San Francisco, November 2011—Over 140 of the Bay Area’s most innovative and sought after floral designers create a spectacular array of floral arrangements in the de Young Museum for Bouquets to Art 2012. In creating their arrangements, these designers pay tribute to and draw inspiration from the art in the de Young’s permanent collections. The annual five-day event—presenting floral designs that range from the stunningly simple to the elaborately complex—attracts a large and enthusiastic following from the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Lively and engaging floral demonstrations by noted local, national and international floral designers, and luncheons and afternoon teas by McCalls on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday complement the flower-bedecked galleries and public spaces in the museum. Bouquets to Art 2012 concludes on Saturday, March 17, with a raffle drawing of deluxe prizes that include jewelry, travel packages and other luxury items.

28 Years of Bouquets to Art
In the 28 years since its inception, this popular and much anticipated event has drawn over 600,500 visitors and raised nearly $5 million in net proceeds. Funds from Bouquets to Art have been used to help underwrite an impressive roster of special exhibitions, art acquisitions, educational programs and special projects at the Legion of Honor and the de Young Museum. Proceeds from Bouquets to Art 2011 were used to fund, in part, Masters of Venice: Renaissance Painters of Passion and Power from the Kunsthistoriches Museum, Vienna, on view at the de Young through February 12, 2012. This exhibition provides visitors with an exclusive opportunity to view a selection of paintings from one of the world’s finest collections, including works by Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese and Mantegna.

Other recent exhibitions supported by Bouquets to Art include Balenciaga and Spain, 2011; the two Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay exhibitions in 2010; The State Museums of Berlin and the Legacy of James Simon, 2008; Marie-Antoinette at the Petit Trianon at Versailles, 2007; and International Arts and Crafts: William Morris to Frank Lloyd Wright, 2005.

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, a Paracas turban and a Naxca Colombian woven band.

The Fine Arts Museums’ Education Department regularly receives support from Bouquets to Art for specific programs such as Get Smart with Art, as well as gifts of unrestricted funds.

Bouquets to Art 2012 Schedule of Events

Tuesday, March 13
9:30 am–5:15 pm: Floral exhibits, luncheons and afternoon teas

10 am: Floral demonstration by George and Evonne Woods, Southern California-based floral designers

1:30 pm: Floral demonstration by Shane Connolly, London-based floral designer

Wednesday, March 14
9:30 am–5:15 pm: Floral exhibits, luncheons and afternoon teas

10 am: Floral demonstration by Shane Connolly, London-based floral designer

1:30 pm: Floral demonstration by Emily Thompson, New York-based floral designer

6–8 pm: Fine Arts Museums members-only evening

Thursday, March 15
9:30 am–5:15 pm: Floral exhibits, luncheons and afternoon teas

10 am: Floral demonstration by Ron Morgan, East Bay floral designer

6–8 pm: Fine Arts Museums members-only evening

Friday, March 16
9:30 am–8:45 pm: Floral exhibits

Saturday, March 17
9:30 am–5:15 pm: Floral exhibits, raffle drawing

Bouquets to Art 2012 Ticketing
General admission allows access to all floral exhibits and special exhibition galleries. Tickets go on sale Monday, February 13, 2012. Adult tickets are $20, senior 65+ tickets are $17, youth 6–17 tickets are $16 and children 5 and under and FAMSF members are free. General admission tickets may be purchased in advance either online or in person at the museum box office during regular museum hours. Advance tickets are required for the opening night gala, luncheons, floral demonstrations and afternoon teas. For more information and to order tickets, go to deyoungmuseum.org.