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In November, our Ellen Gordon Allen (EGA) program featured Joan Fairs, a Sangetsu Master Instructor, from Vancouver, Canada. She has studied in Japan, Tucson, AZ, Los Angeles, CA and Vancouver. In addition to teaching Sangetsu Ikebana, Joan has demonstrated and exhibited in a variety of venues as well as providing Ikebana arrangements for heads of state at an international conference. Joan has been practicing Ikebana for over 40 years. She first took up it up at the suggestion of her step-mother who suggested she might enjoy arranging fresh flowers in a natural Japanese style. Indeed, she did enjoy it, so she continued studying and became an instructor in 1995. She attained the top designation of Master Instructor in 2013. She is also a member of the Sangetsu Directive Council and has been President of the Vancouver Ikebana Association three times. Along the way, Joan also studied Commercial Floristry at Kwantlen University and enjoys providing florals for weddings and special events. In her delightful IOR Program entitled “Ikebana Around the House,” Joan presented seven charming tabletop designs suitable for the home in containers ranging from a basket to unique containers created by Helena Arouca. We were also fortunate to have assisting Mary Jane Sasser, a Sangetsu teacher who presented a program to IOR in 2022.        Joan Fairs Workshop Planes and Mass After the wonderful Sangetsu program, Joan Fairs taught participants how to arrange a moribana design using chrysanthemums, fancy fern and solidago. Energized by Joan’s thoughtful presentation, every one went to work with delight and put their creativity to work. The day ended with smiles all around.  The October program opened with a haiku which set the stage for our demonstrator/members who were celebrating the bounty of the season with freestyle morimono.  Libby Haynes followed by describing the origins of the traditional morimono in the Edo period of Japan and displaying an example of a traditional morimono. This exhibit served as a contrast to the freestyle designs which were created during the program.  Entitled Artistic Expressions Reflecting Autumn Featuring Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts and Seeds, the program featured three IOR members from different Ikebana schools. Each explained their approach based on the principles of their school while demonstrating their creativity. The members in the audience were treated to three masterful presentations that reflected the individual artistry of each designer. (Please click on photos to enlarge.) Helena Arouca represented Sangetsu.  Janice Whitehead represented Ikenobo.  Kumiko Suzuki represented Sogetsu.  The program concluded with tips about handling fruits and vegetables in arrangements. The presentation from the program, a list of plant materials for consideration and the workshop handout are available for members to download at the end of the articles. Freestyle Workshop The workshop which followed was led by Libby Haynes who demonstrated multiple designs. Libby began studying Ikebana in 2006 and is a Jonin Somu of the Sogetsu School as well as a former president of IOR. Following her lead and with her encouragement, participants from different schools allowed their artistry to flow and enthusiastically explored the outer limits of freestyle morimono. Three designs Libby demonstrated during the workshop. Libby also demonstrated how to incorporate red onion skins in an arrangement. She also built a martini glass design.  Finished martini arrangement.
Download IOR October 2023 Presentation Download Plant Materials for Consideration Download Workshop Handout The September IOR program featured Timothy Brown, PhD who took members on an enchanting journey through Japan illustrating the relationship to trees and nature that is intrinsic to Buddhism and the culture. We learned about the origins of the Buddhist connection to nature in Japan, and how this was expressed through art, poetry and most recently a new practice called “forest-bathing” which is the seeking of calm and quiet among trees. He underscored these centuries old traditions by focusing on three Japanese Buddhist poet-monks whose work he highlighted in his presentation: Saigyo, Basho and Ryokan. Dr. Brown is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Randolph-Macon College where he has taught for 15 years. He has a Ph.D. in Religion from Syracuse University, an MA from New York University, and a BA from Wabash College. Dr. Brown teaches a broad range of classes in Religious Studies, including courses on Buddhism, Hinduism, Asian Religions, Native American Religions, New Religious Movements, Religions and Ecology, and travel courses on Japanese Religions. His recent research interest is “arboreal religion,” which uses a comparative approach to examine tree-human relations in traditional and contemporary religions and spiritual traditions. Accompanying the program, five IOR member designers representing different schools creatively reflected poems provided by Dr. Brown through their arrangements. The designers and the poems they interpreted were: Ikenobo: Evelyn Klumb “Just a brief stop” I said when stepping off the road Into a willow’s shade Where a bubbling stream flows by… As has time since my “brief stop” began. Poem by 12th century, Japanese Buddhist Monk, Saigyo (1118-1190)  Ohara: Judy Sheldon If your hermitage is deep in the mountains Surely the moon, flowers, and maple tree Will become your friends. Poem by 18th Century, Japanese Buddhist Monk, Ryokan (1758-1831)  Sogetsu: Annette Ernst Twilight—the only conversation on this hill Is the wind blowing through the pines. Poem by 18th Century, Japanese Buddhist Monk, Ryokan (1758-1831)  Ichiyo: Alice Litchfield Tired from travel I’m falling asleep under a tree at Yoshino while a spring breeze gathers and pulls over me a quilt of petals. Poem by 12th century, Japanese Buddhist Monk, Saigyo (1118-1190)  