Thursday, May 08

PITTSFIELD - The scheduling of this weekend's big event at the Berkshire Museum is no coincidence.

"We specifically picked Mother's Day hoping to open up the audience to everyone, both people interested in flowers and others just wanting to have a really nice family day - something with Mom that is a little different from your traditional (Mother's Day) brunch," said Jennifer Larkin, the museum's special events coordinator.

Featuring floral arrangements inspired by the museum's permanent collection, the Berkshire Museum will unveil its "Galleries in Bloom" exhibit Friday, May 9.

The exhibit will be presented in conjunction with a series of seminars, workshops and social events through Monday, May 12.

"'Galleries in Bloom' is something the museum has done in the past, and we are bringing it back after about 15 years," Larkin said.

The exhibit will feature floral interpretations from members of the Garden Club of America, as well as arrangements from commercial florists and "local stars" such as Carolyn Valenti, Larkin said.

Although Larkin has not been able to preview any of the pieces, she said she is "as excited as everyone else to see what they (the

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floral designers) come up with." She was told that one arrangement, inspired by the museum's mummy, Pahat, will fittingly include dried and dead flowers.

Museum Executive Director Stuart Chase said similar exhibits have appeared at museums throughout the country, including Boston's Museum of Fine Art, and museums in Worcester, Hartford and Albany. Chase said the exhibit is a great way to bring in designers to see how they respond to the museums' collections.

Chase also views the "Galleries in Bloom" events and exhibits as the next step in reintroducing the public to the newly renovated Berkshire Museum, which reopened its doors March 29 after an extensive renovation that included the addition of the new Feigenbaum Hall of Innovation and an air conditioning system.

"It is a way for us to bring things out of our storerooms - artwork and collections that have not been seen for many years - and is a wonderful way to engage the community and local businesses and designers in a way of working out of our art collections and viewing them, and also providing a beautiful spring experience as well," Chase said.

The exhibit will kick off with a Friday night gala preview and lecture on May 9 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The keynote speaker will be Renny Reynolds, who has been designing both events and floral arrangements since the 1970s for names like Bill Blass, Yves St. Laurent, Diana Vreeland and Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell, owners of the former Studio 54. Tickets are $150 for nonmembers and $125 for members. Benefactor and supporter level tickets are available. For more information, call 413-443-7171.

"Galleries in Bloom" will open to the public on Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will include a lecture by celebrity floral designer Ron Morgan beginning at 10:30 a.m., followed by a signing of his two books "In the Company of Flowers" and "A Glass Act" at 11:30 a.m. At 12:30 p.m., there will be a luncheon prepared by Micahel Roller of Samel's Deli and Catering accompanied by a demonstration by Miriam Landsmen, who was voted Best Florist 2007 by "Best of the Gold Coast Connecticut," a celebration honoring the winners of Moffly Publications' annual readers' and editors' surveys. Tickets for the lecture and luncheon are $125 for nonmembers and $100 for members; the lecture only is $30.

The museum opens at 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 11, for "Kids in Bloom" day, featuring floral-themed family activities, crafts, face painting, a showing of the 1993 family film "The Secret Garden" and more. Workshops with artist and teacher Sasha Sicurella will offer a 45-minute art project on the hour for children ages 6 and up. Advanced registration is recommended. Parents may leave their children and explore the galleries on their own during this time - the perfect present for Mom.

Chase believes this weekend's events typify the museum's role in the community.

"It's what the Berkshire Museum is really about, bringing community together," he said.

For ticket information and a schedule of weekend events, call 413-443-7171 or visit

berkshiremuseum.org.