Colorful Imagination in Kersting Court on New Year's Eve
Posted 1/1/13 – Congratulations to the Sierra Madre Rose Float Association for winning their seventh award in eight years! SMRFA picked up the Isabella Coleman award for Best Presentation of Color and Color Harmony Through Floral Use.
In 2006, the Wonder of Reading, designed by Charles Meier, took the Founder’s Banner Trophy, for the most spectacular float built and decorated by volunteers from a community or organization. In 2007, Our Wonderful Wistaria designed by Charles Meier was the winner of the Lathrop K. Leishman Award, for most beautiful non-commercial float. 2008’s Valentine’s Day, again designed by Charles Meier, won the Princesses’ Award, for most beautiful float 35′ and under. In 2009, SMRFA and Meier’s streak continued with Bollywood Dreams, which again brought home the Lathrop K. Leishman Award, for most beautiful non-commercial float. In 2010, California Girls, designed by Dick Sappington, won the Governor’s Award in 2010 for best depiction of life in California. Sierra Madre also got the Governor’s Award in 2011 for Suenos de California, again designed by Meier.
Gorgeous as it was, 2012’s Colorful Imagination did not garner any awards, but 2013’s The Sky’s the Limit has put SMRFA back in the winner’s circle. The Sky’s the Limit was designed by Charles Meier from a concept drawing by Sierra Madre resident Maria Murray. Congratulations to everyone involved, many of whom have dedicated the last eleven months to bringing a trophy back to Sierra Madre!
Incidentally, Paradiso Floats, a new float company that counts Charles Meier (who designed many of Sierra Madre’s award winners) among its principals, won the Directors’ Award for Outstanding Artistic Merit in Design and Floral Presentation for the City of San Gabriel’s Centennial entry, Celebrating our Journey.