For 21 years, the Krannert Art Museum’s council board has put on “Petals & Paintings”, an exhibit that combines colorful, skillfully assembled flower arrangements with some of the museum’s exhibited paintings. Every year, the event takes place on Moms Weekend, and it brings in over 2,000 students, mothers, art enthusiasts and community members.

This weekend’s event will begin with a ticketed opening night reception Friday from 6:30 to 9 p.m., and the exhibit will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

“We usually have about 300 people, and that’s for the Friday night event,” said Diane Schumacher, director of marketing and publications at Krannert Art Museum. “And we’ll have over 2,000 people on Saturday and Sunday. It’s really popular not only with the campus, but also with the townspeople.”

Rick Orr, a University alumnus and local florist, is curating the event. He contacted and brought together 23 participating floral artists. Each was given a photo of a specific Krannert Art Museum painting, and was asked to complement it with his or her own accompanying floral arrangement. For the event, florists will bring designs from their home states of Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan and Illinois and set them up for display.

On Friday, the gala will consist of a silent auction, hors d’oeuvres from Michaels’ Catering, music from Briggs Houchins Trio and a raffle. Tom Goldenberg, a University alumnus who now lives in New York, is providing an art piece for the raffle.

“(The silent auction will include) pottery and glass vessels made by local artists, and they will be filled with exotic plants like orchids, bromeliads and other flora,” said Gloria Rainer, president of the Krannert Art Museum Council Board for the 2012-2013 year.

The Council Board is made up of volunteers who plan and carry out different programs, the most important being the Petals & Paintings exhibit. It is their main fundraiser for the year.

Schumacher said fundraising preparations begin in September of the previous year.

“There are a lot of details,” Schumacher said, “So starting in September is really almost essential.”

From finding the florists to choosing the pedestal sizes for the arrangements, each element must be carefully planned and accounted for, she said.

Nine other galleries will also be open to the public over the weekend, housing Krannert Art Museum’s permanent collections.

“(Petals & Paintings) is just a wonderful event, and we’re happy that we’re able to do it during Mom’s Day weekend, so many University of Illinois parents are able to come and enjoy it.”

The Saturday and Sunday events are free to the public, with a suggested donation of $3. Patrons of the Friday gala are encouraged to buy tickets ahead of time, because ticket sales at the door may run out. Each ticket cost $75 per person, and one can make reservations by emailing [email protected].

Reema can be reached at [email protected].