2B Magazine 1918 2B Magazine

Robert Gonzalez enjoys smelling the sweet roses of success.

Life as he knew it changed when he was asked to cre-ate weekly floral pieces for Oprah Winfrey and her Harpo Studio offices. Now a bon a fide celebrity florist, Gonzalez has done arrangements for the likes of Jennifer Hudson, Barbara Walters, Shania Twain and even President Barrack Obama.

“I’ve always been an entrepreneur,” refl ects the young man from Venezuela. “At 14, I started my own party business, plan-

ning and initiating birthday parties. At the same time, I would spend afternoons in the fl ower shop behind my house. That’s

where I learned about fl owers. When I moved to the United States, I decided I would apply my entrepreneurial skills to a new career in fl oral design.”

What sets Gonzalez apart from other fl orists is his vision. It goes way beyond bunching roses together in a bouquet or

planting a Lillie in a pot. Gonzalez began his career in fl oral gifting and event design way before the industry gained no-toriety through reality TV wedding shows. “Now every fl orist thinks they can design weddings. The industry has become overcrowded.”

He still does the occasional gala but his main interest is now in fashion. He has become the go-to fl orist for fashion design-ers who want to add exotic fl owers into their campaign shoots and runway shows. He admits it wasn’t exactly his idea.

“It began when a popular fashion photographer asked me to create fl oral head pieces for his photo shoot with Vanessa Williams,” he explains. “The shoot later became a fashion story in a major women’s magazine and the calls started pouring in from other photographers and designers. Before I knew it, I was on a new and exciting path in fl oral design.”

It’s an intricate process from bloom to zoom. “I fi rst sketch the design. Then I need to pick the right fl owers that will hold up under the hot studio lights. They are then individually wired, taped and assembled to the desired shape.”

Gonzalez collaborates with the hair stylist to work it proper-ly into the model’s head. “From the moment I pick the right bloom to the time that is spent placing the piece on the mod-els head usually takes between two to three days.”

The process requires discipline and dedication, both of which Gonzalez knows a thing or two about. In addition to the art of horticulture, Gonzalez enjoys the art of, well… his body.

“Clients are always shocked when they meet me,” he laughs. “There is a misperception about how male fl orists should look, and I guess I don’t fi t the mold.”

“I like to compare myself to a sunfl ower with a bold strong look yet delicate petals,” he laughs.

Athletic from an early age, Gonzalez started going to the gym at 14 years old. “I couldn’t afford a trainer so I would workout close to the other trainers while they were training their clients so that I could hear what they were teaching.”

He entered his fi rst body building show at 30 years old and is currently training for his next show in early 2010.

“My biggest challenge is keeping the weight on. I’m not a big eater so I literally have to force myself to eat.”

He acknowledges that the muscles have helped his career – especially with women and gay male clients. But looks only help open the door. “The fl oral industry is more competitive than most people realize. To succeed, you have to fi ght to be the best.”

Gonzalez says he missed the boat with the reality wedding TV shows. It’s a mistake he won’t make again. In fact, he’s currently in discussions for his own reality show that will go behind the scenes of his celebrity fl oral fashion shoots and teach viewers the fi ne art of horti-culture design.

“I aim to give new defi nition to the words fl ower power,” he laughs.

Max Jimenez

Photos : Project Publicity

MARCH 5, - MARCH 18, 2010 VOLUME XXXII, NUMBER 5

WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM

PAGE 33:BRAND NEW ME BY DEN BURDETTE

PAGE 39:BSCENE: B+MORE PROUD 2010

PAGE 11:FLOWER POWER BY MAX JIMINEZ

IN THIS ISSUE

M A R C H 5 , - M A R C H 1 8 , 2 0 1 0 • G AY L I F E • WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM • PA G E 1 1

continued on page 33

Robert Gonzalez Puts theZazazaZOOM in the Bloom

Robert Gonzalez enjoys smelling the sweet roses of success.

