Spring is in the air at the St. Louis Art Museum until Sunday, March 13th.  It’s Art In Bloom, an annual collection of 35 floral arrangements done by area florists and garden clubs that mimic the works in the gallery. The 35 pieces are scattered about the museum, depicting everything from vases to rugs to furniture to classic paintings. Seeing how florists choose to interpret the work is fascinating. Some literal (see photo of Enforcer by Alice Gibson below), some not so much (a floral depiction of George Washington by Rembrandt Peale was a stretch to say the least).

How does the art/floral paring come to be? Well, the museum determines which pieces they want in the show. Then in January, the florists meet and draw their assigned artwork out of a hat. The only stipulation is that you can’t use big vases filled with water or include food in your arrangement – basically anything that might harm the art if spilled. Otherwise, everything else is free game.

Charing Cross Bridge by Claude Monet, Flowers by Melinda Roeleveld

Enforcer by Alice Gibson, Flowers by Carte Blanche, Garden Club of Illinois

La Havre: Le Gran Quai by Maurice de Vlaminck, Flowers by Christine Anson

Carnival Mask, Green Violet, and Pink by Max Beckmann, Flowers by The Garden Club of St. Louis

This year was wonderful as always- the galleries smelled like Spring and were bustling with people. If you have kids, go tomorrow. The museum hosts free drop in activities geared around the exhibit especially for children- and opportunities to meet the Very Hungry Caterpillar and the Wild Thing from Where the Will Things Are.