SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — San Francisco’s iconic Legion of Honor is exploding in color. Floral designers are transforming the classical halls as part of an expanded “Bouquets to Art” exhibit, typically held across the park at the city’s de Young museum. Raul Duenas is designer in charge and says the location is like having a second canvass.

“So being in this museum, that is such an iconic place for the San Francisco, for the city. It’s a huge opportunity – new art too – to play with some demonstrations and just also just the architecture. It’s a masterpiece,” says Duenas

The exhibit challenges arrangers to mirror a specific work of art with a floral arrangement.

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For Vanessa Marlin, it’s a classical portrait of the Sleeping Venus. She says her first idea was to bring in live models and decorate them with flowers. But practicality won out.

“Instead, I went to the Bloomingdales clearance sale, and they had dozens and dozens of mannequins, and I just picked one out that I thought would be, appropriate for this piece. And as you can see, it turned out pretty well,” says Marlin.

And from dangling pearls capturing the elegance of a formal portrait, to a cupid’s arrow mirroring a classic romance, the designers find unique devices to re-tell the artist’s story.

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“So my inspiration for this one is like, what do you do for love? You change yourself and to be part of it so he can win the girl’s heart,” says creator Nona Tai.

Organizers decided to expand this year’s Bouquets to Art to help celebrate the Legions 100th anniversary. Meanwhile, on the other side of Golden Gate Park at the de Young Museum, exhibitors were busy splashing colors to interpret more modern pieces as well. Arranger Leslie Kaye says she chose the DeYoung, in part, because she was more familiar with the paintings. But she believes having both museums exhibiting at once, is an opportunity for an army of floral artists to make history.

“This has taken over everyone’s life,” says Kaye laughing. “But it’s really cool because, I mean the Legion of Honor is so gorgeous and it’s the 100th anniversary, so I think it’s really special that we’re there this year.”

And allowing visitors to experience a stunning art form in full bloom. The Bouquets to Art exhibit and Gala are typically one of the biggest fund raisers of the ear for the fine arts museums of San Francisco. Visitors can book tickets to see both exhibits on the same day.

The contracts of two North Bay high school employees were at the center of a heated debate on Tuesday.

Parents and students said the two consultants have made a measurable difference for Black students, but those in charge aren’t convinced the positions were necessary in the first place.

Sophomore Roman Cole said they’ve turned around Tamalpais High School in just a year.

“Overall just unsafe for people of color at Tamalpais High School, and they made it a way safer and enjoyable place,” said Cole about the changes over the last school year.

He said now he’s enjoying school, but his freshman year was a different story.

He didn’t want to go. He said some students would call kids of color racial slurs, and that there was even a photo circulating online of a girl with one written on her face.

“Some people’s moms were literally moving them to different schools last year,” explained Cole. “Some people of color’s kids are not here anymore because of the situation at Tam last year.”

In August of 2024, contractors Tenisha Tate-Austin and Paul Austin were brought in. They provide support to students of color by mentoring, working to improve grades, and creating a feeling of belonging.

Nearly 40 people took to the podium to express their support.

“If you look up the numbers at Tam right now black students are doing better than any school in this district,” said Lorenzo Bynam. “Numbers don’t lie.”

Last year, 53 percent of Black and biracial students had at least one D or worse grade; this year, the number had improved by more than 15 percent.

At the meeting, representatives from the district administration recommended extending their contracts one year, but Board President Cynthia Roenisch did not agree

“I find it hard that an educator gets up and makes a recommendation that we have to pay $250,000 dollars for halftime work,” said Roenisch.

Throughout Roenisch’s remarks the crowd got upset.  

“If the audience can’t be respectful, I’m going to ask you to leave,” threatened Roenisch.

She continued on, arguing they never should have been contracted in the first place.

“Going back and looking at it, I’m going to say we inappropriately approved those consultant contracts because the services that are provided are not specialized services,” said Roenisch. “They are services that are provided in the job description of the assistant principal, of the dean, of teachers, of counsellors.”

By a vote of 3-2, Tate-Austin and Austin’s contracts were not renewed. Cole said he was shocked by the decision and questions what will happen next.

“It’s honestly a shame,” said Cole. “I don’t know what we’re going to do next year, and I hope that what happens next year is not going to be what happened for my freshman year.”