Art Blooms Again!

After what seems like an interminable winter, signs of spring have finally emerged – species tulips and narcissus are peeking out of the earth while snowdrops and some hellebores are already blooming. What’s also getting ready to bloom is the Norwood Evening Garden Club’s 15th Annual Art in Bloom event, which features artwork from students in Norwood and Walpole with interpretations of that art in floral arrangements done by club members.
Nancy Costa, chairman of the event, explained that many of the members do not consider themselves floral designers, but she believes that each year they put forth increasingly beautiful designs,
“Some of which are worthy of Boston MFA’s Art in Bloom after which the exhibit is patterned,” Costa said.
The George H. Morse House, at 1285 Washington Street, in South Norwood, has hosted the event for 12 of its past 14 years, and will once again introduce Art in Bloom on Saturday, April 6,10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday April 7,1- 5 p.m. Admission is free and the public is welcome and encouraged to attend to support the student artists.
This collaboration between the garden club and Norwood and Walpole High Schools has become a rite of spring for many members of the club. Many different forms of artwork are submitted by the schools each year from printmaking, to drawing and painting, to ceramics and sculpture, to computer generated pieces and mixed media. Along with their artwork, each student submits a paragraph about their assignment to help the arranger understand the intent of their piece, how they approached it and the mediums they used to create it.
“Some of the interpretations will be challenging but I expect that the members’ arrangements will be as creative as the artwork itself,” Costa said.
“I especially enjoy seeing the students when they come to see how their art has been interpreted by our members, and even more so when the artist and arranger come together – it’s a very happy meeting,” Norwood Evening Garden Club President Sheela Venkatesh said. “I hope more students from both schools come to see the artistry of their fellow students, and I hope many members of the community will make the time to visit the show.”
Perhaps the best part of the exhibition is the impact it has on the students.
“Monday after the exhibit is always a great day for me, because the students always come back from the show so excited and impressed,” Norwood’s Department Chair of Visual Arts 6-12 ,” Laurie Mead McGrory said. “They hear me talking about it and showing them photos of Art in Bloom, but it does not have the wow factor until they see the show for themselves. When they see their own work interpreted in flowers, they are always amazed. The flower arrangements always help the students to see their work in a brand new way.”
According to Walpole Grades 6-12 Visual Arts Teacher and the Art Department Head Sandra Allison, Art in Bloom similarly touches the Walpole students.
"The Walpole High School students get really excited to hear their artwork has been chosen for Art in Bloom and they enjoy writing an artist statement about their work for the Norwood Evening Garden Club to use as inspiration,” Allison said. “ But the best part for the students is going to see the floral interpretation that goes with their artwork and meeting the garden club artist. It is also a great opportunity to collaborate with another high school."
Garden club members who will create floral designs are: Ann Marie Bielenin, Norma Black, Shirley Booth, Susan Cosman, Nancy Costa, Elaine Damren, Lorraine Devine, Tracy Firth, Lynn Fordham, Barbara Hopcroft, Judith Howard, Penni Jenkins, Donna Lane, Laura Lee, Janice Mullen, Kathleen Pellegrini, Ana Puzey, Julie Stenson, Janet Taylor, Sheela Venkatesh, Lois Walsh, Debbie Wells, and Wendy Wilhelm.
Students from Norwood High School whose art will be interpreted are: Joseph Barry, Tara Bilotta, Courtney Cole, Noelle Connelly, Mariam El Awad, Jasmine James, Alyssa Lahaisa, Mary Marinucci, Isaiah Mendez-Godly, JT Needham, Chloe Ronco, Emma Senna.
Participating Walpole High School artists include: Moira Byrne, Gianna Calisi, Julia Connell, Haley Gilmore, Margaret Mahoney, Julianna Rivera, Annika Ruda, Rachael Smith, Sara Stranahan, Brianna Vitelli, Joseph Waitekus, shley Wong
The Art in Bloom program is supported in part by a grant from the Norwood Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. For information about the Norwood Evening Garden Club and to see photos of past Art in Bloom events, go to www.NorwoodEveningGardenClub.com.