In 2024, Ikebana of Richmond (IOR) was invited to be a sponsor of the Samurai Armor Exhibit from the collection of Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA). The 2024 Partnership with VMFA came to a close with IOR’s participation in Fine Arts and Flowers. Prior to the beginning of the November program, the IOR membership was treated to a brief review and summary as represented by all the projects undertaken and floral arrangements contributed. The following is a summary of that retrospective. You can find photos of each event in a link after each description. Projects Sponsor Dinner, April 15: 24 Arrangements To celebrate the opening of the Samurai Armor Exhibit, the sponsors were invited to a preview and dinner in the Marble Hall of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. IOR was asked to provide table arrangements and decorations and the museum provided a budget. The colors for the evening were red, yellow, white and blue. 17 IOR members made 24 arrangements at the museum on the Sunday Afternoon prior to the dinner. The following day, all the arrangements and decorations were placed on tables. Those gathered for the dinner were delighted with the creative display of Ikebana which set an artistic tone for the evening. Each arrangement was accompanied by a card providing information about IOR. In addition, Annette Ernst designed a large floral exhibit in the entrance hall at the request of the VMFA Hirschler Endowment for Flowers, and Evelyn Klumb hand crafted origami helmets to accompany the floral designs. Throughout the evening, IOR was cited many times for its efforts. View Sponsor Dinner Photos The Council of VMFA Luncheon, May 6: 20 Arrangements Because IOR was a sponsor of the Samurai Armor Exhibit, the council requested IOR to provide table arrangements for their May luncheon and provided a budget to cover materials. Seventeen IOR members gave their time to create 20 floral arrangements on Sunday afternoon prior to the luncheon. The following morning, these were placed on dining tables in Marble Hall. Blue was the theme color and the containers were purchased by IOR for the event. Libby Haynes was charged with creating a special arrangement which was presented to Kathryn Gray during the luncheon in recognition of her work. Evelyn Klumb contributed origami helmets and Carol Hutton provided Koinobori. Those who attended were charmed with the creative display of Ikebana. Each arrangement was accompanied by a card identifying the IOR Ikebana artist and their school. At the end of the luncheon, all arrangements were sold. View Council Luncheon Photos “How…Do You Make and Ikebana Arrangement,” Program May 17 and November 7, 9 Arrangements The VMFA Education Programs Manager requested a meeting with members of IOR to plan a program to be called “How…do you make an Ikebana arrangement?” IOR eagerly embraced this opportunity and the program was developed to include a slide presentation featuring a brief history of Ikebana, descriptions of the schools participating in the program and information about IOR. Alice Litchfield did a live demonstration of a basic Ikebana arrangement and individual IOR members spoke about their school and arrangement. Libby Haynes provided a Sogetsu upright moribana arrangement photo, and the VMFA staff with the assistance of IOR designed a flyer to promote the program which was placed on the VMFA website. The "How To" program received rave reviews and was described as stunning. There were over 115 guests, which was a record for VMFA. Plus, the Education Programs Manager pointed out the audience gave a standing ovation at the end. She went on to share positive remarks from the survey which VMFA conducted. A modified version of the program was later presented on November 7th to the IOR membership (See the 2024 November Program under Recent Events). Many thanks to all those who participated: Evelyn Klumb (Ikenobo), Alice Litchfield (Ichiyo), Laura Anne Brooks (Ikenobo), Judy Sheldon (Ohara), Diane Burgess (Sogetsu), Libby Haynes (Sogetsu), Annette Ernst (Keika-Kazan), Elizabeth Biddle (Kado Sensho Ikenobo), Grace Morris, Sandy Haigh, Alison Munoz and Marga Cahoon. View "How... Do You Make and Ikebana Arrangement" Photos Weekly Arrangements for Floris and Amuse Restaurants, May 10 - August 4, 55 Arrangements When the VMFA Samurai Armor Exhibit drew to a close, we learned that approximately 100,000 people toured from April 20th to August 4th. IOR was an active sponsor from the very beginning, and everyone who contributed to this effort played a major role. Weekly from May 10th to July 25th, Ikebana of Richmond members gave their time and artistry in designing and placing 55 arrangements in Floris and Amuse restaurants. IOR received many fine complements from the staff who also shared positive comments of their customers. Special