The White House found itself in a thorny situation recently when its chief florist, Laura Dowling, quit and was reportedly escorted from the residence on the eve of Valentine’s Day.
That’s according to a Monday night account by The Washington Post outlining the famed florist’s mysterious departure from the White House, CNN reported.
First Lady Michelle Obama’s office confirmed the florist’s departure, and, in contrast to the Post’s report, offered glowing praise of Dowling’s skills.
“As chief florist, Laura Dowling and her team treated guests of the White House to their beautiful floral arrangements. Ms. Dowling’s creations were always lively and colorful, reflecting not only the season but the unique and historic rooms which they graced. No two arrangements were ever the same and each one left guests with a lasting impression of the elegance and history of the People’s House,” the statement said.
“We are grateful for her contribution over the years and wish her well,” it said.
Dowling, a French-trained artisan who owns her own flower shop in Alexandria, Virginia, had been in the coveted position since 2009. She succeeded Nancy Clarke, who held the job for three decades. She didn’t respond to a CNN request for comment, but in a statement issued through law firm Sidley Austin to The Washington Post, Dowling said she resigned “to pursue exciting new opportunities and explore my passion for floral artistry and design.”
Dowling has not yet been replaced.
It appears that Michelle has “modern” tastes and found Dowling’s style too fussy.
Modern art is now front and center in an old White House room.
First Lady Michelle Obama has revealed her bold new look for the Old Family Dining Room in the White House, with abstract paintings by Robert Rauschenberg, Josef Albers and Alma Thomas, the first work by an African-American artist to be displayed at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
The black artist Thomas’s work, called “Resurrection” provides a bull’s-eye punch of color at the price of $290,000. “It’s kind of unbelievable that we haven’t done this before,” Obama said.
Renovating the Old Family Dining Room, which is located off the Executive Mansion’s State Dining Room, was the First Lady’s first major decorating project.
A piece of New York City history makes an appearance — a silver tea set from the 1939 World’s Fair is displayed on the sideboard.
Here is the Old Family Dining Room as it was before the “diversity” onslaught.
