Close Menu
    Tuesday, May 20
    Subscribe
    Arts

    Eden Prairie artists help bring spring to life at Art in Bloom

    Rachel EngstromBy 4 Mins Read

    For two Eden Prairie residents, Art in Bloom isn’t just an annual event – it’s a deeply personal celebration of art, nature, and community.

    Floral artists Mimi Schirber and Meg Hillary will once again represent Eden Prairie in Art in Bloom 2025, a four-day exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia), where more than 100 floral designers create arrangements inspired by works from the museum’s permanent collection.

    Displayed beside the intricately carved wooden door from East Africa, Mimi Schirber’s floral design echoes the cultural and spiritual resonance of entrances. Her piece honors the symbolism of home, heritage and the messages we offer through the spaces we create for others.
    Displayed beside the intricately carved wooden door from East Africa, Mimi Schirber’s floral design echoes the cultural and spiritual resonance of entrances. Her piece honors the symbolism of home, heritage and the messages we offer through the spaces we create for others.
    🌸 ‘A balm’ to her soul: Mimi Schirber’s floral journey

    Mimi Schirber moved to Eden Prairie three years ago, but her love for Art in Bloom began more than two decades ago during her first Minnesota winter.

    “It was a balm to my soul,” she said of her first visit. “Spring before spring had actually arrived.”

    Advertisement
    Ad for Washburn McReavy

    Now in her second year as a participating artist, Schirber is interpreting Door (African) — a carved wooden door from East Africa.

    “I thought about how we all create a space at our front door,” she said. “Whether we carve meaningful signs, choose a paint color, or add a welcome mat – it tells something about us.”

    Meg Hillary of Eden Prairie created this earthy, layered floral arrangement as her interpretation of “Wooded Hillside with a Vista” for Mia’s Art in Bloom. Her design features textures and colors that echo the forest floor and foliage, crowned by a hand-twisted copper tree sculpture symbolizing nature’s structure and serenity.
    Meg Hillary of Eden Prairie created this earthy, layered floral arrangement as her interpretation of “Wooded Hillside with a Vista” for Mia’s Art in Bloom. Her design features textures and colors that echo the forest floor and foliage, crowned by a hand-twisted copper tree sculpture symbolizing nature’s structure and serenity.
    🌳 ‘A feeling of being in the painting’: Meg Hillary’s return

    For Meg Hillary, Art in Bloom has become an annual tradition. A 26-year Eden Prairie resident, Hillary is interpreting “Wooded Hillside with a Vista” by 17th-century Dutch painter Jan Dirksz Both. Her floral design mirrors the landscape’s earthy tones using muted flowers and a copper tree sculpture.

    “My goal was to create a feeling of being in the painting,” she explained. “The process pushes your imagination – it’s challenging in the best way.”

    This 1645 landscape by Dutch artist Jan Dirksz Both, titled “Wooded Hillside with a Vista,” served as the assigned inspiration for Eden Prairie floral artist Meg Hillary in Art in Bloom. Housed in Gallery 311 at Mia, the painting’s layered trees, subdued light and pastoral calm guided her naturalistic interpretation.
    This 1645 landscape by Dutch artist Jan Dirksz Both, titled “Wooded Hillside with a Vista,” served as the assigned inspiration for Eden Prairie floral artist Meg Hillary in Art in Bloom. Housed in Gallery 311 at Mia, the painting’s layered trees, subdued light and pastoral calm guided her naturalistic interpretation.
    🌼 Art in Bloom 2025: When, where and what to see

    📍 Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia)
    🗓️ April 24-27
    🎟️ Admission is FREE!

    🕒 Mia hours during the festival:
    • Thursday, April 24: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
    • Friday-Sunday, April 25-27: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
    ✨ Special events at Mia
    🚗 Getting there: Parking and accessibility

    Due to area construction and high attendance, public transportation or ridesharing is strongly encouraged.

    • Daily parking: Ramp $25, Surface Lot $20 (credit card only)
    • Valet: $30 (cash only) or $5 with disability permit — Thursday: 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Sunday: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Free public tours: 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m. daily + 7:15 p.m. Thursday
    • Open studio: Cyanotype Printing: Thursday, 5-7 p.m.
    • Family Day + Colombia Live: Sunday, April 27, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (performances at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.)
    • Mona’s Bakery pop-up: Sunday from 10 a.m. until sold out
    • Mezzanine Restaurant: Open varied hours daily
    • Food trucks: Full schedule here

    Editor’s note: This is the latest installment of Rachel’s Reviews, where Rachel Engstrom, a contributor to Eden Prairie Local News (EPLN), reviews various aspects of Eden Prairie and beyond. Do you have ideas for reviews? Reach out to Rachel Engstrom at rachel.engstrom@eplocalnews.org.

    Comments
    We offer several ways for our readers to provide feedback. Your comments are welcome on our social media posts (Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn). We also encourage Letters to the Editor; submission guidelines can be found on our Contact Us page. If you believe this story has an error or you would like to get in touch with the author, please connect with us.

    Be Informed
    Sign up for the FREE email newsletter from EPLN
    Subscribe
    Share.

    More to READ