New York Botanical Garden Antique Garden Furniture Fair Preview Party & Collectors' Plant Sale

Last night I had the delightful pleasure of attending the The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) Preview Party for its annual garden ornament show,  Antique Garden Furniture Fair: Antiques for the Garden and the Garden Room.

While the weather whistled February, the calendar is adamantly demanding it is spring.  

For those "Doubting Thomas'" the pretty pink cherry blossom trees accessorizing the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory like strands of pink pearls, left no doubt.

Breezing past the too-chilly terrace area and cocktail bar, we were warmly greeting by the Garden's President, Gregory Long -- who was chatting with the doyenne of domestic bliss, Martha Stewart.  Martha looked all creamy in her toasted caramel jacket and said a hello before setting off to buy her plants.  

A Martha fern selection

NYBG President Gregory Long showcases Plant Collections

Inside the tented Garden Furniture Fair, the guests were aflutter snatching up the gorgeous plants that filled the first room.  NYBG provided a three-page/double-sided plant list for the Collector's Plant Sale.  A horticulturist's dream… In fact, the plants were all sold -- within 30 minutes!  While it didn't look like sales day at Macy's - it's much too elegant an affair - one had to be quick as a bunny to get your plants on!

SoPH student, Jared, helps carry out Sold plants with EunYoung Sebazco

Speaking of bunnies, decorator Bunny Williams was front and center, signing copies of her just released book, On Garden Style - an update on her 1998 book.  Williams was resplendent in her robin-egg blue fashion - that accented the equally stylish piece of "couture" garden art shimmering behind her like a bit of a royal crown.  

I learned from Bunny that her team borrowed the Garden Pavilion from a bit of garden royalty: Barbara Israel the Queen of all things garden-antiques. 

Bunny Williams

Barbara explained the provenance of the the Garden Pavilion.  She bought it in Chicago - and it most likely arrived in the Windy City by way of England, according to her research.  

Barbara Israel

It is a towering 14 feet and seven feet in diameter - so it had to be "squirted" into the NYBG Fair tent on its side and then raised up by a hand-cranked gantry.  

We agreed that in its "cover look" beauty it will be sure to attract a buyer who will find the one-of-a-kind whimsical Garden Pavilion irresistible.  And who can write a check $65,000. 

In general, there was an abundance of gorgeous iron collectible furniture and accessories, along with garden statues and fountains.   

All of the treasures are unique -- you just know there's a story to go along with each one;  part of the charm of owning an antique that just oozes quality and provenance.  

You will have the opportunity to peruse and buy from today, April 24, through Sunday, April 26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day to get your plants and antiques from NYBG's 23rd annual garden ornament show.

Debuting at the Preview is the Garden's first foray into paint colors!  The NYBG Shop in the Garden dug  into its rich archives - as they did for the Oscar de la Renta Collection -- to unearth (sorry - too rich!) lustrous, natural garden colors for the home, as produced for NYBG by their branding partner, Prestige. Garden Glamour readers stay tuned: more about all this brand extension initiatives and products to come. Very exciting! 

According to NYBG, this is the country’s original, largest, and most important venue for authentic garden antiques features more than 30 leading exhibitors offering their finest pieces for sale, displaying centuries of classic design inspiration gathered from across the United States and Europe. The Fair is a must for leading collectors and designers as well as buyers seeking professional advice. Named the “Best in America” by the experts and long held as the most renowned stage for authentic garden antiques and rarities, the annual Fair showcases fascinating antique furnishings and objects, an expansive collection of ornament, decorative art, and timeless furniture for the home and garden. 

All proceeds directly support the work of the curators and gardeners who are responsible for making The New York Botanical Garden one of the most important horticultural showplaces in the world.

Plus

"New this year, the Show features a Young Collectors’ Evening on Saturday, April 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. Up-and-coming designers and those with an eye for style can sip a complimentary cocktail, get expert advice from the antique dealers, and enjoy an exclusive tour by the Show Director. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from Stephen STARR Events. Special Event tickets are required."

Admission to the Antique Garden Furniture Fair on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday is included with the All-Garden Pass. Experts will be on-hand to answer questions on current decorating styles daily. They will also discuss trends in the appreciation and acquisition of garden ornament as well as assist buyers looking for the perfect piece to complement a garden, landscape, or interior.

