All Over Albany

Drops of Jupiter

Martin Dodge used to design floral arrangements for the likes of Heidi Klum, Ashlee Simpson and other West Coast celebs.

Now he's designing high-end arrangements on the East Coast at his new shop on Sheridan Avenue in Albany.

But don't look for the standard roses and baby's breath. Dodge's take on flowers is something else entirely.

Martin Dodge has always been a pretty creative guy. As long as he can remember, the East Poestenkill native says he's been trying to create art out of whatever was around him.

A few years ago Dodge moved to California to study economics. On the side he delivered flowers for a shop in Venice Beach. It wasn't long before his creative impulses took over. He picked up a lot of the tricks of the floral design trade from his employers.

When one designer stormed off the middle of a wedding project, Dodge stepped in.
Since then he's worked on arrangements for American Idol judge Simon Cowell, Ashlee Simpson's wedding and Heidi Klum and Seal's fourth anniversary.

What's Dodge doing back in the Capital Region? He was homesick. So he convinced his childhood friend Adam Steele to help him open a high-end floral business in Albany. They launched in late November. (Yes, the name comes from a Train song. It's not that he's like the song so much -- just the phrase.) They're already busy designing projects for Dale Miller, the new Pearl Street Public House and other local spots. He's hoping to bring a little bit of change to way people in the Capital Region think of floral design.

The photos should give you an idea of Dodge's style. He likes large, colorful and abstract arrangements that incorporate all sorts of exotic tropic leaves, big bold shapes and textures. You might have seem some of his interior design work at the recent Flux art show or Albany Center Gallery's recent gala event "Too Marvelous for Words." Even the Drops of Jupiter interior is colorful and abstract, featuring large fish tanks and works by several local artists.

DoJ won't really be a retail shop -- the shop will focus more on things like grand openings, weddings and other elaborate events. But Dodge hopes to come up with a "daily special" floral arrangement that could be purchased retail-style.