Connect Design Group, Ross

CONNECT DESIGN GROUP
Formed in 1997 by a group of enthusiastic flower arrangers, Connect aims to further progressive trends inn floral art and design; encouraging practical participation and creative development by stimulating the mind and promoting a wider education in floral art.

Drawing inspiration from artists in other fields such as art, theatre, and fashion, plant material is used in its widest sense - leaves, flowers, stems, seeds, roots, etc to create decorative or expressive forms.   Colour, line, and texture are all explored to their fullest extent.  Forget any pre-conceived ideas you may have about flower arranging - be prepared for something different.

Members meet 3 or 4 times a year for hands-on workshops. Some sessions are led by experienced members of the group. For others National and International tutors are selected.   Many members of the group are experienced designers, demonstrators, tutors, in their own right and have demonstrated or exhibited in France, Spain, Italy, Canada, South Africa, and New Zealand.  In between meetings there is the chance to go further afield and attend workshops in other parts of the country to view new trends and experiment with new techniques and unusual materials. The designers are attempting to move forward, increasing their knowledge and practical skills at the highest level.   However traditional flower arranging is not completely forgotten, nearly everyone also belongs to a conventional local flower club, which like 'Connect' is affiliated to the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies and the Royal Horticultural Society. The beauty of plant material can be appreciated in all its forms.