Importance Score: 40 / 100 🔵
Emily Thompson Celebrates New Book with Nature-Inspired Floral Installations in Manhattan Flower District
Celebrated floral designer Emily Thompson marked the upcoming release of her new book, “Emily Thompson Flowers,” with a series of immersive floral installations in Manhattan’s vibrant flower district. On a warm Thursday evening, just before 6 p.m., Thompson was observed on a street in the district, carefully examining a grand display of weeping willow sprigs. The acclaimed designer, known for her unconventional and nature-centric aesthetic, was hosting an event at a local flower purveyor to commemorate her latest publication, set to launch on April 9.
Ephemeral Beauty of Willow Sprigs
“When they are pristine and flourishing, there’s only about a week each year you can achieve this,” Thompson remarked, as an artful arrangement of the willow tree’s delicate, pale green buds formed a curtain-like feature above the entrance of 28th Street Wholesale Flowers. “It requires perfect timing and the ideal element.”
Understated Elegance of Leaves
Inside the shop window, a podophyllum, or mayapple plant, featuring expansive spotted leaves, was prominently displayed. This botanical element was a thoughtful gesture from a Rhode Island vendor who wished to be present in spirit.
“I believe leaves are considerably underestimated and deserve greater recognition,” Thompson commented, while event producer Chris Hessney, a friend, delicately applied liquid foundation to her face. She then briefly stepped away to change attire before the arrival of guests.
Thompson’s Signature “Rough-Hewn” Floral Style
Over the past fifteen years, Thompson has garnered significant acclaim within fashion and design circles. Her signature style, often described as “rough-hewn” and untamed, uniquely positions foliage, branches, and even weeds alongside traditional blooms. Her artistic philosophy is further explored in a chapter of her new book aptly titled “Heaps.”
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
With a background in sculpture and hailing from Vermont, Thompson has cultivated strong collaborations, notably with fashion designer Jason Wu. Her distinctive floral artistry was showcased when she designed the arrangements and striking fruit topiary towers that graced the reopening of The Grill restaurant, formerly the iconic Four Seasons restaurant, in 2017. She also served as the in-house florist for the Roman and Williams Guild shop and its adjoining restaurant, La Mercerie.
Breaking Boundaries in Floral Design
In these esteemed venues, Thompson redefined conventional floral design, moving beyond mere prettiness to highlight the inherent beauty found in often-overlooked natural components. Her creations, such as a monumental tangle of branches and blossoms suspended above the pool at The Grill, and imposing urns filled with wild thickets at The Modern restaurant at MoMA, exemplify this approach.
(“Weeds, my darling weeds!” she enthusiastically declared when discussing her favored materials.)
Thompson articulates that her artistic inspiration stems from the inherent tension she perceives within the natural world.
“I continually strive to guide individuals back to the landscape, even when employing unconventional methods,” she explained. “I perceive it as akin to science fiction. It is authentic, yet detached from its expected context.”
Volcanic Installation: A Celebration of Origins
Within the shop’s cool interior, Thompson had constructed a towering installation intended to evoke a volcano. Various heliconia, a claw-shaped flowering plant, were densely layered to simulate magma, while velvety begonia leaves represented dark lava flows.
“It embodies origins,” she clarified. “Like the genesis of something.”
Throughout the evening, an occasional sharp point from the dried heliconia forming the installation’s base subtly snagged the handbags or skin of unsuspecting attendees, an unintentional yet fitting detail that mirrored Thompson’s artistic vision—simultaneously captivating and subtly unsettling.
Star-Studded Celebration
As waiters served cocktails with evocative names like Swamp and Muck, friends and colleagues arrived, and Thompson reappeared, now wearing a black dress by Mr. Wu, accented by moss green tights visible beneath her heels.
“I had witnessed her creations at The Grill and contacted her without prior introduction,” revealed Mr. Wu, a co-host of the celebratory event, upon his arrival. “I immediately wondered, ‘Who is this person?’”
Collaboration and Inspiration
Mr. Wu recounted a past collaboration for his Spring 2024 collection, staged within a recently gutted office building bordering Isamu Noguchi’s Sunken Garden in the Financial District. He shared that Thompson encouraged him to embrace the raw, almost apocalyptic ambiance of the space.
She ingeniously filled existing cracks in the floor with goldenrod and milkweed, creating the impression that nature had reclaimed the abandoned structure.
Accessible Naturalism in Design
Although Thompson’s work often leans towards the ethereal and monumental, she asserts that her raw, natural style can be replicated in any home with a simple branch and a touch of imagination.
“You genuinely don’t require much,” she stated. “In my own home, you’ll typically find only a sprig or two. I believe a single sprig can encapsulate an entire landscape. Placing a grass cutting or a solitary branch on a table against a wall instantly evokes a sense of place. Decisiveness is key.”
Martha Stewart Praises Thompson’s “Lavish Naturalism”
Martha Stewart, a fellow gardening enthusiast and admirer of Thompson’s work, made a discreet entrance as the bustling shop reached its peak capacity.
“It feels as though I’m directly within my willow grove,” Ms. Stewart remarked with delight. “People are drawn to her lavish naturalism. One can only appreciate so many conventional, perfectly arranged bouquets before seeking something more, and she transcends that,” Ms. Stewart observed, explaining Thompson’s broad appeal. “Cut flowers are not my preference. And they aren’t hers either!”
Community Beautification and Future Projects
Ms. Stewart mentioned her current project of planting pine and fir trees along the roads bordering her Bedford, N.Y. property. She initiated this planting as a means to inspire other community members to enhance their own roadsides.
“Bedford is among the most picturesque towns, so let’s amplify its beauty,” she proclaimed.
While not averse to a touch of neighborly motivation, gardening primarily offers Ms. Stewart a sense of tranquility.
“Without my garden, I’m uncertain of where I would be presently. Perhaps confined to a dungeon,” she joked, while exchanging greetings with Mr. Wu.
Chelsea Flower Show Anticipation
For her part, Thompson is currently preparing for the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show in London this May, a celebrated British horticultural event often attended by members of the royal family.
Thompson hopes to feature a deceased tree that fell on a friend’s property in England as part of her display.
“It has involved considerable back-and-forth communication,” she explained, noting that samples required testing for disease and fungus before approval could be granted. “But,” she added with determination, “we are cleverly maneuvering to incorporate our subtly rebellious aesthetic.”