World-renowned floral designer Shane Connolly is bringing his signature blend of artistry and sustainability to Little Rock this week.
The London-based designer, celebrated for his work with the British Royal Family and his mastery of sustainable floral art, will take over the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts this Friday and Saturday. AMFA, in partnership with P. Allen Smith’s Moss Mountain Farm and the Little Rock Garden Club, will welcome Connolly for a series of special events Oct. 24-25.
Guests can look forward to a weekend of artistry and inspiration, including a cocktail reception, an interactive talk and demonstration and an intimate hands-on workshop led by Connolly himself.
His visit marks a rare opportunity for Arkansans to experience the philosophy that has made him one of the most sought-after floral designers in the world, one rooted in respect for nature, the use of local materials and the belief that true beauty begins with sustainability.
Ahead of his visit to AMFA, Soirée spoke with Connolly about his work, his process and what event attendees can expect this weekend.
Where do you get inspiration for your designs?
SC: From many sources: art, theater, gardens, food even. But ultimately, all my design inspiration is ruled and controlled by seasons. Seasonality is hugely important to us and really makes all the best and final decisions on our work as one can’t (and shouldn’t) design with natural things if the end result doesn’t both respect and glorify nature.
In your work, you use plant material beautifully by highlighting its diversity, texture and color. Tell me what you like most about designing florals and the work you do.
SC: Well, I think natural ingredients seem to be the medium that I can design with. I am not very good with paints or watercolors, so I happily discovered something that did suit me when I discovered flowers and plants.
Do you have a favorite floral installation you’ve done?
SC: That is a very tricky question. There have been so many that I feel worked well, but ultimately, it’s always done for a client, so when they are happy, the design has succeeded. I remember so many and really appreciate and treasure the happiness of my clients over any personal satisfaction.
What does your creative process for arranging look like?
SC: Probably a bit more chaotic than people would imagine. We love letting nature be in control, which means you have to trust the seasons and, even more, the growers and suppliers of your materials. So I have learnt not to set my heart on any one single thing, but instead to try to imagine a feeling rather than a look. I try to give that feel to the growers and then enjoy the surprises and the challenges that result. This is what keeps the creative process fresh and stimulating for me, anyway.
What can attendees expect during the interactive talk and demonstration, as well as the masterclass workshop at AMFA?
SC: I hope they can expect to be entertained. I am Irish by birth, so I do like not to be too serious. I would like them to think about what is around them in nature and maybe be more appreciative of it all, too. I hope to tell the audience a little about the history of flower arranging, my own journey in it and share my approach and philosophy, which is rooted in the earth and sustainable practices.
At the cocktail reception, guests will receive a signed copy of your book “Discovering the Meaning of Flowers.” Could you tell us about your book and the most important thing you believe readers should take away?
SC: Flowers and plants were so much more important in the lives of our ancestors than they are now. Every medical “cure” came from plants and nature, and the Indigenous people of America were famously in touch with the qualities of the plants they had growing around them. Throughout the world, this led to both religious and secular meanings and symbolisms for those flowers and plants. It appeared in art from ancient times, and many Roman and Greek flower symbolisms were adopted by Christianity. For example, roses were dedicated to goddesses of love in ancient Rome and Greece, and they became a symbol of the Virgin Mary in Christianity. We still have rose windows in churches and rosary beads in Catholic tradition. This all led to an extraordinary way of communicating through flowers in the 18th and 19th centuries. The language of flowers became a lexicon or dictionary to help lovers speak at a time when convention made them silent. I want people to take away the importance of these ancient links and how they can help stitch us back into nature.
During the conversation and demonstration on Saturday, will you be using seasonal flowers and foliage from Arkansas? If so, what?
SC: Well, that will be a surprise for me, too. I am happy with anything and everything I might find. As I said above, this openness to what nature might provide is what keeps me on my toes creatively.
You trained with some of London’s leading flower designers. What do you think about the current shift in the industry toward the self-taught florist with influences from outside the industry, like fashion and interior design?
SC: I think it is wonderful to have different approaches to any form of creativity. But I also think that a sound training helps give confidence and ability to use the ingredients wisely and usefully, so I worry that many self-trained florists don’t have this knowledge and then struggle to keep flowers alive for longer than a photo shoot, for example. Social media has meant that many things can and are created only for the image — the content — and flowers often need to be more than that. I am wary of too much dependence on fashion, too, as that is essentially unseasonal and makes florists dependent on out-of-season flowers imported with huge carbon footprints from around the world.
Is there anything in The Natural State that you feel inspired by? Is there anything you want to explore — foliage, flowers or even just for personal reasons?
SC: I only learned today that Arkansas is called The Natural State, and I am now even more pleased to be visiting. I feel inspired already, and I might have met my soulmate American state. So I want to see anything and everything I can in the short time I am there. I feel very lucky to have been invited.
Connolly’s appearance at AMFA this weekend consists of three events:
- Cocktail reception | Friday, Oct. 24, 5-7 p.m.
- Conversation and demonstration | Saturday, Oct. 25, 10:30 a.m.-noon
- Seasonal floral design masterclass | Saturday, Oct. 25, 2-5 p.m.
While the masterclass is sold out, tickets to the other events are still available and can be purchased on the AMFA website.
For more information on Connolly, visit his website. For more details on AMFA’s upcoming events, click here, and follow along on Instagram and Facebook for the latest.