Sense of renewal: Floral design an art form at Haven Gallery
A floral creation from Jen Todd of Immaculate Blossoms. Todd is curator of “Floral Fête: The Art of Spring in Bloom,” an upcoming show at Haven Gallery in Northport Village that merges floral design and fine art via creations from female-owned flower studios.
A freshly unique spin on spring, highlighting the intersection of fine art and floral design, is coming to Main Street later this month. The two-day exhibition, “Floral Fête: The Art of Spring in Bloom,” will feature a collective of female-owned floral studios who will transform Haven Gallery in Northport Village into an immersive environment of large-scale, site-specific installations. Each work will interpret the essence of spring through fresh florals, weaving seasonal colors, scents and textures into one-of-a-kind works of art that are both experiential and a little unexpected.
The exhibit will be open for viewing on April 18 and 19, with an opening reception scheduled for Saturday from 3 to 5pm.
Participating floral designers include Hometown Flower Co.; Harbor Homestead (at Nest on Main); Stems Allure; Bloom.; Perla Fleur; The Flower Petaler; The Flower Pot; The Hana Co.; and Immortal Blossoms.
Based out of her Northport home, from where she runs Immortal Blossoms, is event curator Jen Todd. For the Floral Fête exhibition, Todd strived to bring together a group of florists who see florals as not just just a product, but an art form. “There’s so much talent locally,” she said. “I really admire Hometown Flower Co. for their sustainable approach, The Flower Pot for her fun, moody designs, and The Hana Co. for her commitment to Hawaiian-grown flowers. Everyone brings something completely different, and I think together it’s going to make for a truly stunning exhibition.”
The mom of two young boys, Todd believes working from home has given her the flexibility to be more adventurous with her stems and overall designs: “A lot of my inspiration comes from the feeling I get when I’m creating – it almost feels like a flow state,” she said. “Time kind of disappears and the design starts to come together on its own. I try not to over-control it, and instead let things feel organic, a little unexpected, and alive.”
Todd is also inspired by the seasons; something she didn’t fully experience growing up in Florida. “Being in New York, I find myself drawn to the shifts in color, texture and mood throughout the year, and I just love using that in my work,” she said.
“So much of what we do is shaped by pricing, margins and just the reality of running a business – especially with how expensive everything is right now. I wanted to create a space where designers could step out of that for a minute and just have fun with it… be a little more whimsical, take risks and create something that really speaks to them.”
Todd’s piece for the exhibit is centered around the idea of serendipity and happy accidents, moments where something unplanned turns into something really beautiful, she said. “My business kind of came together in that same way, organically, after my grandmother passed. She loved plants and flowers, and in a way, this all grew out of that. So this piece is a nod to her, and to the idea that meaningful things can come from unexpected places.”
Todd thanked Haven Gallery curator and co-owner Erica Berkowitz for supporting the designers and their process leading up to the spring show. “I’m so excited for this exhibition and so grateful to Erica and our community,” Todd said. “My hope is that people walk away seeing florals a little differently – not just as decoration, but as something expressive and emotional, like any other form of art. And, of course, that they also walk away feeling like spring is finally here.”
“Floral Fête: The Art of Spring in Bloom” will be open to the public on Saturday, April 18 from 1:30 to 6pm, with a reception from 3 to 5pm, and Sunday, April 19, from 1:30 to 6pm. Haven Gallery is located at 50 Main Street in Northport. For more information, visit @havengallery and @immortal.blossoms on Instagram.
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