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Friday, April 12, 2013


 Ikebana demonstration...
This week finally arrived...It is the crazy-ist of weeks for floral design. I was asked to do a demonstration on ikebana for a Art History class in the Third Ward(Milwaukee) , my normal Ikebana International Chapter #22 meeting follows immediately that.  Art in Bloom gets installed at the Milwaukee Art Museum Thursday morning with the Opening Night festivities that evening including the Iron Designer Competition. The Torii Gate Exhibition put on by Ikebana International Chapter #22 sets up on Friday,and the Viewing of "Tables" fund raiser is Friday afternoon where each team decorates seating for 10 following a theme for a dinner event. Some where in there I have to get a few hours in at work. I also have tickets to see the stage programs for designers Neil Whittaker (England) and Ron Morgan (San Francisco) on Friday and Saturday mornings. Saturday afternoon is a surprise 60th birthday party for a friend and Sunday a reception party at the museum and take down of the exhibits.

The demo at the school was fabulous fun except for the rain. The weather has been an issue all week with the usual April thunder and lightening but the temperature has been bone chilling. The wind has caused problems also. Trying to unload a car in the wind and rain and still not look like you just jogged a mile is difficult. Chelsea (the class instructor) was great. All the students were researching Zen art on their lap tops as she was doing a power-point on the history of ikebana.  They were discussing images of ancient block prints, scrolls and text with examples of ikebanas as tribute to Buddha.

After break it was my turn.  I showed an quick example of moribana which means "to pile up". After explaining how the length of the main stem is determined, and how to cut and secure thick branch stems, I combined blossoming almond branches, and tulips, emphasizing on the use of seasonal flowers and how even on dreary days like today, something beautiful can come from the garden. Then I  swapped out the tulips for iris to show how the mood changes as we change the flowers in the season.

I also demonstrated a small nageire which means "to throw in" with one rolled aspidistra leaf and a closed tulip  to show simplicity. I also stressed how the flowers could be reflexed to change the size and shape of the blossom and how leaves such as aspidistra could e abstracted by curling, undulating  or changing the size when needed.

I had an example of wabi sabi -which means " wisdom in natural simplicity". I had a couple baby bottle gourds I had watched dry, darken and change into a beautiful contorted shape over the course of a year. I combined these with a couple strands of rosary vine in a small off white egg shaped container against a handmade screen with the Ichiyo leaf symbol painted on it.

I also had an example of how we use aqua cups - a kenzan (needle pin holder) which has a cup to hold water around it. I used it with a piece of natural weathered wood.

The students were very interactive with questions on gardens, flowers and flower arranging. Many took pictures of the designs after class. Since these students are all  active in the design area, hopefully this will inspire some of them to further their art through the beautiful blooms we enhance our lives with.
Note:
I was not able to take pictures while at the school but hope to update this blog with examples of the ikebanas soon. These are similar wabi sabi designs. You choose the one you like best.

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