By Julie Ann Bell
People buying a bunch of flowers often ask, “How long will it last?” Flora artists Hanna Zahory, Grace Bates-Toulson, Allison Omlor and Gabrielle Thompson explore this question through an installation composed of flowers and plant material and enhanced by play of light, reflection, height and poignant ephemera to envelop participants in the spectrum of transience and grief.
The four creators are all local florists, at different stages in their careers and entering the profession from a variety of creative paths including gardening, collage, pottery and music. In talking over a cup of coffee, the group agreed they wanted to do something that was meaningful, inspirational and purpose-driven beyond just being aesthetically beautiful. For this project, they “chose to take their development into their own hands by collaborating,” says Bates-Toulson, adding that “in a world that often encourages individualism, we have chosen a collective approach and a chance to lift one another up.”
Grace Bates-Toulson and Hanna Zahory, floral designers. Photo by Simon Bonneau
Fascinated by the ephemeral, Zahory states that their objective is to “create an immersive portrayal of the transitions from life to death in a way that challenges our measure of worth by longevity and durability.” Committed to the vision, Bates-Toulson and Zahory went in search of a location and found the old elevator shaft in the hallway of the Aura Arts Building.
On display from Friday, April 10, to Thursday, April 16, in collaboration with Trackside Studios, the exhibition aims to “invite the public to hold hands with existence and mortality through immersion in the experience,” says Bates-Toulson. The hanging installation begins two stories above with lush fabrics and a mobile of florals and materials “representing our ties to this life.”
Viewers can step inside to feel fully surrounded by the experience. For a different angle, they can view the creation from an upstairs balcony. Floral art by Trackside Studio artists will be on display in the hallway as one approaches the installation.
Zahory and Bates-Toulson describe flowers as a medium to tell a story and a powerful natural element to be reckoned with. The florist may have a vision, but needs to remain flexible as each flower will bend or open in its own way. Creating with flowers means recognizing that one is working with perishable goods. The same type of flower may last days or weeks, making it impossible to answer the customer’s question about longevity. To further demonstrate beauty and value at any stage, both fresh and dried flowers will be used in the installation and fresh flowers will not be replaced as they wilt.
Some visitors may pass through quickly and others may choose to stay a while, perhaps grappling with their own experiences of grief, loss or transitions. Either way, the creators hope that pausing even a few seconds will offer people a chance to shake out of the rat race of the day and absorb the powerful presence of the flowers.
Trackside Studios is located at 375 Depot Street in the River Arts District. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and by appointment. Learn more at TracksideStudios.com.
