If you plan to go to the Art in Bloom show this year, make sure you end up going to the right one.
There will be two of them, a potential for confusion that likely will be heightened by the fact that the dates aren't all that far apart.
Macy's annual flower show will be dubbed Art in Bloom, the same title used for the yearly fundraiser at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA). The two shows aren't connected, but both institutions say they have been sharing plans for their respective shows and wish their namesake exhibit nothing but success.
The downtown Minneapolis Macy's is one of five of the store's locations nationwide that will be hosting an Art in Bloom show. As in the past, the display, a series of landscaped gardens, will be designed by Bachman's. The show will run from March 22 through April 4.
Meanwhile, MIA is planning for its annual spring festival. The four-day affair includes floral arrangements based on art in the museum's permanent collection. It will be held from April 30 through May 3.
The name isn't the only thing that the shows share. Both have lengthy histories: Macy's has been taking place for more than 50 years; MIA's for more than 30. And both are extremely popular. Macy's expects to draw 65,000 visitors, while MIA will attract 35,000.
Perhaps the most surprising part of having two shows called Art in Bloom is that it hasn't happened before, organizers said. "Art in Bloom is a popular phrase when referring to events throughout the nation that connect art and nature," said Macy's spokesman Kamal Bosamia.
To ease any tangling of the two local shows — and to keep things Minnesota nice — Macy's will be offering brochures at its show promoting the one coming up at MIA. □
