THE ARTIST'S STUDIO in review

THE ARTIST'S STUDIO opened to rave reviews by members and their guests at a much anticipated cocktail party fundraiser at the Seligmamn Homestead on Friday evening, May 21. Cameras were everywhere and I'm sure we wil see the results posted here in short order. Laura Haley, a GCA flower judge, has graciously sent us the judges' review of the show and I'm sure we can all profit from it. As impressive as we found the show to be, there is much to learn and so we are looking forward to having Laura come next spring for a workshop. In the meantime, her report follows:


The Artist’s Studio was a delightful club show held in a magical setting in rural, bucolic Orange County. The show was beautifully staged with black backgrounds serving as a strong contrast for the gardening, photography and flower arranging artists. The theme was elegantly presented in the schedule requesting creativity in reply to the challenging class titles. The esthetic Seligmann Homestead presented an artistic touch to Garden Club of Orange and Dutchess Counties sophisticated Club Flower Show.
Hospitality, organization and good cheer permeated the air in spite of intermittent sprinkles and rain. Clerks were knowledgeable, eager to please and well prepared. The Flower Show Committee was available and also eager to be of help. All staging was impeccable and the lighting was perfect.
The Photography Division was robust, showcasing the talent behind the lens of GC of the Orange and Dutchess members. The Artist’s Resting Place, in monochrome, resulted in interesting images, capturing the wit and style of each shutterbug. Matting and mounting was neat, clean and professional.
The cultural perfection throughout the Horticulture Division was very good, an achievement of note during this spring of constant rain. Mixed Palette, a collection of 4 or more plants with compatible growing conditions, produced a Best in Show as well as a Judge’s Commendation for the distinction of the class. Brush Stroke included some exceptional stems of merit. Grooming issues were few and, in light of the weather, somewhat expected.
Flower Arrangements were of good quality with creative responses to class titles. The novice class, Old Masters, yielded more traditional mass arrangements which are perhaps the easiest style for beginning arrangers to understand. The Best in Show was awarded in this class; congratulations to this Novice arranger. Water Colors (underwater) and Blank Canvas (synergistic) were both difficult design styles for a club show to undertake and it was admirable to attempt these more difficult arrangements. GC of Orange and Dutchess Counties should be proud of their members who were eager to understand the elements and principles of contemporary design styles. Perhaps workshops by a member of the Judging Program in Flower Arrangement would help to clarify the qualities of these styles for better understanding and interpretation. In general, exhibitors’ enthusiastic response to the schedule using exquisite and stunning plant material was reason to celebrate.
The Artist’s Studio was hung with color, design and talent for a blue ribbon producing event. A unanimous recommendation made by the Judges encourages Garden Club of Orange and Dutchess Counties to have an ‘opening’ on a larger canvas and let your hard work result in a GCA Flower Show as the membership is obviously ready and capable of undertaking the next level of show. Congratulations, The Artist’s Studio was masterful, illustrating precisely the maxim that ‘great art picks up where nature ends.’

Sincerely,

Laura Haley
Zone III, FSC Rep