Here you can browse and buy unique items of the highest quality and provenance, including fountains, sundials, statues, bird baths, gates, garden benches, antique wicker, urns and planters, botanical prints, and architectural ornament. Additionally, there will be exhibitors offering an array of interesting ways to bring the outdoors inside by creating garden rooms in your home.

Located at the entrance to the Antique Garden Furniture Fair, a Garden Room features a Specialty Plant Sale with an extensive selection of unusual, colorful plants representing some of horticulture’s finest growers. A variety of shrubs and trees, including Japanese maples, Itoh peonies and other perennials, as well as annuals and herbs will be available. Here, refreshments will be available for purchase, and an afternoon tea service will be hosted, accompanied by live music performed by classically trained artists.

The Antique Garden Furniture Fair takes place in a tent amid the flowering trees, plants, and shrubs outside the landmark Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Please visit our Web site for information about the All-Garden Pass, which includes access to the Fair, Botanical Garden grounds, Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, and Tram Tour. Advance tickets are available online at nybg.org


Preview Party People

It was good to see the always dashing, John Danzer - Munder Skiles.

Cutest handbag ever for a garden party!

Me and author & editor friend: Stephen Orr

Garden Specialist Renny Reynolds & Virginia Newman, Pennoyer & Newman 

2015 Exhibitor Listing

American Garage                                                        Los Angeles, Calif. (americangarageantiques.com)

Antediluvian                                                    Lake Placid, N.Y. (antediluvian.biz)

Arader Galleries                                                   New York, N.Y. & Philadelphia, Pa. (aradergalleries.com)

Balsamo                                                                        New York, N.Y. & Pine Plains, N.Y. (balsamoant.com)

David Bell Antiques                                            Washington, D.C. (1stdibs.com/dealers/david-bell/)

Blithewold Home                                                            Mount Kisco, N.Y. (blithewoldhome.com)

Joan Bogart                                                        Oceanside, N.Y. (joanbogart.com)

Brennan & Mouilleseaux                                      Northfield, Conn. (antiqueseclectic.com)

Cherry Gallery                                                    Damariscotta, Maine (cherrygallery.com)

Cottage & Camp                                                 Philadelphia, Pa. (cottagecamp.com)

Scott Estepp Gallery                                            Cincinnati, Ohio (scottesteppgallery.1stdibs.com)

Fine Antique Prints                                             Wayne, Pa. (fineantiqueprints.com)

Finnegan Gallery                                                 Chicago, Ill. (finnegangallery.com)

Firehouse Antiques                                              Galena, Md. (galenaantiquedistrict.com/firehouseantiques.html)

Fleur                                                                 Mount Kisco, N.Y. (fleur-newyork.com)

Hamptons Antique Galleries                                  Stamford, Conn. (hamptonsantiquegalleries.com)

Jeffrey Henkel                                                      Pennington, N.J.

Barbara Israel Garden Antiques                               Katonah, N.Y. (bi-gardenantiques.com)

Greg K. Kramer & Co.                                         Robesonia, Pa. (gregkramerandco.com)

Judith and James Milne At Home Antiques              New York, N.Y. & Kingston, N.Y. (milneantiques.com)

Aileen Minor                                                      Centreville, Md. (aileenminor.com)

More & More Antiques                                        New York, N.Y. (moreandmoreantiquesnyc.com)

Pagoda Red                                                        Chicago, Ill. (pagodared.com)

Francis J. Purcell Inc.                                           Philadelphia, Pa. (francisjpurcell.com)

The Red Horse Antiques                                       Bridgewater, Vt. (theredhorseantiques.com)

Schorr & Dobinsky                                              Bridgehampton, N.Y. (schorranddobinsky.com)

Shop in the Garden                                              Bronx, N.Y. (nybgshop.org)

Linda & Howard Stein                                         Solebury, Pa. (bridgehamptonantiques.com)

The Sugarplum                                                   Wilmot, N.H. 

