Stop and smell the roses this weekend at the NC Museum of Art's 'Art in Bloom' flower festival
Sure, we had some snow this week.
But inside the North Carolina Museum of Art, things are coming up roses. Literally.
The museum's Art in Bloom festival kicked off Thursday and will continue through the weekend. More than 50 florists from around the country were randomly assigned a piece of art in the museum's galleries.
Their mission: use that art to inspire a floral creation.
Art in Bloom is celebrated throughout the entire complex. For example, some menu items at Iris, the restaurant in the West Building, will feature edible flowers.
Think of the museum as a temporary greenhouse.
The featured florist is Arthur Williams from Denver, who is known for his "edgy and avant-garde" arrangements, according to the museum, as well as floral headpieces. Williams, who has won Colorado Florist of the Year twice, will host a class March 24 on botanicals.
Steve Taras of Watered Garden Florist is another featured presenter.
Classes will feature topics like flower care, Japanese floral design, flower meditation, bonsai for beginners, a scavenger hunt and a Pinks and Inks party, where models will be "tattooed" in flowers.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. March 22 and 23, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 24 and 25.
Tickets are required to enter the normally free West Wing building. Tickets are $13 for members, $18 for nonmembers and free for children 6 and under. Related events and classes are ticketed separately.
The East Building and the Museum Park remain free and open to visitors.
Proceeds support museum programming and exhibitions and benefit the NCMA Foundation.
Save your tickets and use the ticket stub to get $2 off admission to "You are Here: Light, Color and Sound Experiences," the massive interactive exhibit opening April 7.
Last week, large bouquets of flowers were placed in Raleigh trash cans, inspired by "flower flashes" in New York City, to promote the events. Displays, made by Taras, were spotted at cans in Five Points, in downtown Raleigh in front of Artspace, Blue Ridge Realty's condo building on Glenwood Avenue, Chavis Park and Dix Park.
For a full schedule and costs, go to ncartmuseum.org/bloom or call 919-715-5923.
The museum is at 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh.
This story was originally published March 22, 2018 at 7:16 PM with the headline "Stop and smell the roses this weekend at the NC Museum of Art's 'Art in Bloom' flower festival."