The History of Art in Bloom

This weekend, the gallery will be bursting with color and extra creativity during Art in Bloom, an annual pop-up exhibit here at the PAFAC. Each year, accredited floral designers create original arrangements in response to the artwork on display using flowers, greenery, and other natural materials.

What you may not know is that this event has been happening at the arts center since 2004! Art in Bloom was started by Mim Foley, who was involved with the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center for decades in various volunteer positions and served as president of the Friends of the PAFAC. She was instrumental in raising awareness of the center’s mission. As a docent, she lead tours fo school children and wrote grants.

Mim’s other love was flowers! “My mother wanted to spend Mother’s Day weekend with a family activity that combined her two great loves: gardening and the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center” remembers Irene Alltucker, Mim’s daughter. Gathering a group of master gardener friends and art appreciators, Art in Bloom became a reality.

After Mim’s untimely death in 2010, her husband Bud Foley created a legacy program for Mim and continued his support of Art in Bloom to honor her. Bud passed away in 2016, but Mim and Bud’s family have continued to generously support this program.

Family and friends at the Port Angeles Garden Club carry on the tradition each year in loving memory of Mim Foley, whose enduring love of flowers, family and art first brought Art in Bloom to Port Angeles.

If you’d like to donate in honor of Mim and to keep Art in Bloom thriving each year, you may do so here:  https://pafac.kindful.com/

The floral arrangements of Art in Bloom will be on display from Friday, May 12th – Sunday, May 14th. On Saturday, visitors can purchase a ticket for the Flower Bar from 11AM-2:30PM, and children 12 and under can Plant a Pansy for free from 11AM-5PM.

The Flower Bar workshop is for anyone who wants to try their hand at artful flower arranging. A ticket includes a vessel, locally-grown flowers from Tin Can Floral Co., all necessary tools, and basic instruction from artist Ariel Zimman. Tickets are $35 for PAFAC members and $40 for the general public and can be purchased at:
https://pafac.kindful.com/e/flower-bar-2023

The Plant a Pansy station will be available during gallery hours on Saturday, 11AM-5PM for kids 12 and under. Kids can decorate their own mini “pot” and learn how to plant a flower.