Garden Club teaches not only horticulture and community service, but also Floral Design, both Traditional and Creative styles, this article is about the Creative. National Garden Clubs, Inc. (NGC) first introduced Creative Design Style in the late 1950’s. “Many members were studying art and applying their knowledge of international art history and its creative movements to floral designing. Primary among these influences were: Impressionism, the effect of light on objects; Fauvism, simplified design in strong color; Expressionism, spirit of revolt and self-expression; Art Nouveau, a highly decorative style, dedication to natural forms; Art Deco, an elegant style of decorative art characterized by angular symmetrical geometric forms; Cubism, geometrical forms and fragmentations; Surrealism, the psychological aspect in art; and Abstractionism, with emphasis on the non-realistic and unnatural.”
Today NGC Creative Floral Design is an accepted art form in which creativity, imagination, and originality are essential.
As with all art, Creative Floral Design is based and judged on the Principles of Design: Balance, Contrast, Dominance, Proportion, Rhythm, & Scale and the Elements of Design: Color, Form Light, Line, Pattern, Size, Space and Texture. Floral Judges also look at the exhibitor’s Selection of Components, Organization of Components, Expression (interpretation of title), and Distinction.
At our recent meeting Cascade Arrangers Guild members were challenged with the assignment of creating a Synergistic Creative Design. The definition of a Synergistic Design from the Handbook for Flower Shows is: “1. A Creative Design of three or more units. If organized in containers, a minimum of two-thirds must contain plant material and other optional components. 2. Balance, rhythm, and harmony may be achieved through all units sharing common characteristics of colors, textures, and forms. 3. Design may be further unified through use of a connectives. 4. The individual units (containers) should not appear as completed designs in themselves, but when all units are combined they create a completed and artistic whole, for the definition of “Synergism” is “The art of two or more units necessary to achieve an effect of which each is individually incapable.” My 60 year old dictionary defines synergism as the joint action of different substances in producing an effect greater than the sum of the effects of all the substances acting together. Synergism translates from the Greek synergos working together.
I’ve included pictures of four designs from our Cascade Arrangers Guild meeting. Each design is worthy of a first place ribbon. Remember, it is not too early to be thinking about your design entries for the Tehama District Fair coming in September. I invite readers to visit our monthly meetings to see what we do. Meetings are the first Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. We meet at the Neighborhood Church, 4684 Rhonda Road in Anderson.
Red Bluff Garden Club is a private non-profit organization, affiliated with National Garden Clubs, Inc.; Pacific Region; California Garden Clubs, Inc.; and Cascade District. We meet the last Tuesday at 12889 Baker Road, Red Bluff. Visitors are welcome.
