Month: June 2012

We would like to recognize the wonderful Mary Keaney, who was awarded a smile as part of the Imagine the Smiles program during 1-800-FLOWERS.COM’s Summer of a Million Smiles. Mary volunteers her time to not only her church, but at local nursing homes as well. She is also the treasurer of the Greenbriar Association.  Mary Thompson recognized the selfless time and care that Keaney puts into everything that she does. Thompson nominated Keaney for a smile, describing her as a, “one of a kind woman.” Tom Addalia, florist at the 1-800-FLOWERS.COM Addalia shop, was more than excited to be a part of Imagine the Smiles and delivered a beautiful and delectable Fruit Bouquet to Keaney as a thank you for everything she does for her community. Imagine the Smiles honors volunteer Mary Keaney and delivered her a smile. Congratulations Mary!

Do you know an everyday hero who deserves a smile sent his or her way? Nominate your hero at //on.fb.me/SendSmiles today and be a part of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM’s Summer of a Million Smiles!

For more on Imagine the Smiles, click here.

Working towards the commendable cause of providing dogs and cats loving homes, the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter in Wantagh, NY deserved some smiles—and we were there to deliver them! In honor of the shelter’s Summer of Love, a special program offering free adoption, inoculations, spaying & neutering, and microchip insertion, the team from 1-800-FLOWERS.COM paid a visit to the shelter bearing a-DOG-able® flower arrangements.

As a way to show appreciation and further encourage adoption, these cute dog flowers were given to anyone who took home a pet that day. The impact each adoption makes means a world of difference to these animals. Remember, not only are adoptions saving lives, but they are providing the irreplaceable love a home and family can offer!

Artists, from the beginnings of time to modern day, know the power of the smile. Let us walk through some of the most famous smiles in art history. Learn, through these paintings and sculptures, what such a simple facial expression can really mean.

1)      The Mona Lisa, Leonardo Da Vinci (1503-1506)

What makes The Mona Lisa arguably the most famous painting in all of history? Many would say that it is her small, mysterious smile. The Mona Lisa has an intriguing smirk that catches the viewer off guard. What is she smiling about? Why does her gaze follow you wherever you seem to be viewing the painting? Why does her smile seam to appear and disappear as you move?  Much fascination surrounds The Mona Lisa and her smile. Scientists and art critics alike have analyzed and studied The Mona Lisa for her smile.

2)      The Laughing Cavalier, Frans Hals (1624)

This smug portrait of a cavalier seems to be where the alternate definition (condescending, proud, superior) for cavalier comes from. From his gaudy attire to his pompous facial hair, this medieval man oozes arrogance. It is unusual for a painting dating back to the 1600s to have such emotion written across the subject’s face.

3)      Portrait of an unknown man, Messina (1470)

This anonymous man instantly grabs the attention of any viewer. His face is quarter turned, but his eyes look directly at the viewer and supplement the sly smile of the subject’s mouth.  The painting may be a bit unnerving for some, as it appears that the man is laughing at the viewer.

4)      La Liseuse, Renoir (1874)

Nothing conveys better the absolute joy of reading a great book than this piece. The warm colors and the relaxed smile of this young lady pull the viewers into the painting and let them share in the happiness of the book that the subject is reading.

5)      Buddha

Buddha is an iconic image used by followers of the Buddhist religion. In most of the statues and paintings of Buddha, he has a simple, pensive smile on his face. This smile encompasses all that he represents: the ultimate goal of peace and enlightenment, the art of meditation, and the joy in simplicity.

6)      Yue Minjun’s Smile

Yue Minjun has the most famous smile in contemporary Chinese artwork. His enormous, maniacal grin graces the faces of all his paintings and sculptures. From his modern take on the statues from the tomb of China’s first emperor, to his piece with devil-horned clad subjects, all of his artwork smiles widely back at the viewer with the same self portrait of Minjun himself. To view some of his artwork and read more about Minjun, click here: NewYorkTimes.com.

