Arts & Culture

Art is in Bloom at the UK Art Museum

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 24, 2015)  Art In Bloom, the Art Museum at University of Kentucky's annual fundraiser, opens today, Friday, April 24, with floral designers interpreting works of art from the museum's permanent collection. Floral designs will be on display from noon-8 p.m. Friday, April 24, and from noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26. Admission to see the floral designs is free.

This year's Art in Bloom festivities honor Kasia and Andre Pater. Since their move from Poland in 1988, Andre's art has focused on subjects including polo, racing, cattle, wildlife, foxhunting and Native Americans. Kasia has contributed to magazines including Kentucky Living and Kentucky Monthly, as well as published a book of poems, "Poste Restante."

In addition to the exhibition of floral designs, the Art in Bloom cocktail party will be presented 7:30-11:30 p.m. Saturday, April 25. The party will consist of art-inspired food, drinks, music and poetry. Food will be provided by local chefs including:
· Cole Arimes, of Coles;

· Renee Brewer, of Wine + Market;

· Seth Brewer and Carrie Arps, of Enoteca;

· Toa Green, of Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream;

· Martine Holzman, of Martine's Pastries;

· Jonathan Lundy, of Coba Cocina;

· alumna Ouita Michel, of Holly Hill Inn;

· Johnny Shipley, of County Club;

· alumnus Dan Wu, a private chef who appeared on Fox's "Master Chef," and

· Nat Yuttayong, of Nat's.

Maker's Mark will provide signature cocktails and music will be performed by the Carlos Espinosa Trio, the UK String Quartet and singer-songwriter Carla Gover.

Art-inspired poetry by Julia Johnson, Maurice Manning, Erik Reece, Katerina Stoykova-Klemer and Frank X Walker will also be read at the event.

Tickets for the Art in Bloom Cocktail Party are $75 and are available at the door, online by visiting the museum's website at http://finearts.uky.edu/art-museum or by phone at 859-257-6218.

Art in Bloom 2015 is co-chaired by Renee Saunier Brewer, Seth Brewer, David Coomer and Dan Wu.

The mission of the Art Museum at UK, part of the UK College of Fine Arts, is to promote the understanding and appreciation of art to enhance the quality of life for people of Kentucky through collecting, exhibiting, preserving and interpreting outstanding works of visual art from all cultures. Home to a collection of more than 4,500 objects including American and European paintings, drawings, photographs, prints and sculpture, the Art Museum at UK presents both special exhibitions and shows of work from its permanent collection.

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu