“We are concerned about your taste level”

[iris lilies]

To my fellow Project Runway pals here, you know when Heidi scolds the designers about their “ taste level?” Well, the head judge at this weekend’s flower show intimated the same thing about my floral design calling it “hokey!”

Hahaha. The thing is, I absolutely agree with her.

i knew when I was puttng it together it was kitschy and gaudy. But no matter, it is the design I wantd to do. She said it with a smiling face and kindness. She is a good diplomat.

The class was Elvis Presley in Viva Las Vegas and the design type was illuminary, lighting required. Actually I dont like Elvis Presley and the hype surrounding him, so I guess that was reflected in my floral design. But no matter, kitsch it kitsch.

My design is below (the purple guitar) and the first place winner is below that, the blue spiral.

Of course as always these are upside down, sorry!
http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=2095&stc=1

http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=2096&stc=1

[rosarugosa]

Elvis Presley in Vegas doesn't exactly sound like it would be all about subdued tastefulness, not to my mind anyway.

[Zoe Girl]

The purple guitar would also work if you had a Prince challenge for arrangements!

[Tybee]

What a weird universe you are in if there is an Elvis Presley category but you are reprimanded for a hokey arrangement. Seems somewhat snobbish. I do like the winning piece although in the photo I can't make out any flowers, so there is that. Oh, I think I got confused by the upside-downish nature of photos--they both look like light fixtures.

[JaneV2.0]

I agree with everyone else--how can an Elvis arrangement not be hokey?--maybe a funerary piece? I don't particularly like what I can see of the winning entry, because it seems generic and I can't see any flowers.

[iris lilies]

What a weird universe you are in if there is an Elvis Presley category but you are reprimanded for a hokey arrangement. Seems somewhat snobbish. I do like the winning piece although in the photo I can't make out any flowers, so there is that. Oh, I think I got confused by the upside-downish nature of photos--they both look like light fixtures.
Yes, it is a Universe where abstract representation of a theme is admired. The winner in the class had cool dried silvery alliums as plant material. It was spare.

[JaneV2.0]

Yes, it is a Universe where abstract representation of a theme is admired. The winner in the class had cool dried silvery alliums as plant material. It was spare.

Of course! Because Elvis loved onions! (WTH?)
They must have been grasping for novel themes...

[CathyA]

I hope you don't mind my putting these upright for you.......They're just easier to look at.

2097

2098

[rosarugosa]

Thanks, CathyA. You are my hero! :)

[razz]

What competition level are you in, IL? These are so elaborate as to be unbelievable. Imagine being prepared to judge such a category.

[iris lilies]

What competition level are you in, IL? These are so elaborate as to be unbelievable. Imagine being prepared to judge such a category.
Not only elaborate, but expensive.

The illuminary one with the martini glasses will likely win the People's Choice award when voting is complete this afternoon. She easily spent $150 on materials.And I will say that her is glitzy AND pretty. I spent $2 on the guitar at a thrift store but another $20 on spray paint and lights, and another $20 on flowers.

[iris lilies]

I hope you don't mind my putting these upright for you.......They're just easier to look at.

http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=2097&stc=1

http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=2098&stc=1

My hero too. I have really got to learn how to turn my photos around. Thanks!

[Teacher Terry]

IL: I like yours better then the winner:))

[lmerullo]

Thanks for flipping them.

I like yours, IL, and see easily how it interprets the theme. The spiral, not so much.

I think it's a close call!

[nswef]

Thanks Cathy A. It helps to see them right side up. Personally I find the guitar much more "Elvis' than a spiral-

[razz]

IL, you have taken judging courses, to what criteria would you have given points between the winner and your entry that make the difference? Is it imple conservatism of the art to a form that takes the art seriously so resisting your 'hokum' entry or trying to control an agreed upon standard as artsy competitions have ever done.

For years some of the most well known artists were initially rejected as not up to the established norm. Has flower judging gone that route once one reaches a certain level?

In my neck of the woods, flower shows are pretty low-key garden produce with some arrangements of items from one's garden enhanced by road-side finds.

[iris lilies]

IL, you have taken judging courses, to what criteria would you have given points between the winner and your entry that make the difference? Is it imple conservatism of the art to a form that takes the art seriously so resisting your 'hokum' entry or trying to control an agreed upon standard as artsy competitions have ever done.

For years some of the most well known artists were initially rejected as not up to the established norm. Has flower judging gone that route once one reaches a certain level?

In my neck of the woods, flower shows are pretty low-key garden produce with some arrangements of items from one's garden enhanced by road-side finds.

since you asked, my guitar design is bottom heavy, it isnt balanced in its space. The flowers are not integrated into the guitar, they just sort of surround it. The flowers themselves provide little rhythm although there is some with the palm leaf.when the balance is off, many things dont flow right.

The winner had lots of movement, your eyes traveled around and into it.The lights were integrated into the design.

the theme of this class was really Vive Las Vegas and the entire show was Elvis Presley. Anything with lights to represent
Las Vegas was good, and probably the winning design was more Las Vegas than mine which was pretty Elvis-y.But expression of theme is only 8 points out of 100 so that is not a big consideration.

[razz]

Thank you for the explanation, IL. Photos can give only a limited dimension of the display so actually being there makes a huge difference. Understanding the judging is a whole other aspect. When I was at the Philadelphia Flower Show I had wondered why some were chosen above others. They all looked beautiful to me.

[Tybee]

I'll go out on a limb here, now that they are right size up, and say that the winner represents live Elvis and IL's represents dead Elvis. So I guess it's all how you look at Elvis.

[Float On]

I think yours screams "Elvis"....anyone who has toured his house would agree. It also made me think of his Hawaii concert.