ETV’s McNulty to discuss flower meanings at art museum

Art lovers can explore the flowers of Charles Courney Curran’s impressionist paintings a little more deeply Tuesday, May 12, with the Columbia Museum of Art’s ArtBreak.

Horticulturist Amanda McNulty is featured in Tuesday’s ArtBreak, a lecture series featuring experts in different fields interpreting art on exhibit at the museum. McNulty, who hosts ETV’s “Making it Grow,” will discuss the Victorian meanings of flowers, focusing on those featured in Curran’s paintings.

“How simple life is today. A suitor can make a quick pass through Trader Joe’s, checking out with a mixed bouquet of flowers and a bottle of wine, feeling assured of receiving a warm welcome for his thoughtfulness,” McNulty said in a museum release. “Not so in times past, where hours of soul-searching and research were required before any floral tribute could be sent to a potential sweetheart. Hear about the secret messages and intrigue that surrounded the simple act of sending flowers during Victorian times.”

A pop-up cafe with pastries and coffee by Drip opens at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and the lecture begins at 11 a.m. at the museum. The lecture is free with membership or admission.

Amanda C. Coyne

This story was originally published May 12, 2015 at 10:00 AM with the headline "ETV’s McNulty to discuss flower meanings at art museum."