BOSTON—The biggest, most spectacular, once-in-a-lifetime flower show just concluded at the Seaport World Trade Center and other venues around the city.
In a departure from the popular annual horticultural-style Boston Flower and Garden Show, this was the 10th International Flower Show of the WAFA (World Association of Floral Arrangers) that presented the finest arrangements from around the globe. The event featured some of the most influential floral designers in the world.
The WAFA was formed in 1981 in the United Kingdom with the hope of growing the organization to represent all floral arranging societies internationally. The WAFA today boast a 230,000-member international community of floral designers from international floral art societies representing 31 member countries.
The first world show was held in the U.K. Every three years the WAFA moves to another member country to conduct a seminar followed by a world show. This triennial event has been hosted by Pakistan, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Belgium, twice by the United Kingdom, and Ireland will be the next host country, explained WAFA President Ruth Crocker.
The next WAFA show won’t be back on U.S. soil for at least another 93 years.
The 10th International Flower Show, “This Glorious Earth” was the tremendous effort of WAFA USA, a committee formed to make this event possible. It consists of 10 members drawn from The Garden Club of America and the National Garden Clubs. Members of the MFA Associates—Museum of Fine Arts, Boston—have also been active in contributing to the show’s success.
The prestigious show featured 630 floral designs from leading designers in the world representing 32 countries, along with programs of floral art competitions and demonstrations, and a lecture series from internationally renowned floral arrangers. There were four other events hosted around the city to spotlight the artistry of the top designers.
Design luminaries included multi-award-winning designers Eileen Wenn, Australia; Mit Ingelaere, Belgium; Marisa Bergagnini, Canada; Carol Bone, Ireland; Farhana Azim, Pakistan; five grand designers—Brigitte Auzely, France; Alison Bradley, Scotland; Carles Fontanillas, Spain; Gregor Lersch, Germany; Niels van Hemert, France; and six designers from the United States—Lee La Pointe, Julia Clevett, Jane Godshalk, and three top floral designers from Massachusetts, Natasha Tobin, Julie Lapham, and Tony Todesco. “One-third of the designers are from the U.S.”, Ruth Crocker said, “The other two-thirds are from around the world, representing all continents other than Antarctica.”
“Through its worldwide scope WAFA enhances the diversity of the floral art form by transcending international cultural barriers and bringing together fresh ideas,” she said in a press release. “From demonstrations, to presentations, to finished works, it is obvious that every designer is quiet familiar and aware [of] the forte of their contemporary designers, and are ever ready to adopt and transform to enhance their own creation. They are highly respectful of each other’s work and there are no boundaries of ideas and culture to speak of.”
The finale, “European Fusion in Flowers” was held at the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theater. It featured five grand European designers that shared with thousands of audience members not only the magnificence of their craft, but their inner thoughts, concepts, affinities, and perspectives on almost every facet of their creations. They were humorous, witty, as well as sincere in their commentaries to their work and with each other. They have a camaraderie and told the audience their shared experiences of good and profound times. Their depth, essence, and worldview were reflected in their work. They did not present just one or two creations but went generously on for five rounds.
There is something quintessential about flowers as an art medium, adapted to human expression and intent.
One cannot help but come away with a sense of appreciation and peace that lingered long after the show. One is nourished for having witnessed the beauty each designer had created, not only in its exterior aesthetic and form, but also the designer’s peace, inner beauty, creativity, a sense of him or herself, and of the world, were expressed and shared, in silence, more powerful and subliminal than in words.
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