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Why persevere in making art?
Because our communities need art made by those who can’t take their eyes off the vulnerable ones of this world. We need a visual culture, a literary culture, a culture of performance that wakes us up to the dignity of every person. by Catherine Ricketts, The Mother Artist Prior to beginning my floral journey back in 2008, flowers had never really occurred to me as something worth paying attention to. In many ways they were too optimistic for my emo tastes. Nothing made me cringe more than the writings of Emerson and Thoreau. While I still prefer Southern Gothic over Transcendentalism, what I failed to see in my college years that I so emphatically regard now is that turning towards the everyday glories found in nature does not deny the hardship of life. Rather, it compels us to wonder and awe at the company of this earthen planet among the loss and grief we inevitably face. My first flower job started at a little flower shop in Waco called Rose Tree just over 15 years ago. It involved little more than washing buckets, processing flowers, snipping stems and delivering flowers. Despite my behind the scenes role, I would watch as the designers sat on their stools and carefully positioned stems into their arrangements. It was at this shop that I began to think a bit about art and design’s role in the meaning of life. We are not just sapiens requiring food, shelter and water. There is a certain spark to the human experience that expresses itself both in the lovely and grotesque. Engaging with art and the beauty of the universe brings about a dignity that is accessible to all. Today, I am sharing with you a book that I am so very excited to offer since it has resonated so deeply with my experience as both a creative and a mother. I am also sharing some upcoming events inspired by the deep conviction I have that we are more than our basic needs. Whether you are an adult who wants to learn floral design, a mother hoping to nourish her soul or parent a child interested in art, nature and science, I have something for you. With words inspired by my beloved flower friend, Kelly Perry, ready, steady, bloom! xoxo, Grace McDonald
Owner + Founder of Flower Clvb
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