San Francisco, December 14, 2010—This year, Bouquets to Art, the glorious annual flower festival sponsored by the San Francisco Auxiliary of the Fine Arts Museums, celebrates the much anticipated exhibition Balenciaga and Spain. This ground-breaking exhibition will be on view at the de Young Museum shortly after the close of Bouquets to Art.

For five days, March 15–19, more than 150 innovative floral designers pay tribute to and draw inspiration from the art at the de Young’s permanent collection by creating arrangements for public display. Lectures by noted floral designers, luncheons and afternoon teas on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday complement the flower-bedecked galleries and public spaces in the museum. Bouquets to Art 2011 concludes on Saturday, March 19, with a benefit drawing of spectacular prizes including jewelry and other luxury items.

Bouquets to Art and Balenciaga and Spain
In anticipation of Balenciaga and Spain, which is supported in part by the San Francisco Auxiliary, this year the popular flower festival adopts a Spanish theme. Bouquets to Art 2011 launches on Monday, March 14, with a festive opening night preview party featuring Spanish décor. In addition to a sneak preview of the spectacular array of floral arrangements by the most sought-after Bay Area, national and international designers, the lavish Spanish buffet by McCall Associates and hosted bars, the evening will be further enhanced by music provided by a Spanish guitar trio.

Balenciaga and Spain at the de Young, developed by guest curator Hamish Bowles, European editor at large for Vogue, is the first exhibition to examine the impact of Spain’s culture, history and art on one of its greatest artists, couturier Cristóbal Balenciaga. The exhibition will showcase approximately 120 ensembles, many of them generously lent from the Balenciaga Archives as the result of an unprecedented collaboration. Accessories and photographs together provide a complete picture of Balenciaga’s creativity and sources of inspiration. The exhibition opens at the de Young on March 26, 2011.

27 Years of Bouquets to Art
Now in its 27th year, Bouquets to Art has attracted over 560,000 visitors and raised over $4.74 million in net proceeds, which have been used to fund an impressive roster of special exhibitions, art acquisitions, educational programs and special projects at the Legion of Honor and the de Young Museum.

Recent exhibitions supported by Bouquets to Art include International Arts and Crafts: William Morris to Frank Lloyd Wright, 2005; Marie-Antoinette at the Petit Trianon at Versailles, 2007; and The State Museums of Berlin and the Legacy of James Simon, 2008. In 2010, funds from Bouquets to Art supported the two Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay exhibitions.

Bouquets to Art funds have made possible the acquisition of the Crown Point Press Archive, a rare Nimrud ivory from Mesopotamia dating from the 8–9th century B.C., an exceptional early 20th-century French glass vase by Emile Galle and a Paracas turban and a Naxca Colombian woven band.

The Fine Arts Museums’ Education Department has also received support from Bouquets to Art for the Get Smart with Art program and in 2007 it received a substantial gift of unrestricted funds.

Bouquets to Art 2011 Schedule of Events
Monday, March 14
6:30–9:30 pm: Opening Night Preview Party, featuring floral exhibits, lavish buffet by McCall Associates, hosted bars and live music by a Spanish guitar trio.

Tuesday, March 15
9:30 am–5:15 pm: Floral exhibits, luncheons and afternoon teas
10 am: Lecture by J. Keith White, Houston-based floral designer
1:30 pm: Lecture by Reverend William McMillan, Belfast-based floral designer

Wednesday, March 16
9:30 am–5:15 pm: Floral exhibits, luncheons and afternoon teas
10 am: Lecture by Shane Connolly, London-based floral designer
1:30 pm: Flora Grubb and Susie Nadler, San Francisco floral designers
6–8 pm: The Fine Arts Museums members-only evening

Thursday, March 17
9:30 am–5:15 pm: Floral exhibits, luncheons and afternoon teas
10 am: Lecture by Soho Sakai, East Bay floral designer
1:30 pm: Lecture by Kate Berry, New York City-based floral designer

Friday, March 18
9:30 am–8:45 pm: Floral exhibits

Saturday, March 19
9:30 am–5:15 pm: Floral exhibits, benefit drawing

Bouquets to Art 2011 Ticketing
General admission allows access to all floral exhibits and special exhibition galleries. Tickets go on sale February 1, 2011. Advance general admission tickets may be purchased up to 24 hours prior to your visit either online or in person at the museum box office. Day-of-visit general admission ticket purchases include an additional $5 surcharge. Adult tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door, senior 65+ tickets are $17 in advance and $22 at the door, youth 6–17 tickets are $16 in advance and $21 at the door and children 5 and under are free. FAMSF members receive free admission and do not need to make advance reservations for general admission. Member tickets may be picked up at the membership desk on the day of the visit. Advance tickets are required for the opening night preview party, luncheons, lectures and afternoon teas. For more information and to order tickets, go to deyoungmuseum.org.