thanks go to Libby Haynes and Annette Ernst who acted as coordinators. Weekly, they greeted arrangers at Floris and also returned to make sure that each arrangement had plenty of water and was looking its best. Evelyn Klumb also helped with encouraging words for all. Thank you to the following: Libby Haynes, Annette Ernst, Evelyn Klumb, Judy Sheldon, Laura Anne Brooks, Elizabeth Biddle, Alice Litchfield, Diane Burgess, Kumiko Suzuki, Janice Whitehead, Joann McNabb, Marga Cahoon, Theresa Redd, Sandy Haigh, Grace Morris, Helena Arouca, and Marty Jones. View Weekly Arrangement Photos Special Activities To support this special opportunity, members developed a beautiful special edition newsletter as well as website and social media content and photos. When there was a need for an arrangement for a reception, IOR rose to the occasion. Through these activities, our membership and volunteers were kept informed and relations with associated groups were further enhanced. View Special Activities Photos Fine Arts and Flowers, October 23 – 27 During the four days of this exhibition of floral designs interpreting museum artwork, 20,000 guests attended. Eight members of IOR participated as exhibitors including one large Ikebana display outside on the lawn by the Chihuly water garden. The exhibitors were Laura Anne Brooks (Ikenobo), Annette Ernst and Evelyn Klumb (Ikenobo), Marga Cahoon and Theresa Redd (Sogetsu), Kumiko Suzuki (Sogetsu), Grace Morris (Sangetsu), and Libby Haynes (Sogetsu). In addition, IOR was asked to conduct a workshop about designing a basic Ikebana arrangement on Sunday, October 27th at VMFA. Three schools were represented by teachers of the Ikenobo (Annette Ernst), Ohara (Judy Sheldon) and Sogetsu (Libby Haynes) schools. We were also delighted to learn that our workshop sold out within a day and all 24 seats were filled. Members can take pride in knowing that IOR and Ikebana has been introduced to many new people throughout Virginia and beyond as a result of this wonderful partnership. View Fine Arts and Flowers Photos Laura Anne Brooks, Annette Ernst and Evelyn Klumb, Marga Cahoon and Theresa Redd Libby Haynes, Kumiko Suzuki, Grace Morris Workshop The November program featured a PowerPoint presentation and members from seven Ikebana schools who displayed exhibits representative of their schools. They also shared thoughts on their ongoing interest in their school. Evelyn Klumb began the program with a brief history of Ikebana including the involvement of the Samurai warriors. At the conclusion, a lively discussion followed among members of the audience and the panelists.
This program was a reprise of the “How To...” program presented by IOR on May 17 at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in conjunction with our sponsorship of the Samurai Armor Exhibit. All participants were featured in both; however, the exhibits in November were updated to reflect the season. Many thanks to: Evelyn Klumb (Ikenobo), Laura Anne Brooks (Ikenobo), Judy Sheldon (Ohara), Diane Burgess (Sogetsu), Libby Haynes (Sogetsu), Annette Ernst (Keika-Kazan), Elizabeth Biddle (Kado Sensho Ikenobo), Alice Litchfield (Ichiyo), Grace Morris (Sangetsu), Sandy Haigh and Alison Munoz. Download IOR November 2024 Presentation Download IOR November Handout Laura Anne Brooks - Ikenobo
Judy Sheldon - Ohara
Diane Burgess - Sogetsu
Libby Haynes - Sogetsu
Annette Ernst - Keika-Kazan
Elizabeth Biddle - Kado Sensho Ikenobo
Alice Litchfield - Ichiyo
Grace Morris - Sangetsu
Fall Baskets Ichiyo Style Workshop This month, our workshop participants received a wonderful surprise - a handmade cloud basket by Alice Litchfield, teacher of the Ichiyo School. Everyone delighted in her demonstration of how to use clouds, which are a specialty of Ichiyo, in moribana and nagiere containers. While everyone enthusiastically worked on their designs, Alice visited each student and offered tips on how best to place flowers and line materials. Some students boldly even tried arranging by balance only. Our EGA program in October showcased the artistry of Kimi Kika Shibata, Sogetsu Riji. She has taught for over 56 years and started her study of Ikebana in Kumamoto, Japan at the age of four. After moving to the United States, she frequently returned to Japan to study with Kasumi Teshigahara who was the second lemoto of the Sogetsu School and daughter of Sofu Teshigahara, founder. Shibata Sensei currently lives in Las Vegas and San Diego and is Director of Sogetsu San Jose-South Bay Branch. She teaches classes in multiple locations as well as on the internet. Shibata Sensei designed eleven arrangements to the delight of the IOR audience in her program, “Expression of Paper and Bamboo.” In addition to her memorable and creative paper structures, she incorporated seasonal flowers, branches, fruits and seed pods gathered