What Happened in Vegas, Didn't Stay in Vegas! - AIFD

Golden West College’s Student Chapter Presented
“Monumental Mechanical Meltdown – An Avoidance Guide”
The Shirley Haas SAIFD Chapter from Golden West College
hosted their Artist in Residence (AIR) Program at their
Huntington Beach campus on Sunday, April 7, 2013. Noel
Tribbey AIFD, CFD, a 33-year
veteran of the floral industry was
the guest educator. Mr. Tribbey was
the 1st place winner in the 1990
California Top Ten Designer of the
Year competition and was inducted
into AIFD in 1991. He has presented at
AIFD National Symposium and served
as South West Regional President.
Noel creates amazing floral designs
and Christmas décor for hotels,
casinos, and private residences and
works as a merchandising and display
consultant. He has also applied his
talents to Sweepstakes winning Rose
Parade Floats and was a 15-year
member of the floral design team
of the Academy Awards. It is no
wonder with his background he
chose the topic of his AIR program
to be "mechanics." As he says, “It’s
all about the mechanics!”
Noel emphasized the AIFD Guide to
Floral Design’s mechanics chapter
by incorporating product displays
of basic floral mechanics for the
students to examine. Mechanics
from zip ties to kubari and cages
to igloos and adhesives of all types,
including their proper use with
different materials, were covered.
The basics of floral mechanics were
explained and demonstrated but
when his creativity kicked in that is
when the real need for engineering
mechanics took off. Noel used
recycled materials, unique items
and even slightly damaged vessels as
containers in such a way that “basic”
mechanics had to be rethought.
His excellent ability as an educator
took the students to a new level as
he allowed everyone into his mind
and thought processes as he figured
out just how to "make it work." The
students were challenged to use
critical-thinking skills to help decide
just how the mechanics permit the
execution of a successful design.
Once the mechanics had been
securely established, Tribbey began his magic.
Focal Points 28
With generous donations of fresh flowers from Orange County
Wholesale Flowers in Santa Ana, Calif., Tribbey created amazing
floral designs using advanced procedures and methods. With
the heart of a teacher, he shared
his techniques of design while
using the countless donated
products from Shinoda Design
Center, Santa Ana, Calif. The
students were included in the
preparation of the program as well
as given the opportunity to design
under pressure as Noel randomly
called for a student to complete
a creation. This type of student
involvement created wonderful
learning experiences for everyone
in attendance. One of the special
techniques the students enjoyed
was how to create the foam’s own
container by dipping the dry foam
in hot melt glue. Other favorite
pieces were a beautiful design
in a lantern with branches and
wire accents, a driftwood inspired
ocean-like piece suspended above
the vase, a gorgeous arrangement
in a wax vase, a horizontal in
bamboo as well as a freestanding
screen that was quite the show
opener, just to list a few.
The Shirley Haas Chapter is grateful
to their sponsors and to Noel
Tribbey AIFD, CFD for sharing his
talent, time, and expertise with our
current students, alumnus, faculty,
and the community. “Monumental
Mechanical Meltdown – An
Avoidance Guide” was an incredible
educational journey that delighted
everyone in attendance. The
unselfish sharing of knowledge, tips,
and techniques is truly, what the
American Institute of Floral Design
stands for. Another successful
Artist in Residence program!
Respectfully submitted by
Gail Call AIFD, CFD, Associate
Professor Floral Design and
Shop Management Certificate of
Achievement Program, Golden
West College, Huntington Beach,
Calif., gcall@gwc.cccd.edu.