Dancing Calla Lily, Teach For America Gala

A project that arrived quickly and unfolded with intensity, from initial brief to signed contract in less than a week, setting the tone for a production that demanded both clarity and precision from the very beginning.

Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium is a venue that defines presence. Located along Constitution Avenue in the heart of Washington, D.C., it is a landmark of neoclassical architecture, distinguished by its grand colonnade, soaring proportions, and richly ornamented interiors. Inside, towering Corinthian columns frame the space, while gilded details and coffered ceilings reflect light with a quiet, ceremonial glow. The scale is monumental, yet the symmetry brings a sense of order and calm. It is a room designed not just to host events, but to hold history – a setting where every detail feels elevated by context.

Designing within such a space calls for restraint.

The floral concept, “Dancing Calla Lily,” was developed as a quiet counterpoint to the grandeur of the architecture. Rather than competing with the scale of the room, the design focuses on movement, line, and negative space.

Each arrangement features only calla lilies and lily grass, composed in sleek rectangular glass vases. The stems are intentionally guided into soft, organic curves – never rigid, never overly styled – allowing each bloom to feel as though it is in motion. The result is a series of sculptural forms that echo a sense of rhythm across the tables, like a collection of subtle, synchronized gestures.

What appears minimal is, in reality, highly controlled. Over 40 arrangements were engineered to maintain balance and stability, each holding 10 stems while concealing all structural mechanics. The pieces were transported nearly 20 miles to the venue and installed to remain precise, intact, and visually effortless within the space.

Set against blush-toned linens and the architectural weight of the auditorium, the compositions create a refined dialogue – softness against structure, movement within stillness.

This project reflects a design approach rooted in intention:
to simplify, to focus, and to allow form and space to speak with quiet confidence.