Events will handle the food, while SOSUSU sponsors the fashion presentation featuring looks by designer Edeline Lee.
Silent Auction and Featured Artists
The silent auction, presented by New Orleans Auction, will run online for digital bidding from March 16 through 23, with items on display in NOMA's Coleman Courtyard from March 18 through 22. This year's invitation artwork and auction centerpiece highlights a painting by Pippin Frisbie-Calder, according to New Orleans Magazine. Proceeds from the auction and associated events support NOMA exhibitions, education programs, and the Garden Study Club's community grants.
Exhibitors will include garden clubs, ikebana practitioners, professional florists, and students from New Orleans schools, bringing the region's floral craft and design directly into the galleries. Seats for the luncheon and fashion show are limited, and organizers are encouraging early registration for the events that tend to sell out fastest.
