Join Shane Connolly and the Marchioness of Normanby for a day celebrating the influence of Constance Spry on floral design, raising money for the Museum's 2020 exhibition.
In 1939 Constance Spry, the most influential British florist of the 20th-century opened her shop on Madison Avenue.
Eighty years on, royal warrant holder and Britain’s most celebrated contemporary florist, Shane Connolly, comes to New York to share her inspiration.
Constance Spry’s floral creations for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 became the piece de resistance of her incredible career. She designed the floral arrangements for the weddings of Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, 1937, and for the wedding of The Queen to Prince Philip in 1947.
In that same setting of Westminster Abbey, Shane Connolly designed the weddings of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011, and The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall in 2005.
Shane will lecture on Spry’s work and then be joined by floral designer Emily Thompson to give demonstrations on how her ethos of spontaneity and seasonality can inspire you in your own home.
“Do what you please…..follow your own star; be oriental if you want to be and don’t if you don’t want to be. Just be natural and gay and light-hearted and pretty and simple and overflowing and general and baroque and austere and stylized and wild and daring and conservative and learn and learn.” – Constance Spry
After luncheon, The Marchioness of Normanby, who lives at Mulgrave Castle in Yorkshire, which continues a traditional country house cutting garden, will tell the story of how fashion and gardens have inspired each other, from the court of Louis XIV to Alexander McQueen. Lady Normanby, a Museum Trustee, prize-winning author and critic, curated the hit exhibit ‘Gardens and Fashion’ at the Garden Museum in 2014.
This event is in support of the Garden Museum’s exhibit of Constance Spry (21st October – 28th February 2021).
A ticket for the event is £200.
Programme
10:45 Welcome drink in the Governor’s Room
11:00 Introduction to Constance Spry by Garden Museum Director, Christopher Woodward
11:15 The influence of Spry, and floral demonstration by Shane Connolly, royal florist
12:45 Three-course luncheon
14:00 Fashion and Gardens by The Marchioness of Normanby
If you have any questions about this event please contact Christina McMahon, Fundraising Manager.
