Guests now walk around on flower petals at the Asian Art Museum.  Both inside and out, Megan Wilson’s bright summer of love infused flowers decorate the sidewalk, walls, and walkways, so whether you’re rushing to work at the Civic Center, or perusing the new Flower Power exhibit, passersby pause, if only for a second, and smile.  That smile seems to be the universal effect of flowers on people no matter their destination.

The Moving Garden , by Lee Mingwei

There’s an elegant array of flower themed iconography from all over Asia on display.  Japanese artist Ayomi Yoshida and her team are actively constructing a cherry blossom grove inside the museum (thousands of handmade paper blossoms),   Taiwanese American artist Lee Mingwei invites visitors to pick fresh cut daisies from his art installation and gift them to a stranger.  Inside the exhibit is a journey through floral folklore and artistry from across Asia.

“The anti-materialist and pacifist spirit of the Summer of Love was really a starting point for developing the exhibition,” says Flower Power curator Dany Chan. “Ultimately, we were guided in organizing Flower Power as much by the richness of the artworks as by the philosophy behind an ancient Chinese proverb: ‘If you have two pennies, spend one on a loaf and one on a flower. The bread will give you life and the flower a reason for living.’”

From Buddha turning weapons into lotus blossoms, to Takashi Murakami turning flowers into animated faces, the floral theme crosses centuries and mediums.

Me and Kaikai and Kiki, 2010, by Takashi Murakami Takashi Murakami

When is the best time you visit you ask?  Anytime between June 23 – Oct. 1, 2017.  But if you want to get in FREE & participate in something fun and record breaking, show up Saturday July 15, for the Museum’s LOTUS LIVE GUINNESS WORLD RECORD™ for the Largest human flower.

Be part of history and join me, Stuart and thousands of others to help form a beautiful lotus that can been seen from the sky. We need at least 3,000 community members who want to create something larger than themselves.

Sat, July 15, 2017
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM PDT

Asian Art Museum – Civic Center Plaza
200 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

Sign up here!