The San Diego Museum of Art’s 37th annual Art Alive returns April 26 – April 29, 2018, bringing together 100+ floral designers to transform works of art into exquisite floral displays. As the Museum’s signature fundraiser and a highly anticipated San Diego spring tradition, Art Alive 2018 brings works of art to life during a four-day celebration that will provide support for the Museum’s education and outreach programs as well as special exhibitions.
Art Alive has grown significantly over the years. Last year it welcomed more than 12,000 attendees and set a new record for funds raised. This year, Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz, the wife-and-husband team behind Waterlily Pond Studio in San Francisco, have been selected as the Rotunda Designers. The duo will transform the Museum’s famed Rotunda into a blaze of color, bright blossoms, and lush foliage in honor of Nancy Lorenz: Moon Gold, the Museum’s spring exhibition opening on Friday, April 27. Lisitsa and Schultz are known for their larger-than-life floral installations, architectural design style and innovative use of materials. They have been commissioned by the Museum of Modern Art, the de Young Museum and many other prominent cultural organizations to create large-scale floral art installations and were recently awarded the Grand Prize at the International Floral Festival in Cordoba, Spain.
Art Alive 2018 will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 27, through Sunday, April 29. General admission is free for members, $25 for nonmembers, $5 for youth (ages 7 to 17), and free for children age 6 and under.
“We’re delighted to present Art Alive for the 37th time to our community, especially as it coincides with the launch of contemporary artist Nancy Lorenz’s Moon Gold exhibition,” said Roxana Velásquez, Maruja Baldwin Executive Director at The San Diego Museum of Art. “The opportunity to work with floral designers and contemporary artists to bring this vision to life is always an extraordinary endeavor. With funds raised throughout the weekend that go toward education programs and outreach, it’s a San Diego tradition that we are honored to share with the community each year.”
In addition to viewing the annual floral exhibition during Museum hours, Art Alive 2018 offers four full days of events, activities and celebrations, including:
Art Alive 2018 Premiere Dinner
Thursday, April 26 – 6:30 p.m.
An intimate black-tie event, the Premiere Dinner is set within the Museum’s galleries and is available exclusively to Honorary Committee Premiere Patrons.
BLOOM BASH
Friday, April 27 – 7:00 p.m. – Midnight
$200 for members and $250 for nonmembers
The BLOOM BASH Opening Celebration is the official Art Alive kickoff party. The celebration will feature custom art installations by HYBYCOZO artists, Yelena Filipchuk and Serge Beaulieu from San Francisco, who create geometric and iridescent light installations; and Taylor Dean Harrison, the Los Angeles-based artist who creates mixed media sculptures. Works by both HYBYCOZO and Taylor Dean Harrison have been showcased at Burning Man and other arts festivals around the world.
BLOOM BASH also features culinary creations from San Diego’s top restaurants and chefs, floral-infused cocktails, Modern Times beer and coffee, live music and dancing, interactive entertainment and an exclusive after-hours viewing of this year’s floral exhibition.
Flower Crown Making Workshop
Saturday, April 28 – 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
$75 for members and $100 for nonmembers
New for 2018, The San Diego Museum of Art is partnering with Native Poppy, a San Diego-based floral design company and boutique, to offer a flower crown making workshop.
Garden of Activities
Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29 – Noon – 4:00 p.m.
Free after Art Alive admission
Great for families, the Garden of Activities features a Museum-wide flower hunt, a children’s reading area complete with nature-inspired stories and a variety of floral-themed art projects designed for children and families to enjoy together.
About Art Alive
As the Museum’s largest annual fundraiser, Art Alive highlights its permanent collection to provide critical support for education, outreach programs and special exhibitions year-round. For more information or to make a donation in support of this San Diego tradition, call the Art Alive Hotline at (619) 696-1999, or contact the Museum at artalive@sdmart.org. Tickets are also available online at sdmart.org/artalive.
Support for Art Alive has been provided by Art Alive 2018 Leading Sponsor: The Conrad Prebys Foundation; Signature Sponsor: Audrey S. Geisel, Dr. Seuss Fund, The San Diego Foundation. The Art Alive 2018 Premiere Dinner Chairs are Toni Bloomberg, Valerie Cooper, Lynda Kerr, and Demi Rogozienski. BLOOM BASH chairs are Jill Larson, Mitch Mitchell, and Alexis Ranglas-Behseta.