from member gardens. The large-scale bamboo finale was breathtaking and required all hands on deck to assemble. Shibata Sensei deftly used materials ranging from persimmon branches to miscanthus to create a stunning fall bamboo tableau. She was assisted by members Libby Haynes, Annette Ernst, Kumiko Suzuki, Noriko Burke and Marga Cahoon. Her remarkable designs were made possible through contributions of multiple types of plant materials from the gardens of Linda Pinkham, Marga Cahoon, Evelyn Klumb, Theresa Redd, Annette Ernst and Libby Haynes. Alison Munoz helped to design the beautiful promotional brochure as well as taking photos of the program and Marcia Elliott managed the raffle following the program. Many thanks to all of these members for their help in making Shibata Sensei’s program possible. Three workshops followed the program and participants learned how to create original designs to be used in floral designs using paper, washi paper and Japanese craft bands. Workshop: “Harmony with Branches and Paper” Workshop: “Harmony with Air” Workshop: “Structures with Japanese Paper Craftbands” The October program began with a poem by Buson which expressed a sentiment which all Ikebanists experience.  White chrysanthemum… Before that Perfect flower Scissors hesitate Haiku by Buson (1716-1784) Translation by Peter Beilenson Our September program, concentrated on keeping flowers fresh and extending the life of floral designs. Many thanks to all those members who contributed tips and shared their experience as well as members, Evelyn Klumb, Linda Pinkham, Judy Sheldon, Grace Morris, Annette Ernst and Libby Haynes who participated in the program. If you would like to refer to the slide presentation or the handout, you may download them below. Download IOR September 2024 Presentation Download IOR September 2024 Handout  Ikebana of Richmond is proud to be a sponsor of the Samurai Armor Exhibit from the collection of Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller at VMFA. Activities to support the opening of the exhibit began on Sunday, April 14th , when seventeen IOR members gathered at VMFA to create table arrangements for the sponsor dinner on the following evening. The museum and all those gathered for the occasion were delighted with the creative and artistic display of Ikebana on the tables as well as at the entrance. In addition, Annette Ernst designed a large floral exhibit in the entrance hall at the request of the VMFA Hirschler Endowment for Flowers, and Evelyn Klumb hand crafted origami helmets which accompanied all the floral designs. About the Samurai Armor Exhibit and Collection One of the largest and most refined collections of Japanese samurai armor will be exhibited by VMFA from April 20 to August 4, 2024. Amassed over 30 years, the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller collection features over 130 works including:
Who were the samurai? The term samurai, meaning “those who serve,” is associated with military elites who rose to power in Japan in the 12 th Century. Tumultuous wars followed for centuries and samurai warriors demonstrated masterful skills in archery as well as excelling as swordsmen and equestrians. Their honor was won not only through bravery and loyalty but also through power and prestige. The Samurai class continued to dominate politically, socially and culturally through the peaceful Edo period until the late 19 th century. Tracing the evolution of armor styles from medieval through early modern Japan, the exhibition explores the artistic legacy of the samurai’s reign over seven centuries. How does the Exhibit tie into IOR? The very beginnings of Ikebana reach back over 600 years in Japan where Buddhist monks placed floral offerings to Buddha in the temples. Over time, noblemen and samurai warriors also took up Ikebana which was practiced as a meditative process aligning the practitioner's spirit with the natural world. For the Samurai, Ikebana offered a welcome release from battle because they could focus on the nature, simplicity and balance. While known for their military prowess, they also excelled in this art form blending their strength with delicacy. IOR ended our program year with a demonstration by Alice Buch, 2nd Term Master of the Ohara School. Her program, “Spring Forward,” featured seven arrangements which included stunning materials gathered from the garden of Arlene Evans in Northern Virginia. Alice focused on the naturalistic style characteristic of the Ohara School and a primary tenet of its founder, Unshin Ohara: to observe nature and how plants respond and grow. Alice was a student of Grand Master Betty Taylor and is currently a student of Grand Master Ingrid Lϋders. Alice has also studied at the Ohara International Center in Tokyo, Japan, the Southeastern Ohara Workshops in Highlands, NC and