For Spencer Myers, creativity is not confined to one medium. At LINNEA, he works closely with scent, pouring, and production. Through Playgarden Florals, he creates floral work rooted in emotion, individuality, and personal expression. Ahead of Art in Bloom, we spoke with Spencer about the connection between flowers and fragrance, the memories scent can awaken, and the role art continues to play in the way he moves through the world.
Q: You are both an artist and part of the team at LINNEA. Do those two sides of your creative life feel connected?
When I create with flowers, I want to create a unique mindful experience for my clients, whether it’s a celebration of life, a gesture of love or a simple thought of “I was thinking about you”. I believe the work we do at LINNEA is similar in that we want our products to recall memories, evoke emotions or take you on a journey to somewhere new. For me, our Heirloom Tomato and Noel candles take me back to spending time on my grandparents’ farm as a child. Helping my grandpa harvest the garden and eating my grandma’s homemade jelly. These precious memories come to mind instantly from these two simple fragrances. I believe the work we do is one in the same, in that we aim to curate experiences that transcend simple products.
Q: What drew you to the artwork you were assigned for Art in Bloom, and how did you begin translating it into flowers?
All the artists are assigned their respective artwork. I think in doing things this way, Newfields provides more of an objective challenge and opportunity for delving into how each of us interprets and interacts with art. I was assigned the “Lawn-Do-All’ Electric Mower” created by Clifford H. Flanigan in 1948. Honestly, I was at a loss when I first found out this was my assigned piece, but I dove into researching what was going on in the world at that time, how I felt about those things, how they coincide with the artwork and what I can create.
Q: What does your own art practice give you that nothing else does?
Floristry, let alone other mediums, gives me a chance to empty myself. Especially with so much horror going on in the world right now, creating gives me an avenue to express myself, my frustrations, my joy, my curiosity. Creating art is a cathartic experience where I can lose myself in the work. Art lets you speak from the soul when you can’t find the words.
Q: Has working so closely with scent, pouring, and production changed the way you think about making art?
For me, I feel like it’s the other way around. Being an artist while working at LINNEA has enabled me to think about each individual part that goes into creating these wonderful products. It’s taught me to be mindful and intentional in every step of the process. I do think working at LINNEA has allowed me to translate more structure and order into my art and personal life. Seeing and experiencing how Laura has transformed this brand into what it is today has helped shape how I want to further my own art and career within Playgarden. All the work that I do, whether it’s with flowers or fragrance, provides an experience to connect with others.
Q: What feeling do you want your Art in Bloom piece to leave behind?
When I was working through the planning stages of my piece, I was deeply focused on how the artwork was created post WWII, at the birth of the nuclear family and cookie cutter picturesque ideal that would soon become commonplace in America, along with the rise of technological convenience. While I don’t think those ideals are inherently bad, I believe an agenda was pushed to say “This is what society should be” with no room for individualism. We are still living in a time when minorities, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and other marginalized communities are all fighting just to be seen as humans who deserve rights. As a queer artist, I want to use my platform to highlight that beauty is raw, unbound and found in us all, no matter how strange or different we may seem.
Q: What first drew you to art, and when did you know it was something you wanted to keep pursuing?
My mom. Art has always been part of my life thanks to her. Between creating an entire Vacation Bible School program from scratch in her head at 3am, to designing countless set designs for local school theatre programs, to the original art in her home, she is always creating. Her eagerness to continue to learn and experiment drives me to want to be a better artist, a better human. She is a walking lesson in devotion, inspiration and unconditional love. My mom nurtured my desire to create and think freely. She taught me resilience in the face of adversity. I am constantly reminding myself how blessed I am to have her and my friends and family support me every step of the way.
I have always wanted to pursue something creative, but I got started with floristry about 5 or 6 years ago while working at a local plant shop, Root 31 (@root31). Angela, the face behind Root 31, encouraged me to try my hand at floral design and gave me tips she’s cultivated during her extensive career in the botanical and design industry, as well as a venue to hone my craft. A year or so later, I met Robyn of RK Florals (@rkflorals) and began freelancing with her and many other wonderful florists, gaining valuable experience and forming connections along the way. It wasn’t until last year that I decided to take the next step and start my own business. Playgarden Florals
Q: Do you think of yourself differently when you are making art versus when you are working in production at LINNEA, or do those parts of you feel deeply connected?
In some ways, yes. Work and art can call forward different parts of who you are. But I try to stay as authentically myself as possible in both spaces. I think being an artist has shaped how I lead and how I relate to the people around me.
At LINNEA, my team means a great deal to me. They are more than coworkers. They are friends and chosen family. Like any close-knit group, that comes with its own messiness from time to time, but I think we are all better for the care and honesty we bring to one another