Midway Contemporary Art Benefit Installation

Every once in a while we create something that wows even us. At the top of our list right now is an installation that we did for Midway Contemporary Art's benefit event we sponsored, entitled Judgement of Paris, recently held at Theatre de la Jeune Lune. This annual event is always a thrill for us to work on, as Midway is such an amazing organization and Laura Mullen is one of our favorite people with whom to collaborate. This year, in the midst of a super busy week, we pulled out all the stops and made something amazing (that actually made me shed a tear with pride and love for our wicked-good peeps.)

We've been caught up in the paper phenomenon for our wedding designs for a while now -- the lanterns, the pinwheels, the paper flowers, etc. We wanted to work with these elements, but in a less (and more) precious way, so we pulled out newspaper, parasols, bamboo, 6 foot fringe and about six shades of gold spray paint, and went to town creating an enormous hanging installation.

Flowerwise, we used a combination of soft shades -- spicy peach stock, fleshy parrot tulips, huge amber cymbidium orchids and gold James Storie orchids, all of which contrasted against ridiculous, but rad black lace covered vases for cocktail tables, a huge zinc vessel and dramatic lengths of contorted chestnut and French pussy willow branches as part of the center installation.

The result was kind of miraculous, and the piece received a lot of attention at the event. We also got the world's nicest and most flattering thank you note from the director of the gallery, John Rasmussen, someone we wildly respect:


Hi Liz and Heidi,

This is a little late in coming, but I wanted to thank you and your entire team for the absolutely unbelievable work you did for the benefit again this year.

I have had so many compliments on the floral and the ceiling centerpiece from guest that night.  It went so far beyond anything we expected and worked so wonderfully with all the other elements of Judgement of Paris. I'm not sure how to say this without detracting from the auction works, but it was right up there with the best pieces - we should have talked to you about auctioning it off! (:

We can't thank you all enough for all you have done for Midway over the past few years for our benefits and look forward to working together throughout the year!

Fondly,

John

Attention RePUBlicans!

 

Attention RePUBlicans, we're happy to announce that the lovely new RePUBlic at Seven Corners (formerly the infamous Sgt. Preston's) will be open for lunch starting TODAY! Come and join us on their lovely patio (amidst our jolly plantings) and have one of about a billion tap beers and some summery fish tacos. A don't miss is their two dollar petite desserts by our dear heart, the lovely and amazing Sheela Nammakal. They also have a great happy hour from 4-6pm. We'll see you there (we'll be the girls in dresses looking suspicious and digging in their planters.)

16,000 Square Feet of Endless Potential

Notably, this emblem, repeated throughout the space, symbolizes avarice.

Not for those with a fear of heights. Awesome(!) for those without.

This will remain and be turned into a rockin' mural. Each of these thousands of pieces needs to be tediously flipped by hand.

Yesterday we had the privilege of walking through CoCo's newest project in the Minneapolis Grain Exchange. Still smelling of stress, sawdust and type-A men, this historic space is being transformed into a non-traditional (and entirely brilliant) work environment for freelance professionals, small businesses and corporate workgroups. We're so thrilled to be involved with such a talented team in the creation of a lush new home, ripe for creation and collaboration. For more information about this project, check out CoCo's blog post here.

We've Done It Now.

A pat on the back and a raise of our glass to everyone who helped make our new ad happen (at the thirteenth hour.) We can't say enough good things about our partners in crime -- Kern Nickerson, Aaron Hansen, and Emily Snyder of Queen Quills Calligraphy. There's nothing hotter and more exhilarating than the freshness, urgency and synergy of seat of your pants design, and we certainly don't deserve the luxury of such great collaborators who share our vision and make things happen so effortlessly.

Here's a tease of our new ad. Because we're like that. You'll find it on page one of Minnesota Bride Magazine's Fall/Winter issue on newsstands at the beginning of July.