Spotlight: Emma Vautour
Emma and LK floating the Teton
In one of my previous blog posts I mentioned all the spaces and people in Teton Valley that were instrumental in my healing journey. The very first and most pertinent space (and person behind that specific space) was highlighted with the following bullet point:
Emma revitalized a well known gem in the area with her gardening talent and skill. I was lucky enough to be welcomed into the space and relish the calm, curative energy there for about 18 months. Over time and despite my busy-ness with working, teaching, and adventuring, we began joining each other for trivia nights, overnight backpacking or hikes, attending art markets, and floating the river.
Selfishly, getting to admire and appreciate Emma’s flower arrangements before anyone else was a thrilling experience. Much like those not in my own performance based industry think of sneaking backstage must be akin to. Also, there were perks; when I received flowers for performing in the Nutcracker, guess who brilliantly arranged them in a vase for me? As luck would have it, I enjoyed more than flowers too! Emma’s hard work in her garden produced a multitude of lettuces, cucumbers, and more. And August brought the best raspberries I’ve ever tasted.
Emma is a generous soul who remains reserved even though recognition is well-deserved. Her creativity and talents surpass most in the ability to imagine opportunity for a space, paint a scene in front of her, or arrange flora and fauna to fit ever so quaintly in the landscape. I’ve been gifted a vibrant Cosmo captured in pastels that I now display prominently. Impressed by the beauty of it, TAJ wanted a commissioned piece inspired by a picture of our first hike in our new home together.
While I miss fresh flower arrangements on the kitchen table straight from the yard, I will enjoy the one forever framed on my wall. If you pass through Teton Valley in the Spring or Summer, you’re sure to be impressed by a stunning flower display and not realize the master behind that craft. However, you can follow along with the beautiful summer flower arrangements and painting process on Emma’s Instagram: @theflowerhouse.tetonvalley. In addition, you can view and request a painting by reaching out to Emma through her website https://www.emmavautourfineart.com.
Thanks to Emma, I am able to appreciate the wild beauty of reclaimed spaces and fully understand the processes to make them shimmer and shine.
Emma’s Bio
Artist, Flower Grower, Landscape Designer
The Flower House
https://www.emmavautourfineart.com/
Instagram: @theflowerhouse.tetonvalley
Emma is an aspiring painter and flower grower as well as full-time landscape designer. Her early pursuits of the outdoors led her to study environmental science, work in restoration ecology, and eventually earn a graduate degree in Ecological Design. After the early days of the pandemic, a series of challenges led Emma to return to Teton Valley, Idaho - a place that captured her imagination years ago. Her recent healing journey has involved digging into what makes her happiest in the hope that it will become shared joy.
In late 2023 Emma started The Flower House, growing and selling local flowers out of her garden. In early 2024, The Flower House became an umbrella to serve as a platform for sharing her artwork which includes soft pastel and oil paintings. Both pursuits have inspired gratitude and have been fun to share with her small, mountain town community.