Village Braider Antiques                                       Plymouth, Mass. (villagebraider.com)

Bob Withington Antiques                                     York, Maine (withingtonandcompanyantiques.com)

Art in Nature Show Opens to Triumphant Reception: Discover Art Ecstasy in Garden State And on the Web! Shop Now.

Angels That You Need, Zeet Peabody

What better way to celebrate Earth Day 2015 than to visit the Art in Nature show at the AJ Dillion Gallery?
The month-long exhibition of art inspired by Nature is a glorious way to mark the significant
nexus of art and the natural world.  From the pretty beauty of botanical art and illustration to the powerful paintings of storm fury to the edibles of Ecuador by Bek Millhouse, the glamour of the Manolo Valdes at NYBG rendered by photographer James Murray  or the mysterious beauty of Kokedama garden art created by EunYoung, Silver Flower -- or fashion by Marissa Erickson Fashion or dreamy tree paintings by Jessica Wohlers -- and happy botanical art as soon by a Beatrix Potter Zeet Peabody, along with so many others including a Picasso-like Ed Fendley Profiles | Facebook, Leona Tenebruso-Shultes spectacular art, Michelle Lombard, and Mike Quon and his collages along with the powerful paintings of Dawn DiCicco . 
And I adore the performance art of Chanel Sampson Plant Killer  

I wanted the visitors and guests to be enchanted from the first moment they got to the Gallery. 

I sketched out my “Into the Woods” dream concept design.  

Then, working with Jessie Wohlers, artist and stylist (among her many talents) - we visited the floral district in Gotham to secure our materials.  All the elements soon came together: bold wisteria vines, twinkling lights, glass orbs to hang on the trees filled with lights, colorful butterflies, silk ombre shaded gauzy material that would serve as the grass, and lots and lots of pink rose petals to scatter on the “grass.”  We also got some plants and big sea shells - the Gallery is just a block in from the bay, after all -- yet another nod to Nature.

We got the vellum paper for Jessie to paint up the ethereal tree branches - to be suspended or floating fro the wisteria tree branches.  Those branches were molded in shape by Jessie’s body force!  Talk about girl power!  

Soon, after a bit of clean up

Jessie, prepping for the Art in Nature window displays

the artful pieces of the window display and the art on the walls was coming together.  

EunYoung & her popular Kokedama art

With her Kokedama Moss Art in tow from New York, EunYoung created her moss composition. Jessie was getting flirty with the charcoal and vellum to make the window art complete.

Fashion Art, Marissa Erickson

Photographic art3 - James Murray's photography & as seen in Manolo Valdes book of NYBG sculpture in the Garden 

Meanwhile, I was doing a bit of everything and still trying to get all the art in -- (it’s a little like herding cats…)  

Jessie Wohlers putting the finishing touches on her Art in Nature submission

I also wanted to get our elected officials in the loop - and did manage to secure congratulatory letters from Congressman Frank Pallone and Fair Haven Councilwoman Aimee Humphreys - which Frank read at the opening reception and have since proudly posted on the wall.  Thank you!

Emily and Frank were seemingly everywhere, getting bios up on the site, getting the art prices and names suitable for hanging. 

Frank: pre-show hanging art

Music set up time 

The day of the opening was beautiful.  But there was still much to do.  We weren’t nervous per se about attendance at the gala reception; at the same time, one couldn’t ignore it was Passover and the day before Easter.  The party plans proceeded unabated.

I worked up till 30 minutes before opening!  

My brother, the Grammy-Nominated musician, James Popik and one of his most popular chanteuse, Jen Starr, were already setting up for their jazzy-song filled music when I had to race home to get ready.

By the time I returned, the Gallery was glittering.  And not just from the Into the Woods display windows!  There were sooo many people milling about, enjoying the wine and cheese, each other on a lovely spring evening -- and most of all: the Art. The glorious, compelling, provocative art -- all of it inspired by nature.  

