Philly flower show celebrates the arts, hosts LGBT party
The fusion of art and horticulture will be celebrated in “ARTiculture,” an extraordinary presentation of the 186th Philadelphia Flower Show, March 1 to 9. Produced by the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society, the Philadelphia show is the world’s longest-running and largest indoor flower show.
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is partnering with internationally renowned art museums, organizations and institutions for many of the flower show’s exhibits. Participants include the J. Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles), the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (New York City), the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery (Washington, D.C.), the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation (Philadelphia), the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (Philadelphia), the University of Pennsylvania Museum (Philadelphia), the Brandywine River Museum (Chadds Ford, Pa.), the Brooklyn Museum (Brooklyn, N.Y.), the Noguchi Museum (Long Island City, N.Y.), Storm King Art Center (Hudson Valley, N.Y.), Grounds for Sculpture (Hamilton, N.J.), the North Carolina Museum of Art (Raleigh, N.C.), Fresh Artists (Philadelphia), the Wayne Art Center (Wayne, Pa.), and the Woodmere Art Museum (Philadelphia).
Special exhibitions at the show will include a selection of the Andy Warhol “Flowers” Series from the Bank of America Collection; selections from the West Collection, of Oaks, Pa.; and works by sculptor Steve Tobin, of Bucks County, Pa. International exhibitors in the 2014 show will include British garden designer Andy Sturgeon and Provence-based garden designer James Basson, whose exhibit will be inspired by a painting from the Collection of the Prince’s Palace Monaco.
An interactive exhibit designed by the Crayola Experience will give show visitors the opportunity to express themselves in the Convention Center’s Grand Hall. Visitors also will show their artistic side in an expanded “Make & Take Room,” where they can create a variety of craft and garden projects. The family attractions at the show will include the Butterfly Experience, where visitors will interact with 20 species of exotic and domestic butterflies, and the Camden Children’s Garden.
The flower show will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, located at 12th and Arch Streets in downtown Philadelphia. When purchased online, adults tickets are $27; students (ages 17 to 23) are $20; and children (ages 2 to 16) are $15.
The Pennsylvania Horticulture Society has teamed with a number of Philadelphia hotels, such as the Sofitel Philadelphia and the Holiday Inn Philadelphia Stadium (both TAG Approved properties), to offers special packages.
Detailed information on visiting gay-friendly Philadelphia is available at visitphilly.com.
Gay Flower Power
As part of the flower show, the LGBT community is invited for an evening of cocktails, networking, and live entertainment at the fourth annual LGBT Party on Sun., March 2, from 4 to 6 p.m. Presented by G Philly, the event will kick-off with a special introduction by Pennsylvania Horticulture Society President Drew Becher, followed by mixing, mingling, cocktails and food samplings in an exclusive VIP area at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Tickets to the LGBT party includes admission to the Flower Show. Tickets are available for $50 and may be purchased online.
Support Metro Weekly’s Journalism
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