Sangetsu: Grace Morris “Detached” observer of blossoms finds himself in time intimate with them – so, when they separate from the branch, it’s he who falls…deeply into grief. Poem by 12th century, Japanese Buddhist Monk, Saigyo (1118-1190)  Ikebana of Richmond welcomed Sheila Advani to the stage as our guest demonstrator on April 6 at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Sheila started teaching in 1994 and currently teaches four classes per week, September-May and participates in workshops on a regular basis to enhance her own learning. She currently has the rank of Riji in the Sogetsu School which is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Our featured guest was Valeria Shishkin representing the Ikenobo School. Valeria is from the DC area and a member of Ikebana International Chapter 1. The program was entitled “The Universe in a Flower”. Find out more about the playful Edo culture that resonates to this day through this underrated card game. Experience this fun game and see why it survived a 200-year ban. Learn how to play Hana-Awase and Koi-Koi using Hanafuda cards, and Bozu-Mekuri using the Hyankunin-Isshu cards. Bruce Wilson was a founder of the Asian Studies program at St Mary’s College and continues as Professor Emeritus. He initiated a course called Japanese Art and Culture that introduced students to the concept of the Japanese arts as forms of spiritual discipline. St Mary’s College offers one of the few credit-bearing Ikebana courses in the US. Bruce has studied Ikenobo, Kiku, and now holds the rank of Seikyoju with the Saga Goryu School in Kyoto. He has presented in the DC area at: The National Arboretum, the Japan-America Society of Washington, DC, the National Geographic Society, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the Walters Gallery, Abroad, he has had exhibits in Kyoto, Japan; Dusseldorf, Germany; and Amman, Jordan. Bruce is also active in Ikebana International and is Past President of Chapter 1. He teaches Ikebana on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC and on his Chesapeake bayside farm in Dameron, MD. VMFA - Ilse Beunen Sogetsu demonstration and workshops & Ben Huybrechts photography workshop10/26/2022
Ilse Beunan's first teacher was Kobayashi Miwako, from which she learned the beauty and the basics of Sogestu Ikebana. After moving to Yokohama in 1995, she continued studying with her current teacher, Crivelli Joko. She holds the rank of Jonin Somu in the Sogestu School. In 2000 she returned to Belgium and started her Ikebana atelier. She is working hard to increase the awareness for Ikebana. She teaches online and in-person, giving workshops abroad and writing books. After obtaining her teaching certificate in 1997, she taught Ikebana to Japanese and foreigners. All Photos taken by Ben Huybrechts at the VMFA. His biography is below. Ben Huybrechts graduated from university with a Master in Metallurgical Engineering. Ben left for Japan, where he started an Academic Career. He made it up to a professor position at a Japanese University. Still living in Japan, he switched to business as a representative for the Belgian Flanders Government, helping Japanese
companies to get established in Flanders. After his return to Belgium in 2000, he was co-founder of the software company, WHISE of which he was co-CEO for 20 years. Starting a Creative Career—The urge to start a creative career grew over the years. He photographed numerous Ikebana demonstrations and exhibitions. In 2021 Ben joined Ilse full-time in her Ikebana business. As a photographer and marketeer, he now combines his passion for teaching, photography, and social media. Ilse & Ben made their home multi-functional and the living room doubles now a photography studio. Annual Ellen Gordon Allen (EGA) Lecture/Demonstration on October 6, 2022 10am at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Our featured presenter was Elaine Jo, Executive Master in the Ichiyo School of Ikebana. Elaine lived in Tokyo, Japan for 25 years and received her Master Degree from the Ichiyo School during that period. She likes to arrange both classical and contemporary but contemporary is her favorite. After moving to the United States in 1989, she began teaching, traveling, and giving workshops/demonstrations. In 1998 she was awarded an Executive Master Degree by the Ichiyo School. In 2009 she was appointed President of the newly formed Atlanta Chapter of the Ichiyo School and held that position until 2021 when she became chief advisor. Our first program of the year is on Sept 8 in the auditorium at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Dr. Tim Brown will be presenting a program entitled "Arboreal Buddhism: Trees in the Buddhist Imaginary from India to Japan”. Come and be prepared to expand your awareness of trees as reflected in Buddhist imaginary and how we can apply that to our Ikebana practice. Dr. Brown is an Associate Professor and Chair of Religious Studies at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. Dr. Brown has a Ph.D. in Religion from Syracuse University, an MA from New York University, and a BA from Wabash College. He teaches courses on Asian religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Japanese religions, indigenous religions of North America, and topical courses on new religious movements and religions and ecology. Prior to taking a position at Randolph-Macon College, Tim worked as a gardener in the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation for ten years. Tim received training at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and was stationed in northern Manhattan’s historic Heather Garden in Ft. Tryon Park/The Cloisters where he focused on historic gardens and native forest restoration. He is currently co-director of the Brian Wesley Moores Native Plant Garden at Randolph-Macon College and an avid home gardener in Ashland, where he lives with his wife and two sons. |
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