7)      Archaic smile in Greek sculpture

This smile was characteristic of Archaic Greek stone sculpture of the second quarter of the 6^th century BC. The smile evokes a feeling of well being and brings the stone humans to life. Some archaeologists compare the unnatural smile to the staged smile in modern photographs. Whatever the reason for the abundance of smiles upon such statues in this time period can only be speculated.

8)      Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe 

The iconic pop artist was not one to underestimate the power of the smile. This vivid piece marries the airy smile of one of the most famous female figures of the time with Warhol’s effective silkscreen printing technique that repeats the smile continuously with different colors. Marilyn’s smile changes as the colors change, despite the expression being the same in each print of her face.

9)      Mrs. Elizabeth Wurtz Elder and Her Three Children, Jacob Eichholtz (1825)

This piece of artwork is unique in that among the four figures in the painting, three of them are smiling. Both the mother and the girl on the left are smiling directly out at the viewer, freezing the viewer in their gaze. The child on the right has a carefree smile and is looking out towards the left. This piece encompasses the joy and innocence of childhood and the satisfaction of being a mother.

10)   The Turkish Slave, Francesco Mazzola detto Il Parmigianino (c. 1535)

The irony of such a title is that this woman is clearly not a slave. She wears elegant clothes, has rosy cheeks and soft skin, and has small, perfect curls peeking out underneath the embellished hat. Her innocent smile and far away gaze ads an air of mischief, as if she knows that she is not what it is said that she is.

If you liked this Smile Petal Talk article, check out related posts:
* 25 Smile Facts
* Imagine the Smiles: Nominate Your Every Day Hero
* Delivering Smiles and Cookies to Blood Donors

Every day, people have the ability to save lives by donating blood. With one pint of blood having the potential to save up to three lives, donors rightfully earn acknowledgement for their actions and selflessness.

On June 14, World Blood Donor Day, the caring team at 1-800-FLOWERS.COM paid a visit to their local New York Blood Center in New Hyde Park, NY, delivering smiles and cookies to blood donors. With the help of Cheryl’s, a sister company of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, cookies were handed out to blood donors as a way to refuel post donation.

With all the good that people do, a small sign of appreciation can mean a lot. Be it a cookie or a smile, a little can go a long way.

Do you have someone in your life who has been an inspiration? Whether that special someone has helped you through tough time(s) or helped make you the person you are today, we want to hear your story about this everyday hero and thank them for you with a special flower delivery! 

1-800-FLOWERS.COM’s Imagine the Smiles program is part of our Summer of a Million Smiles initiative and allows you to honor and celebrate those extraordinary people by submitting your story about why these amazing folks deserve to be recognized. 

Submitting your stories is super easy with our Imagine the Smiles Facebook page.

Here’s how to nominate your hero in 5 easy steps:

(1)   Think of someone in your life that embodies the meaning of an unrecognized hero. This valued individual can be anyone from a teacher that has changed students’ lives, to local policemen and firemen that keep your neighborhood safe, to a best friend or relative that helped you through a very difficult time.

(2)  Visit the 1-800-FLOWERS.COM Imagine The Smiles Facebook page: //on.fb.me/SendSmiles

(3)  Login with your Facebook account.

(4)  Write your everyday hero story in the “Write your story…” section and tell us who they are, what they did that impacted your life, and why they deserve a special thanks (and a special flower delivery from us).

(5)  Click the “Enter Now>” button and you’re all set!

Check out some of our previous nominees that were sent a smile from 1-800-FLOWERS.COM!

Shirley, Kristin, and Linda, who work at the Head Injury Association, hold the enormous responsibility of helping head injury patients to overcome everyday challenges. They also were an integral part in fostering the new program in the new building.

 Deanna helps in supporting over 800 families throughout Long Island, NY to obtain high-quality childcare and a premier early childhood experience. She has worked alongside the Executive Director of Harbor Child Care for nearly a decade and is admired by staff, board members and families alike.

Nurse Erika C. was nominated by her husband, Chris C. “My wife Erika deserves a smile because she is a nurse in the ER of a local children’s hospital. She works tirelessly taking care of her young patients without complaint – not to mention she’s pregnant with our first baby! She is amazing and I love her!” A smile was delivered to this special woman during National Nurse Week.