at the North American Ohara Teacher Conferences in Cleveland, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Houston, Victoria BC, Chicago, and Boston. Alice resides in Arlington, Virginia. She teaches classes in Arlington and Richmond. She has exhibited at the National Arboretum, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Member ShowcaseThe April meeting was also our annual member showcase, and we were treated to a variety of wonderful arrangements representing multiple schools. It was an excellent opportunity to see the many approaches to the art of Ikebana. IOR welcomed in March with a burst of yellow. Elizabeth Biddle, a Level 10 Instructor of the Kado Sensho Ikenobo (KSI) School, treated IOR members to a celebration of International Women’s Day and a demonstration highlighted by yellow blooms. Accompanied by a slide presentation featuring an overview of the KSI School and tips on conditioning, Elizabeth demonstrated six artistic designs using seasonal materials. The KSI School is based on the Philosophy of Wa (harmony), Kei (respect), Sei (purity) and Jaku (tranquility) which are integral parts of each design. As well as movement, depth and negative space. Kado is used instead of Ikebana because it refers not only to the beauty of the flowers but also requires manners, techniques, mental and physical training. It is considered to be one of the ”ways” of Japanese beliefs. The school focuses on a quick simple approach befitting today’s fast-paced lifestyle. Elizabeth delighted the audience with her sense of whimsy and her creative use of line materials and flowers. Her sense of joy was expressed in all her arrangements as well as in comments to the audience.    Arrangement and photo by Sandy Haigh Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Gift Shop Enhancing Nature, Basically Workshop The afternoon workshop lead by Elizabeth Biddle was attended by 21 students representing six of IOR's schools, new members and guests. Sensei Elizabeth's instruction centered on components of Kado Sensho Ikenobo arrangements - line, angle, placement and their significance or meaning. Starting with a calming chime for all in the room, she taught by illustration and by demonstrating with the plant materials. Her line materials were pussy willow or poet's laurel and the flowers were daffodils. Students then enthusiastically chose from the line materials available and began their arrangements. The results were all beautiful and quite varied. With expert and kind guidance, the arrangements were then critiqued. Often overheard was "does your arrangement give you joy?" Our February program and lovely Maymont was a wonderful exploration of Japanese traditional musical instruments and music. Yumiko (Yumi) Hwang and her associate Thomas Fulks, who are members of the River City Taiko headquarterd in Richmond, treated us to a slide presentation featuring photos of Yumi’s family and temple home. In addition, they brought Japanese drums and smaller instruments which they played for us. The assortment of handmade Taiko drums ranged from about 18 inches to 30 inches in diameter. In addition, Yumi brought her great grandmother’s harp which featured a hand carved horizontal wooden case approximately six feet long and had many strings. While Yumi is still learning to play this complex instrument, she shared its wonderful ethereal sound with us. Yumi was born and raised in the Buddhist temple in Yamaguchi prefecture in Japan. She studied ballet, but in 2012 became a Taiko player. Besides being a performing member of River City Taiko, Yumiko has collaborated as a guest artist with Kenny Endo, Taiko master in Hawaii, and UnitOne in California. In Japan, the Taiko is believed to be the most powerful spiritual purification instrument, and it is understandably Yumiko’s favorite. The Taiko as well as the stands are handmade by a River City Taiko member. The program ended with an exciting performance on the Taiko drums by Yumi and Thomas which fully demonstrated to the enjoyment of all their artistry and skill.  Arrangement by Annette Ernst  Arrangement by Yumiko Hwang Playing Japanese Traditional Instruments WorkshopThe workshop following the program resulted in the public introduction of the first two Ikebana of Richmond Taiko ensembles. Yumi Whang demonstrated Taiko techniques to two groups of five participants. Some members were asked to keep time with drumsticks or play special hand-held instruments to accompany the drums. Players were able to experience drums in all sizes each of which had its own special sound and touch. By the end of the workshop, the two ensembles performed a complete song with Yumi acting as maestro. This workshop was all about letting go and having a blast! 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 |
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