On December 3rd the Conservatory of Flowers will host celebrated San Francisco floral designer Jun Piñon. Piñon will give a live floral arranging demonstration in the Orchid Gallery, focused on the benefits of working with floral elements during the winter season.
Piñon is a prestigious floral designer in the city, counting The Ritz Carlton, The Four Seasons, and Campton Place hotels among his clientele. Known for his bold and creative designs, Pinon said in 2004, “I love the magical effects flowers have on people,” he said. “That’s why I got into this.”
Unlike his usual large-scale shows, the Conservatory’s event will be a rare opportunity to interact with Piñon in an intimate setting as he creates and teaches. The event begins at 12:30 with a reception, followed by a demonstration at 1pm, and a Q&A session at 2pm. Tickets are $75 for the public / $60 for members and can be purchased in advance.
And one lucky attendee will walk away with one of Piñon’s creations – an arrangement will be raffled off during the event.
The Conservatory of Flowers newsletter interviewed Piñon recently; here are a few excerpts:
CF: In your arrangements, do you have any seasonal traditions?
JP: For Thanksgiving, people like to get a lot of texture in arrangements. Blackberries are coming in beautifully, and anything with orange hues, people tend to like that. For fall, jewel tone colors are big. We get flowers from all over the world at the SF Flower Mart, so we can really do anything people can imagine.
CF: How did you become interested in flowers?
JP: I studied interior design, and I graduated here in SF. I worked for a shop here in the Bay Area, and I had the opportunity to deliver flowers, and to see the magical affect of flowers on people. It’s very powerful. I was delivering flowers on Mother’s Day, and at the end of my route, I had a delivery for a lady who was well into her 80s. When she opened the door, she had a walker, and when she saw the flowers, her face lit up and her smile made my day. It was a life changing moment for me. I went home, and shared my experience with my parents: I said, right then and there, I wanted to be the best at bringing flowers. Flowers are meant to be shared. This is why I take my time to make sure I share what I know.
CF: What is your favorite flower to work with?
JP: Roses. They come in so many different varieties!
CF: Do you have any advice you would like to share with our readers?
JP: Don’t be intimidated by trying something different. One thing to remember in arranging: always try to simplify. Monochromatic designs, different flowers of one color, these are so elegant. And eco-friendly is the next wave of designs, so always look to that! I look forward to sharing more at the demonstration on December 3rd! Remember, working with flowers is therapy! Be well!
Sarah B.