Life as he knew it changed when he was asked to create weekly floral piecesfor Oprah Winfrey and her Harpo Studio offices. Now a bon a fide celebrityflorist, Gonzalez has done arrangements for the likes of Jennifer Hudson,Barbara Walters, Shania Twain and even President Barrack Obama.

“I’ve always been an entrepreneur,” reflects the young man from Venezuela.“At 14, I started my own party business, planning and initiating birthday par-ties. At the same time, I would spend afternoons in the flower shop behindmy house. That’s where I learned about flowers. When I moved to the UnitedStates, I decided I would apply my entrepreneurial skills to a new career infloral design.”

What sets Gonzalez apart from other florists is his vision. It goes waybeyond bunching roses together in a bouquet or planting a Lillie in a pot.Gonzalez began his career in floral gifting and event design way before theindustry gained notoriety through reality TV wedding shows. “Now everyflorist thinks they can design weddings. The industry has become over-crowded.”

He still does the occasional gala but his main interest is now in fashion. Hehas become the go-to florist for fashion designers who want to add exoticflowers into their campaign shoots and runway shows. He admits it wasn’texactly his idea.

FLOWER POWER by Max Jiminez

M A R C H 5 , - M A R C H 1 8 , 2 0 1 0 • G AY L I F E • WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM • PA G E 3 3

The New Year has come and gone.We are almost … almost… tospringtime. We endured the

snow, the extreme cold. So whatnow? Many of us have become moredepressed. The bad weather, not tomention the bad economy leave usfeeling more stressed as well. Somedeal with the stress and depressionby eating more ‘comfort’ foods.Some are found at the bar drinkingmore alcohol than ever. Others turnto other dark outlets like excessivehookups online or illegal drug use.What is happening to us Baltimore?There will ALWAYS be things thatcan cause depression and stress….once you relieve one stressor, anoth-er is created.

Now, although it is the nature of mycareer and lifestyle as a personal train-er and fitness instructor to tell youwhat to do in terms of how to solvethese issues, I know it doesn’t workthat way. We all know if you wantchange… you have to REALLYWANT IT! No one can force yourhand at getting your butt in the gym.No one can force you to cut yourselfoff at the bar because you already hadsix cocktails. No one is going to stopyou from logging onto Manhunt orchecking the Craigslist ads for thatnext hookup. Will power is certainlythe hardest challenge. How do weaddress that? How do we find willpower? This column is about takingthe steps for a better you. Using theresources and tools around you tomake the “BRAND NEW YOU” is theonly way to ensure success. This is2010 folks. We must change with thetimes. We must focus on our healthand well being. You are no good toyour work, your loved ones, or yourcommunity if your health diminishes.

First, we must identify our stres-sors and causes of depression. Thisis the first step towards tackling ourproblems. Besides the crappyweather, there are a variety of issues

we face. That paycheck may nothave increased this year becausecompanies are struggling. Or forsome people they are only workingpart time and not finding that fulltime job that will cover all their bills.Bob Brown may loathe his job but itis full time and he should considerthat a blessing. Sarah Smith is work-ing a full time job and two part timejobs just to afford her tiny studioapartment and bills here in Mt.Vernon.

The next step is to make a list ofwhat our stressors are. Take amoment to write down a completelist of those things that cause stressin your life. Then make a second listof what ideas we have to changethem. One may be to get a part timejob to supplement our income. Onemay be to join the gym so we canshed those extra pounds. One maybe to cut off that ex that we just can’tlet go of. It ended for a reason, thatperson is not the right partner andyou are only wasting your energymore keeping them that close toyour heart. It is time to move on.

Now, we have identified and listedthe issues. Now it is time to TAKEACTION. Don’t wait one more day!Take one of the possible solutions toyour stressors and RUN WITH IT.Stop making excuses! Stop feelingbad! You do not want to feel badANYMORE, right? Count yourblessings and reach high to makeyourself the best you can be. You arenever too old or too sad or pathetic.If you have a pulse and are not onyour death bed… you can get better!Work to find happiness with your-self again. Join the gym. Take class-es to get in shape, hire a trainer, orsimply get on the treadmill andwalk. Take action today!!!! Yourhealth and future depend on it.Studies prove that people that getregular exercise are happier thanthose who don’t. Also, you reducethe change of health problems downthe road. With the rising numbers ofHIV positive people in our city,working out just makes sense right?Get out those sneakers and sweatpants or shorts and get your buttmoving.

