Wild Style: Emily Thompson at the NYBG

Posted in Adult Education on April 5 2012, by Joyce Newman

It was only a few short months ago that Emily Thompson stood in the White House’s East Room and envisioned the task of “bringing outside in” to create her exciting holiday decor project for the First Family. Now Thompson is sharing some of her inspired creative talents at The New York Botanical Garden. Later this month, she will bring her floral shears to the NYBG’s midtown location, encouraging students to delve into the design elements that embody the forest, bog, and jungle.

Thompson’s work is best known for its sculptural and naturalistic elements as inspired by her native Vermont. Her clients are not only among the internationally famous, such as the Obamas, but include her local Brooklyn friends and restaurants as well. Having studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and earned an MFA in sculpture at UCLA, Thompson eventually moved to New York, where she set up her shop–Emily Thompson Flowers–on Jay Street in Brooklyn’s DUMBO district, one of the city’s premier art havens.

Thompson got her start as a flower arranger for a family wedding, and has come a long way since, with a growing list of impressive projects. Yet she was shocked when she got a call from Laura Dowling, the White House florist, asking her to create the holiday decorations for the large, public East Room and the more private Palm Room. “I just about fell over,” Emily exclaimed in an interview with Vermont Public Radio.

Following Mrs. Obama’s simple guideline, Thompson recreated the serenity of nature under the roof of The White House. For the Palm Room the concept was a peaceful rock garden, using mosses and bulbs that continued to bloom in the months after. The East Room’s more public atmosphere as a regular venue for press conferences called for something of a traditional decor, with hanging pine garlands and copper accents carefully worked into the shape of eagle wings.

Thompson’s crew spent a week installing all of the floral arrangements, which were completed in time for the first lady’s preview at a press conference in the East Room.

On April 17, meet Thompson in person at NYBG’s midtown location for her course: Wild Style: Imitate the Hand of Nature. You’ll explore the scale and palette of arrangements, as well as the natural growing patterns of plants. This is a rare opportunity to train under one of the rising stars of floral design, so be sure to save the date and reserve your spot early.

Photos courtesy of Emily Thompson Flowers.