GLEN RIDGE, NJ — The 10th anniversary of “Art in Bloom,” an exhibition of flower arrangements inspired by holdings of the Montclair Art Museum, will have a five-day exhibition at the museum beginning May 16. The floral displays will be created by designers and garden clubs from the tristate area. One designer will be Glen Ridge resident Tova Narrett. In an interview earlier this week, at her home, she called the exhibition a “big deal.”
Narrett, a former designer of women’s luxury knitwear, is a member of the Montclair Garden Club. She had contacted the museum and said she was interested in exhibiting. A floral design of hers had been displayed at the museum last year.
“At the Montclair Art Museum, there was a fundraiser in May during the Matisse show,” she said. “I loved the Odalisque, lots of flower arrangements and fabric.”
For that display, Narrett cut rhododendron leaves ala Matisse who is famous for his paper cutouts. Narrett, who said Matisse is her favorite artist, painted the leaves.
Her request for “Art in Bloom” was accepted.
She was asked from what would she prefer to work, a painting or sculpture. She said sculpture and was sent a photograph of “Appeal to the Great Spirit,” a bronze by Cyrus Dallin. The museum invited her to see it. She went with her husband, Zachary. Narrett said there were about 45 designers at the event. Almost 20 were members of the Montclair Garden Club.
The selected sculpture is of a Native American, mounted bareback on a horse, with his arms outstretched and his gaze high into the sky. Dallin, 1861-1944, was noted for his sculptures of Native Americans. Although the model from which Narrett will be inspired fits into a niche at the museum, a full-sized “Appeal to the Great Spirit” stands at the entrance of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. The image was also used by the Beach Boys on a record label.
Narrett and her husband jotted down their thoughts about the sculpture. She wrote that it was luminous bronze; modelled texture; earthy modeling; inner glow; subtle glow; quiet dignity; simple; and timeless. A number of her descriptions were directly related to the material and how it was handled.
“I wrote down what I wanted to express about the piece,” she said. “It was classical, timeless, direct, powerful and simple.”
Her husband wrote that it was a plea; a supplication to distant forces. His jottings were more thematic. Narrett said she is keeping an open mind.
“I’ve been thinking of it as being about a strong connection to nature,” she said. “That’s totally appropriate to flower design. The whole exhibition is about combining the world of art and nature.”
The completed floral display is due at the museum a day before the exhibition opens. It is due May 15. Narrett is mulling over what she would like to present.
“I have never done anything like this before,” she said. “I would like to use native American plants. That’s all I’ve thought of, so far.”
But she said her arrangement will have a strong, sculptural design. But whatever she plans to do will have to wait for the weather.
“There’s snow outside,” she said. “I like to scavenge all my material.”
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