SAN DIEGO, CA – The San Diego Museum of Art is pleased to announce the 38th annual Art Alive exhibition, on view April 11– April 14, 2019. As the Museum’s signature fundraiser and a highly anticipated spring tradition, the event features nearly 100 floral designers’ interpretations of famous works of art throughout the Museum, filling the galleries with a brilliant crescendo of color and scent.

Art Alive has grown significantly since it launched in 1982. The four-day event welcomes more than 12,000 guests to the exhibition and 1,400 guests to Bloom Bash, the popular opening celebration. Each year, Art Alive exceeds the previous record for funds raised. This year, Bloom Bash will expand into the Plaza de Panama to accommodate a growing guest list, new activities including a Ferris wheel, and 45 restaurant vendors.

“We’re delighted to welcome San Diego and visitors from around the world to the 38th annual Art Alive exhibition,” said Roxana Velásquez, Maruja Baldwin Executive Director at The San Diego Museum of Art. “Each year the creativity exceeds expectations. And the impact is extraordinary, as support from this event and our local community helps the Museum provide essential educational and outreach programs as well as bring exhibitions to San Diego throughout the year.”

This year, Jennifer McGarigle, the founder of Floral Art, has been selected as the Rotunda Designer. McGarigle will transform the Museum’s rotunda into a large-scale floral display themed after the Alfred Eisenstaedt: Life and Legacy photography exhibition, which opens Art Alive weekend. McGarigle’s rotunda design is inspired by the idea of flowers frozen in time, just as moments are captured in photographs. She will create a stunning floating garden of red and black roses suspended from the rotunda ceiling, enveloping guests in color and scent. After graduating from The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, McGarigle opened Floral Art, a floral, event, and home design company based in Venice, CA. She has created floral displays for the Oprah Winfrey Show, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany’s, the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas and more.

Art Alive 2019 will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 12, through Sunday, April 14. General admission is free for members, $25 for nonmembers, $5 for youth (ages 7 to 17), and free for children age 6 and under. In addition to viewing the annual floral exhibition during Museum hours, Art Alive 2019offers four full days of events, activities and celebrations, including:

Art Alive 2019 Premiere Dinner

Thursday, April 11, 2019 – 6:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.

An intimate black-tie event, the Premiere Dinner is set within the Museum’s galleries.

Bloom Bash

Friday, April 12 – 7:00 p.m. – Midnight

$200 for members and $250 for nonmembers

The Bloom Bash Opening Celebration is the official Art Alive kickoff party. The celebration will feature custom art installations by Monty Montgomery. The San Diego-based contemporary artist is known for his vibrant murals characterized by their black lines, bright colors and geometric shapes. 

Bloom Bash also features culinary creations from San Diego’s top restaurants and chefs, floral-infused cocktails, live music and dancing, interactive entertainment and an exclusive after-hours viewing of this year’s floral exhibition.

Flower Crown Workshop

Saturday, April 13 – 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

$75 for members and $100 for nonmembers

The San Diego Museum of Art is partnering with Native Poppy, a San Diego-based floral design company and boutique, to offer a flower crown workshop.

Garden of Activities 

Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14 – Noon – 4:00 p.m. 

Free after Art Alive admission
Great for families, the Garden of Activities features a Museum-wide flower hunt, a children’s reading area complete with nature-inspired stories and a variety of floral-themed art projects designed for children and families to enjoy together.

About Art Alive

As the Museum’s largest annual fundraiser, Art Alive highlights its permanent collection to provide critical support for education, outreach programs and special exhibitions year-round. For more information or to make a donation in support of this San Diego tradition, call the Art Alive Hotline at (619) 696-1999, or contact the Museum at artalive@sdmart.org. Tickets are also available online at sdmart.org/artalive.

Support for Art Alive has been provided by Art Alive 2019Signature Sponsor Audrey S. Geisel, Dr. Seuss Foundation. The Art Alive 2019Premiere Dinner Chairs are Toni Bloomberg, Tatiana Dotson, Arlene Esgate, Micki Olin and Demi Rogozienski. BLOOM BASH chairs are Jill Larson, Mitch Mitchell and Alexis Ranglas.