Contact: Joanne Guilmette
Phone: 518/474-8730
Fax: 518/486-3696
E-Mail: jguilmet@mail.nysed.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NYS MUSEUM HOSTS "NEW YORK IN BLOOM" FEBRUARY 22-24TH

Albany, New York -- 02/07/08

ALBANY, NY – More than 120 floral displays, food, entertainment and demonstrations will be among the attractions February 22-24 at the New York State Museum’s 17th annual “New York in Boom” fund-raiser for its award-winning after-school programs.

Open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, the event marks the only time during the year that admission is charged at the Museum. Proceeds benefit the Museum Club and Discovery Squad, the Museum’s award-winning after-school programs. Garden club members, professional designers and floral enthusiasts from across the state will create unique floral arrangements that complement and interpret the museum’s permanent and temporary exhibitions.

The admission fee for “New York in Bloom” is $4 for adults on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday the fee will be $6, which also includes admission to the 15th annual “James Campbell Memorial Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show and Sale.” Admission is free for children 12 and under, accompanied by an adult. Tickets may be purchased at the door. 

The event will also feature table arrangements provided by local interior designers and home furnishing stylists, florists and event specialists. Demonstrations and children’s activities will be featured all three days.

There also will be a fresh flower market in the Museum lobby, while supplies last, offering “design your own bouquets” and sales of individual roses, with flowers donated by Seagroatt Floral Co. Inc., Dan Engwer Wholesale and Seagroatt Riccardi, LTD.

Visitors will also see two floral projects created by Museum Club and Discovery Squad members. One will be located in the Black Capital Harlem in the 1920’s gallery and will honor the late Martha Lewis of Albany, a former resident of Harlem. Lewis was a longtime volunteer for “New York in Bloom,” which often was held during the weekend of her birthday, February 24th. She devoted her life to working with young people and was an inspiration to the Museum Club students with whom she worked. Before her retirement, Lewis held several high-level governmental positions in the social and community service fields. The students will decorate a tree with flowers, photos of themselves and messages they write about other people in their lives, like Lewis, who have helped them “bloom.” Visitors will be invited to add their own messages to the tree.

The students’ other project will be located outside of the Look-Alikes: The Amazing World of Joan Steiner exhibition. Taking inspiration from the exhibition, the students will create a playground garden, incorporating real flowers with fantasy flowers created from everyday objects. “Look-Alikes” book author and artist Joan Steiner will also sign books outside of the exhibition. Books may be purchased in the Museum Shop.

Nearby, in Crossroads Gallery, there will be a floral display created by On Thai from Surroundings Floral Studio, with flowers supplied by Seagroatt Riccardi, LTD. The display will be centered around a 1934 green Ford Cabriolet, owned by Dave Mardon of West Sand Lake.

The University Jazz Band will perform outside the Savoy Tea Garden & Café on Sunday. The café will serve tea, coffee, desserts and light luncheon fare, provided by Classe′ Catering. The 1930’s inspired design and florals will be provided by Karen McGowan of Faddegon’s Nursery.

Subway, on the Museum’s fourth floor Terrace Gallery, will also offer food all day Friday through Sunday. Big Don’s Hot Dogs & More and Losee’s Deli will serve food in the Museum’s first floor Student Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 

Nancy Noble Gardner will present a formal demonstration on Photographing Flowers Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Huxley Theater and answer questions on the topic in Adirondack Hall Friday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Other demonstrations are (Friday morning) Sculpting Flowers with Clay; (Friday afternoon) Flower Arranging with Silk, Paper Quilling Flowers; (Saturday morning) Creating and Using Edible Flowers, Creative Use of Various Containers, Creating Stepping Stones; (Saturday afternoon) One Stroke Flower Painting, Creative Entertaining Cruise Ship Style, Hand-tied Bouquets, Quick Easy Spring Arrangements; (Sunday morning) Easy Does It, Cake Decorating; (Sunday afternoon) Fresh Ideas with Fruits and Vegetables and Michele’s Flower Hour.

 Children’s activities will be held all three days. Scheduled are: (Friday morning) Tin Punching; (Saturday afternoon) Face Painting, Waltz of the Flowers; (Sunday morning) Beading for Fun and Face Painting.

Table arrangements will be provided by Henry F. Clas Florist, Pearl Grant Richman’s Gifts, Mahalia Flowers, The Floral Garden, Dusk Antiques & Interior Decoration, Domaine of Distinction, Designs by Douglas and W&P Enterprises.

“New York in Bloom” is a primary funding source for the Museum Club, a nationally recognized, educational after-school program. The Club serves Albany youth aged 8-13, and also includes the Discovery Squad, for teens aged 13-18.  Since 1987 the after-school program has provided tutoring and educational enrichment opportunities for youths from Albany’s underserved neighborhoods. Children receive homework help and reading support and participate in interactive projects involving Museum exhibits. In the Discovery Squad teens work with younger Museum Club children while developing professional skills with the assistance of adult mentors working in various fields at the Museum. Teens receive essential job training, academic and personal support, explore higher education opportunities and gain confidence as they serve the Museum in a variety of work-based capacities.

Volunteers are needed for “New York in Bloom.” Anyone interested may contact Brian Malloy at (518) 402-5869

Support for “New York in Bloom” was provided by the Times Union, IBM, KeyBank, SUNY Cobleskill, National Grid, Capital Bank, Time Warner Cable/Capital News 9, Quality Retail Systems, Ambiance Florals & Events, Dan Engwer Wholesale Florist, NYS Office of General Services, My Favorite Things Florist, Faddegon’s Nursery Inc., Seagroatt Floral Company and Seagroatt-Riccardi, Ltd.

The New York State Museum is a cultural program of the New York State Department of Education. It is located on Madison Avenue in Albany. The museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.  Further information can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the museum website at www.nysm.nysed.gov.

# # #