My favorite way to experience spring in the Dallas, Texas area is
visiting the Dallas Arboretum. You can
check out previous blog posts I’ve written about this gorgeous botanical
garden.
Yesterday was cloudy and a bit rainy, so we opted for an indoor
spring experience! Each year the NorthPark Center hosts a floral exhibition
that showcases fresh floral mannequins. Each decorated mannequin “Muse” is
inspired by the arts in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. This year the FLEURS
DE VILLES MUSE 2026 event was held March 24-29, 2026. Here are a couple of
my favorite Muses!
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra:
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents more than 150
concerts each year and strives to connect thousands of adults and children with
the transformative power of music through community outreach programs.
This floral mannequin draws inspiration from Stravinsky's The Firebird- to be performed April 30-May 3, 2026. The Firebird is a fantastical story about a prince, thirteen princesses, a magical feather, and a fearsome ogre.
CREATED BY: CONCEPTO
The Cliburn:
The Cliburn promotes classical piano music and the
organization’s Van Cliburn International Piano Competitions are world renowned.
This floral mannequin is inspired by pianist Olga Kern, gold medalist of the 2001 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Kern rose to international prominence with her historic victory as the first woman to win the competition in more than 30 years. Known for her electrifying performances and signature red concert gowns, Kern celebrates the 25th anniversary of her landmark achievement in 2026.
CREATED BY: BUNCHES FLOWER COMPANY
If you cannot visit Dallas to see a FLEURS DE VILLES MUSE
spring exhibition, a trip to NorthPark Center can still provide an
opportunity for you to see museum-quality art for FREE!
The indoor shopping center is laid out in a square, making it easy to walk around to view art and shop! Here are a few of my favorite works that I recently spotted. The works are on loan from local museums so they may change.
Henry Moore was a 20th century British Sculptor
whose monumental bronze sculptures can be seen in public spaces worldwide.
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| Working Model for Oval with Points, 1968-1969 by Henry Moore |
lván Navarro is an immigrant from Chile who creates sculptures and installations like this one that comment on the socio-political experience of immigration. In each of the three water towers there is a different neon word or image. Growing up in Chile, Navarro was used to the government cutting power in the evenings to keep people at home. Using electric light as a means of social commentary, the light within these towers continuously reflects the words “ME/WE” and “BED,” along with an image of a ladder.
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| This Land is Your Land, 2014 by Iván Navarro |
This photo provides a twofer – a sculpture AND paintings!
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| Black Angel, 1967 by Beverly Pepper Flowers, 1979 by Andy Warhol |
Beverly Pepper, an American sculptor, was one of the first women to create monumental, welded steel sculptures. In this piece, she positioned stainless-steel squares at varied angles to evoke a tumbling effect.
The paintings behind Pepper’s sculpture are by the American artist and filmmaker Andy Warhol. He based this series of silkscreen paintings on a photograph of hibiscus blossoms published in the magazine Modern Photography. This example of Warhol’s use of repetition, appropriation and mechanical reproduction is key in his works of Pop art.
There are lots of opportunities to enjoy the arts in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex!