One of my favorite references with regard to art is that of the Stendhal Syndrome. This "condition" is said to characterize viewers who experience a dizzy and rapid heart beat when particularly beautiful or large amount of art is seen in a single place.  Coined in Florence, Italy by the French author Stendhal (why does all that sound so matter-of-course?!) When he visited the Basilica of Santa Croce, where Niccolò Machiavelli, Michelangelo, and Galileo Galilei are buried, he saw Giotto's frescoes for the first time and was overcome with emotion. He wrote:

I was in a sort of ecstasy, from the idea of being in Florence, close to the great men whose tombs I had seen. Absorbed in the contemplation of sublime beauty... I reached the point where one encounters celestial sensations... Everything spoke so vividly to my soul. Ah, if I could only forget. I had palpitations of the heart, what in Berlin they call 'nerves.' Life was drained from me. I walked with the fear of falling.

See how art -- especially art of immense beauty in the natural world - can affect us?

Nature touches each of us in her own way -- and the artist’s eye sees things and interprets the natural world in such beguiling and powerful vision.  

The artists were there, keen for the opportunity to share their spirit with the eager and interested guests.  After all, artists usually work solo most of the time -- so all this party exuberance is most welcome.

Artist, Zeet Peabody, Fan, & his charming art

Artist, Kira Yustak

Photography artist, Rachel Watkinson

As owner of AJ Dillon Gallery, Frank welcomed the guests and read the electeds letter of congratulations.  I sincerely thanked Frank, Emily, my Mother, husband Bill, my extended family in attendance -- and especially the artists.  

Captured on video by my dear friend, Wendy, here are my opening-reception remarks.

The evening was a success. The AJ Dillon Gallery is THE place to be. 

Artist Barbra (Love the Flower!) & AH Councilman, Peter Doyle

Aimee & Michael Humphreys

James & Jen, artful musicians perform at Art in Nature reception 

When finally, I had to break away after the event -- even though there were plenty of folks still browsing the gallery -- as my guests had headed up to the Wine Bar next door.  But not before tiptoeing out into the display cases to adjust a twinkling light!

Me, Jim/musician & brother, Mother

A big thank you to everyone who helped make the event one for the record books.  To the Dillon Gallery family, artist Michelle Lombard who - like a trooper -- volunteered to take the the Art in Nature postcards to Sickles Market so their bazillions of customers could learn about the exhibit.  No stranger to all things natural, organic, artful, and community-oriented, Sickles is a go-to place for local food and garden plants.  Tori Sickles was kind enough to allow us to bring over the cards.  Jenny from First Avenue Florist allowed me to run in and whisk away a potted plant in time for the opening party.  What can I say?  It takes a village.

Budding Botanists

And speaking of community support, our new best friend is Laurie Brekke.  How my garden path never crossed this GoSprouts dynamo I’ll never know. (Plus now, all the “You’ve been flocked” Pink Flamingo mystery is revealed!)  

Laurie helped me reach the area’s parents to tell them about the Saturday “Budding Botanist” potting up program at the Gallery.  At the Free, hands-on, fun session, I show the children how to pot up some radish seeds -- just in time for a swell Mother’s Day gift.  We give them the soil, seeds, and Garden Pendant pots, I designed and created.  The kids love it.  

Frank has a table and little kid-sized chairs all set for them. 

And I brought some kid-sized tools, too.

Thanks Laurie.  And it’s fun Tweeting from my @GardenGlamour with Laurie, er, @PussBoots

The Gallery

One of the best services the AJ Dillon Gallery can now offer its artists is the ability to reach a vast, unlimited audience.  It wasn’t easy to get the technology to cooperate - but it is “not the boss of us” - so together, Emily and I had our way with the “Shop Now” feature on the AJ Dillon Facebook page and on the site under the AJ Dillon Web Store tab  While not every piece is in the store yet -- we’re getting there…

I so strongly support artists and their vision and craft.  Every artist and every piece of work has a story… I think those stories amplify their work.  Who doesn’t love to walk around a gallery or museum or your home and not only describe the beauty of the art there, but also how it was the artist toiled at making the piece.  The art can look infinitely different, always.  It’s what make the art enduring -- endlessly fascinating, and compelling.  An artist cannot help expressing themselves.  They’ll go without food (the starving artist label comes from truth), defy all odds to create - to work and fuel the fire within…

The fact that we can work with them to identify a greater audience who can discover their work is the best reward.  

Please visit the AJ Dillon Web Store. Share with your friends and family.  Support the arts.  And buy art.  You deserve it.