The global pandemic has forced almost every museum and gallery across the world to close indefinitely. In an effort to brighten the timeline with a break from all the doom and gloom, museums have begun to send images of painting, photographs, and other artwork depicting floral arrangements to other institutions via Twitter.
"Dear @americanart, we wanted to brighten your day with these apple blossoms by American painter Martin Johnson Heade," the New-York Historical Society tweeted at The Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery. "We hope this #MuseumBouquet makes you smile today!"
Dear @americanart, we wanted to brighten your day with these apple blossoms by American painter Martin Johnson Heade.
— New-York Historical Society (@NYHistory) March 24, 2020
🌷We hope this #MuseumBouquet makes you smile today! 😊 pic.twitter.com/d63vSZKWT5
Sending well wishes by way of a puppy-shaped #MuseumBouquet to our 5th Avenue neighbors @cooperhewitt, @elmuseo, @frickcollection, @metmuseum, @MuseumofCityNY, and @thejewishmuseum. 💐 We can’t wait to visit you all again soon!
— Guggenheim Museum (@Guggenheim) March 24, 2020
(Pictured: Jeff Koons, "Puppy," 1992) pic.twitter.com/ck0fllnabt
The institutions are offering these virtual flowers with the hashtag #MuseumBouquet alongside messages of gratitude, well-wishes, and even poetry.
"Roses are red / Violets are blue / We want to share Duke Ellington's flowers with you," The National Portrait Gallery tweeted to its sister Smithsonian museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Sending a garden of flowers and lots of love to our Portrait Gallery friends @NPGLondon and @PortraitAu! 🌻 #MuseumBouquet 📷: https://t.co/YZQk4neOPT pic.twitter.com/O7jjaHeFkb
— National Portrait Gallery (@smithsoniannpg) March 24, 2020
Today we’re sending out a virtual #MuseumBouquet to our colleagues locally @CAGVancouver @billreidgallery @MOA_UBC & @Belkin_Gallery! We hope this #stilllife by #AmbrosiusBosschaert reminds you of the beauty that still exists in the everyday! 💐 pic.twitter.com/Fn7P0uZaYm
— Vancouver ArtGallery (@VanArtGallery) March 24, 2020
Many Twitter users have expressed their thanks for these public spaces attempting to foster joy amid the darkness of the world.
"MuseumBouquet is sparking such joy and brighteness," said Twitter user @ShamonPR.
"Brilliant idea to bring some beauty into the lives of those Self Isolating during these difficult times," echoed @Watt_Ever_008.