Need more help? Now it is time toform and enlist your support net-work. Your friends, co-workers,neighbors, family members, spouse,lover, boyfriend/girlfriend need toknow you want to change. Theyneed to support you in taking thesesteps. You have to tell them… “Hey.I need to lose 20 pounds. Please

Brand New Me

by Den BurdetteCertified Personal Trainer

Time for Change – 2010

don’t make fried chicken when Icome over. Please come to the gymwith me and take the step class.Please spend more time with me thisweekend so I don’t lament over myex. Better yet, let’s get out and walkor go shopping. I know it isunhealthy for me to spend hoursand hours perusing hookup sites. “

Get your gym clothes on and getoutside this weekend. Instead ofdriving to meet your friends out,walk that distance. Grab water onthe way instead of that latte or dietcoke. When you meet your pals

before heading to the Hippo forhappy hour, stop and get a saladwith grilled chicken and some soup.Cut yourselves off at 3 or 4 drinksand drink water in between. Don’thead to a late night joint for that fastfood. Go home and eat some fruitand granola. You have to try tomake a change! Why not starttoday?!

Today is a new day. Time for the“BRAND NEW YOU.”

Need more help? Email me….den@mvfit.com.

“It began when a popular fashion photographer asked me to create floralhead pieces for his photo shoot with Vanessa Williams,” he explains. “Theshoot later became a fashion story in a major women’s magazine and the callsstarted pouring in from other photographers and designers. Before I knew it,I was on a new and exciting path in floral design.”

It’s an intricate process from bloom to zoom. “I first sketch the design. ThenI need to pick the right flowers that will hold up under the hot studio lights.They are then individually wired, taped and assembled to the desired shape.”

Gonzalez collaborates with the hair stylist to work it properly into themodel’s head. “From the moment I pick the right bloom to the time that isspent placing the piece on the models head usually takes between two to threedays.”

The process requires discipline and dedication, both of which Gonzalezknows a thing or two about. In addition to the art of horticulture, Gonzalezenjoys the art of, well… his body.

“Clients are always shocked when they meet me,” he laughs. “There is amisperception about how male florists should look, and I guess I don’t fit themold.”

“I like to compare myself to a sunflower with a bold strong look yet delicatepetals,” he laughs.

Athletic from an early age, Gonzalez started going to the gym at 14 yearsold. “I couldn’t afford a trainer so I would workout close to the other trainerswhile they were training their clients so that I could hear what they wereteaching.”

He entered his first body building show at 30 years old and is currentlytraining for his next show in early 2010.

“My biggest challenge is keeping the weight on. I’m not a big eater so I lit-erally have to force myself to eat.”

He acknowledges that the muscles have helped his career – especially withwomen and gay male clients. But looks only help open the door. “The floralindustry is more competitive than most people realize. To succeed, you haveto fight to be the best.”

Gonzalez says he missed the boat with the reality wedding TV shows. It’s amistake he won’t make again. In fact, he’s currently in discussions for hisown reality show that will go behind the scenes of his celebrity floral fashionshoots and teach viewers the fine art of horticulture design.

“I aim to give new definition to the words flower power,” he laughs.

GONZALES from page 11

Ultimately, you will sell the paintings. Are these paintings appro-priate for living rooms? I have to look at Jesus Christ being crucified in every church and overzeal-ous Catholic’s home. I think the world can stand for us honoring our dead.

What’s next for Olan Montgomery? I’m painting a series on War along with the Atrocities series. I go betweenthe two to deal with the emotional overflow. I’d say my mind and heart areon fire these days and for all the right reasons.

To learn more about Olan Montgomery and his work, visit lipstickchic.com.

MONGOMERY from page 25