Margot Shaw doesn’t buy flower arrangements anymore.
Once a self-confessed “call and order flowers girl,” a watershed moment came when planning her daughter’s wedding. Working alongside the floral and event designer, she became inspired and did an apprenticeship with that creator of beautiful blooms.
Shaw will present her artistry at “On Dec” (Dec is short for decorative arts) on April 27 in the music hall at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Oakland.
It’s hosted by the Women’s Committee, which operates exclusively and promotes the cultural and educational value of the Carnegie Museum of Art. Since its inception in 1957, the committee has funded acquisitions, exhibitions, gallery design, and renovations with cash gifts and contributions of almost $10 million. There is a collection of decorative arts in the museum’s Ailsa Mellon Bruce Galleries, which the committee has provided financial support to for renovation of those galleries.
Shaw will share her love of entertaining through a slide show titled “The Magic of Outdoor Living,” at 10 a.m. She will also highlight excerpts from her book, “Living Floral: Entertaining and Decorating with Flowers,” published by Rizzoli New York. A book signing will take place in the music hall rotunda as will a pop up shop from the museum’s gift shop with floral or garden-themed items.
A luncheon will follow in the music hall foyer.
“I have heard her speak before, and she has a lot of enthusiasm,” said Mary Margaret Stamy, of Fox Chapel, luncheon chair. “Margot is passionate about floral design so this should be fun. Even if people aren’t into creating arrangements they will still be able to enjoy her beautiful floral designs.”
A native of Birmingham, Ala., Shaw studied art history at Hollins College in Virginia and interior design at the University of Texas. She founded Flower Magazine, which publishes six times a year.
The event fits with the vision of “On Dec,” a re-imagined and branded lecture-luncheon benefit event, a key fundraiser for the committee. Proceeds benefit the women’s committee’s initiatives as well as the Milton and Sheila Fine Collection Foundation, which will host an exhibition opening Nov. 18.
Margot Curran of Sewickley is chair of the patron party, happening April 26 at the Duquesne Club in Downtown Pittsburgh. Women’s Committee president Jennifer Muse is marketing chair and Barbara Thai is speaker chair.
Curran said this is the time of year people think about fresh flowers and gardens. Shaw will demonstrate how her floral arrangements flow into interior designs and the placement of flowers to complement what people are doing to decorate their homes, especially when they plan to entertain.
“Attending an event like this one can be rejuvenating,” said Curran. “You can see what Margot designs and then you can tell yourself ‘I can do that too.’ It’s like when you go shopping and you see a stylish outfit, and you think that you can coordinate an outfit like that as well. The talk will definitely be inspiring.”
Tickets are $175 for the patron party, $125 for the luncheon and are available online at wccmoa.org.
