San Diego boasts a rich arts community – and for the last 25 years, the La Jolla Festival of the Arts has championed local talent, including a variety of LGBT artists, at their beloved annual event. This summer, the festival will celebrate a quarter-century of art and activism on behalf of the San Diego community with a stellar lineup featuring high-profile artists like floral designer extraordinaire and celebrity favorite Michael Gaffney.
A former fixture of the Wall Street beat, Gaffney abandoned his career in finance after nearly a decade in order to follow his passion – the art of flower design. He founded the Milwaukee School of Flower Design and went on to open campuses in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Minneapolis and even here in San Diego in order to bring what he calls the “science of beauty” to students and artists across the nation. Today, Gaffney is considered one of the country’s premier flower designers and is highly sought after for celebrity weddings, runway shows and A-list events; and in June, he will make an appearance at San Diego’s own La Jolla Festival of the Arts.
Gaffney will be presenting a workshop on how to create floral arrangements suited precisely to the distinctive architecture and art in your home, as well as signing copies of his new book, Design Star!, for festival attendees. His appearance will take place on June 19, the final day of the La Jolla Festival of the Arts, at 1:30 pm in the main Events Pavilion.
Among Gaffney’s fellow presenters at the festival include local author, chef and television personality Amy Finley, Executive Chef Bernard Guillas of the Marine Room restaurant in La Jolla, novelist Debra Ginsberg, animator Jerry Beck and sports writer Bill Swank – all of whom will share the entertainment spotlight.
The festival takes place this year on June 18 and 19 on the UCSD campus in La Jolla. For more information on artists, vendors, performances, tickets, volunteer opportunities and charitable works, visit the La Jolla Festival of the Arts website.
