Art & Flowers,
One Man’s Dream Becomes Reality
By Bryant McCallister
I met the floral designer David Bryant at his studio, a new business located in The Market Shopping Center on Mink Ave. in Murrells Inlet. The studio is more than a floral design palace, but it also houses some internationally known artists works.
David showed me some garden roses, plucking them out of a water bucket and pinching their petals delicately between his fingers as he pointed out the complex, open structure that differentiates them from more tightly petaled varieties. “I love romantic flowers,” he said. “I love having the chance to be part of something magically personal to my clients”.
The design studio, Art & Flowers, founded in 2000. (The name, a lo-fi abbreviation of “Art works and Flowers,” is a slightly nerdy play on the studio’s different way of sharing all forms of art. David’s clients seek him out not only for his traditional arrangements but for his ability to style and construct floral artistry that might incorporate many objects of beauty.
At a time when so many floral designs seem guided by a rustic “woke up like this” aesthetic, David’s bouquets stand out for their unabashedly stylized vibrancy and use of greens, as with a bridal bouquet he recently created for a wedding. Drama within each arrangement or bridal bouquet is a driving force. Said Daniel Dunn, one of David’s assistant designers and spouse. “Even with the pastel colors, even when he doesn’t use a super dark or deep color. Each flower is like a character.”
Roses are a staple of many of David’s arrangements. “It’s really life-affirming to know that you can just create art that is meaningful to you in a way that is about delight, and have it resonated,” he said. Valentines Day is a busy holiday in his studio, but we never forget to include the love in each design, regardless of how simple or complex it may be. The studio will be delivering floral gifts throughout the valentine’s holiday.
Designing for events requires infinite adaptability. “The arrangement is sent out to the world to be part of some other space,” said David. “And how someone looks at and metabolizes flowers will be completely different from the way I designed them.” it.” “The main issue here is to bring happiness to an event.” He said with a sense of confidence.
If there’s a strange coherence to David’s arrangements, the same could be said of his own trajectory. David received his master’s in art and psychology from University of Kentucky and spent part of his twenties pursuing an floral design career in Lexington Ky. In 1990, a job at a local florist drew him to Myrtle Beach. While working there he entered and won many regional awards for design excellence including the Harwood Cup from SRFA in Charlotte NC. “Doing flowers is sort of like sculpture plus painting plus time,” says David.
For the moment, however, floral design remains the heart of his practice. When we first spoke, he was preparing for several events and in the thick of a backlogged Christmas decorating season.
That’s all to say: David Bryant Designer is very busy. Merely keeping flowers alive requires an inordinate amount of attention and care. Before I left his studio, he wrapped some of the roses in tissue paper for me to take home, tying them together with a wide gingham ribbon and giving instructions on how to prolong their shelf life. On my way out, I noticed an assistant stripping a Christmas tree of its ornaments. I asked if it was being stored for the season? David answered, “It is for a client in our Rent-A-Christmas program, we are off to spread the love of beautiful things.”
Art & Flowers is located at 758 Mink Ave. in Murrells Inlet. David and his staff welcome you to visit the studio. Weddings and events are always a welcome adventure for David and his staff. The studio/gallery is open daily 10 am to 5 pm call 843-651-1313 for more information or visit www.dbryantdesignergroup.com.
