SAIFD Artist in Residence (AIR) Presentation
Seneca College, Trillium Chapter

Theme: Eco Florals -- Working with Greenery
Date: March 10, 2009

The SAIFD Trillium Chapter had their 2nd AIR program in March, with guest designer, Pam Salisbury AIFD, CAFA.

Pam Salisbury, besides being a freelance designer, owns her own ECO Floral Company, Flourish Florals. She explained thoroughly how her company has evolved and concentrated on having minimum waste. Also that all design styles are constructed without floral foam and that hand-tied techniques and armatures are heavily used to compensate for the floral foam. That in turn also creates a very unique personal style, which she has established over the years.

The students had many questions, of course, with regard to her company and her clients (this is a fairly new concept in our industry). Pam has been featured in Florist Magazine and the Canadian Florist and also has been on several television appearances to advocate eco-friendly florals and design practices.

Pam's demonstration focused on a variety of different foliages and the different techniques that can be applied to them to add interest and texture to floral designs.

The Seminar, which followed her presentation, was very exciting for the students as they were engaged in folding Aspidistra leaves in a double fold, weaving Monkey grass in a sculptural formation and slicing and braiding different grasses as part of a component in a design.

Pam's workshop was a great success with our members.

This was a very busy year for our Chapter: Starting with the participation in a Floral Design Show in October, our annual SAIFD Christmas Fundraiser in December, Provincial College Competitions and the annual Flower Show in Toronto Canada Blooms in March.

Marianne Suess AIFD, CAFA
Program Coordinator