ART BEAT: Blooming lovely idea comes alive

FRANCINE Thomas grew up in a florist shop and comes from three generations of florists.
So it was no surprise when the McLaren Falls woman decided to pursue a career in flowers.
Now, Mrs Thomas is sharing her skills and enthusiasm in a floral art extravaganza on stage at Baycourt Theatre.
Lume promises to take the audience on a "floral journey", as Mrs Thomas creates designs using lighting, water and flowers.
The two-hour show is set to a musical soundtrack and will "envelope the stage in a luminous aura of colour and flowers".
It's an unusual event which has attracted the attention of florists and flower growers all over New Zealand.
"It's about making people aware of flowers and what floral art is, and getting people to enjoy it," Mrs Thomas says.
"It's something a little bit different. The designs are a little bit out there."
Mrs Thomas is a member of the Tauranga Floral Art Group, whose members are helping stage the production.
The show will involve the creation of 11 elaborate floral designs on stage. Everything from "vines off the side of the road to glonosa lilies, tulips, gerberas and roses" will be used on stage to create the original designs.
Mrs Thomas has used the Kiwi No 8 wire mentality when it comes to creating the mechanics of the designs with most of the cost coming from the flowers.
"I've used a lot of stuff from the garden. It's surprising what you can make with a couple of pieces of four by two, some nails, fishing line and some twigs," she says.
"I'm doing different constructions using branches and twigs, through to glass and crystals.
"I've made two big picture frames for either side of the stage made from plane leaves, and spraypainted them."
Mrs Thomas has picked up some tips from husband Ashley, who is an engineer. He and the couple's two sons will help backstage at Lume.
"I even got a jigsaw cutter for my birthday, I use it quite a lot cutting out shapes," she says.
"I've taken over the garage at home, my poor old husband is wondering when the cars are going to be allowed back in."
Mrs Thomas has created a soundtrack of ambient music including The Secret Garden and Enigma so "music flows through to set the scene".
The show, which has been inspired by the Northern Lights and partially tells the story through flowers, will be explained by Mrs Thomas step by step. Although she does not want to give away too much away, she says the audience should look out for Charlie - a 6m-long glow worm.
By the end of the show, the entire stage of Baycourt Theatre will be covered in flowers. Afterwards, the flowers will be on display at the Waipuna Hospice and organisations that have supported Lume such as Creative Tauranga and the Tauranga City Council.
Mrs Thomas, whose favourite flower is the bearded iris, wants to share her love of blooms through Lume.
"It's all for the community, for people to appreciate flowers in the middle of winter and do something a bit different," she says.
"I think when it's so dreary outside, with bare twigs and cold frosts, a vase with a bit of colour warms the house up."
Mrs Thomas has recently started her own business supplying floral sundries after seven years' managing a flower wholesaler. She also teaches floral art and is a keen gardener on her two-acre section.
She loves "anything to do with flowers", and enjoys making arrangements for weddings and corporate events.
"I just love the beauty of them, the way they start from nothing and grow into this amazing thing. They finish and the next year they come back again."
The show will coincide with an exhibition, Winter Wonders, in the Baycourt Exhibition Hall, put on by Tauranga Floral Art Society members. Guest artists feature, including metal sculptures by Mark Scarlett, contemporary floral design and painting by Ruth Vickers and wearable art by Jo Odgers.
Lume is at Baycourt Theatre at 5pm on Saturday, June 26. Tickets from Baycourt TicketDirect.