Anniversary gala
Masterful reduction and exaggeration
50 years Flower market Bern: Anniversary gala with master florist Gregor Lersch and 900 customers
A man who inspires 900 florists: German florist Gregor Lersch presented himself and his Christmas creations at the anniversary gala of the Flower market Bern. Natural plant materials determined the picture, the classic red tones were celebrated and the simple, black stub wire became a fascinating basic material for small and also large-format workpieces and room installations. Only two days before his own 60th birthday, master florist Gregor Lersch stood on the stage of the Bern Flower market on 17 and 18 October and turned the 50th anniversary of this cooperative into an impressive event. Already on Saturday evening, the actual anniversary gala, the passionate designer and nature lover inspired more than 600 professional colleagues in a two-hour stage presentation. On Sunday, the lecture that had initially been planned with him was converted into another stage show due to the great demand, to which Flower market manager Michael Ettmann was able to welcome another 300 florists. Gregor Lersch, who travelled to 32 countries for floristic demonstrations, courses, and projects this year alone, sees the future of floristics in reduction. ” This will be a topic – and this has nothing to do with the economic crisis”, Lersch predicted during his entertaining stage show. With a wink he added: “In the narrowness – oh no, in the limitation – the true master shows himself.” Lersch praised the appreciative treatment of the flowers, but said that the Swiss florists took it for granted anyway. Even extremes have their charm for Gregor Lersch. The master appreciates excessive proportions just as much as exaggerations of colourfulness. With a work whose formal exaggeration was expressed in the further development of a sphere into a flowing floral train, he also presented the impressive implementation of his theme.” Do something that will surprise people,” he provocatively urged his colleagues to be more confident.” For example, put a little hurdle between your art and being stolen by the viewer”. In order to counteract the Advent exhibition tourism, he would now take four euros entrance fee for the Advent event in his shop in Bad Neuenahr:” You call the shots “he shouted to his colleagues. It goes without saying for the passionate florist that his customers are then allowed to amaze elaborate installations with, for example, 35,000 hanging apples. And just as naturally, visitors to the Flower market Bern were also able to enjoy festive, perfectly shaped and technically sophisticated pieces in the affiliated Advent exhibition at the end of his stage show.
Advent at „Vinzenz Meier AG“ 2012
The Christmas performance in the “Vinzenz Meier AG” in Meinisberg began like a Russian winter fairy tale. Violet Phalaenopsis elegantly danced over pink board that mean the world. Gray-brown fur collar warm sensitive Cymbidium and delicate Christmas tree decorations rested on silky pillows. Andrea Lehmann, Franziska Stettler, and Flavia Scussel, the directors of the Christmas production had initially created a cool stage. Grey, withe and pink dominated the milieu and a scene like snow withe followed. Red-cheecked apples rolled around with spruce cones, silver deer roamed the scene and sinuous fir trees preened themselves with bizarre lichen branches. In the next act the snow queen appeared. Withe stars adorned themselves with elegant pine needles and fought with wreaths made of cypress, holm oak and juniper for first place. Silvery balls fell like flakes from the sky and landed in cool sticks of Leucophyta. Then came the appearance of sleeping Beauty: rose hips turned dizzying pirouettes with pine branches and red roses shine in full contrast on a stage made of pale grey lichen branches. Cinderella was not satisfied with three hazelnuts for once, but chose precious orchids for the ball with her dream prince.
Work from Andrea Lehmann, Flavia Scussel, Franziska Stettler
Advent at „Vinzenz Meier AG“ 2010
Max Schweizer, manager of Vinzenz Meier AG, is the Santa Claus after all! If not, the two must be very close friends, otherwise the branches in Switzerland would not have presented their individual, small Advent exhibitions so magnificently decorated. In Meinisberg the florists Andrea and Fabienne were among Sami’s hard- working helpers. Autumn leaves, woody plants and pine greenery combined quite naturally with glittering tree decorations to form festive garlands, artistic vessel fillings and filigree Advent flower arrangements. All roads led to the Advent exhibition, which took place in the middle of the branch on the “market”. Customers took the opportunity to bring along some appealing and feasible Christmas ideas before and after shopping and to have a little chat with employees or colleagues. In Wil SG, it was Rene Altherr who put the store in the Christmas spirit as early as October. So Sami and Vinzenz have worked together very successfully and have made a big impact with the choice of their floral Christmas elves.
