MAX GILL
Max is a UC Berkeley alumnae who graduated with a degree in environmental design. He furthered his appreciation for creative design through studying theater and art history, but only stumbled upon his career in floral design when he was asked to do a friend's wedding. His account with Peter was introduced by Ben and Tolley at Black Wing Clay. Now he drops by Palette a couple of times a week, early in the morning, to create his installations.
PHONE CONVERSATION WITH MAX GILL
[05-08-2022 11:00:00]
His formal education was Environmental Design at UC Berkeley, then he studied theater intensively, interested in the creation of a picture-perfect stage. He started floral work at a friend's wedding. When Max formally embarked on this career path, he was introduced to Ariella Chesar who referred him to Carrie Glenn, the 35-year veteran floral designer for Chez Panisse. Now he has taken over the work at Chez Panisse, creating installations twice a week.
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Max's journey with Palette began during the pandemic through Tolley and Ben at Black Wing Clay referral. He sources the flowers from his personal garden, foraging sessions, nurseries, or the SF Flower Market which opens at 7 a.m. He goes in weekly to build the installation on-site and stops by a couple of times a week. He says that this is an amazing opportunity for him creatively because the work is a departure from what is usually asked of him. The space is very dark and black, so the deeper tones evaporate. He has to opt for green or white, essentially crisper colors, or highly textural materials like foliage to stand out against the background.
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"Palette represents a more contemporary context, sensibility, and aesthetic. So I try, and I confess not always successfully, the same approach with flowers. I try to look for new flowers or flowers that are, for lack of a better word, creepy or weird."
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"Seafood is the focus of the menu, so some branches and flowers nod to an underwater moment. To look like sea anemone or water plants, I use more structural elements to imply movement." This works because Max's personal aesthetic is work informed by the natural process with silhouettes of nature being loose and organic.
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On the topic of Bay Area food and art, Max says that we are spoiled living where we live because we are sensitive to good food and quality ingredients, which lent itself to a whole community that appreciates high quality, local, seasonal palettes. Then we ended our conversation by talking about the Japanese influence on flower design since the heritage of Japanese nurseries is heavily embedded in Berkeley and the Bay Area.
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