Everyday life can be stressful and sometimes we need a pick-me-up. A study done at Rutgers University shows that flowers have a positive impact on our moods!
The Seattle Japanese Garden would like to introduce the Way of Flowers: Ikebana flower arrangement. A Sogetsu flower school teacher, Mie Ross from the Ikebana International Seattle Chapter 19 will teach us the way of Ikebana at our workshop in the garden.
This hands-on workshop will start with the garden tour led by our senior gardener, Pete Putnicki. Pete will show you our spring flowers, trees and plants in the garden. After that, at our community room Mie will demonstrate and teach you the Sogetsu style flower arrangement. You will create your own Ikebana arrangement inspired by the Sogetsu style!
What is Ikebana?
Ikebana is Japanese art of flower arrangement. It is also known as Kado, way of flowers. In Ikebana, blossoms, branches, leaves, and stems are arranged for artmaking. Ikebana aims to bring out the inner quality of flowers and other materials and express emotion. Ikebana is counted as one of the three classical Japanese arts along with Kodo for incense appreciation and Chado for tea ceremony.
The Ikebana tradition started in Heian Period (794 - 1185) as floral offerings at altars. In the 16th century under the influence of Buddhist tea masters, Ikebana reached its first zenith. Since then, it has grown over with numerous Ikebana schools today. Learn more about the history of Ikebana at https://www.sogetsu.or.jp/e/columns/19842/
What you need to bring:
Pruning Shears or Garden Flower Scissors
The workshop includes:
Admission to the Garden
Guided tour by our senior gardener, Pete Putnicki
Material: Flowers and branches
Tool: Rounded Suiban Vase
Tool: Kenzan Pin Holder
Tuition: $120
Participants: Maximum 7
Instructor:
Mie Ross
Mie Ross was born in Tokyo, Japan., and moved to USA in 1991 as an English language student. She began working in the Seattle area and now lives in Monroe Washington with her husband and daughter. She began studying Sogetsu Ikebana in 2001 when she saw the Ikebana International exhibition at JapanFest at Bellevue Community College. She was so impressed and decided right away that she wanted to study Ikebana. She was very happy to find her teacher here in US and still enjoys learning from her. She continues to study and teach ikebana and enjoys encouraging others to practice the art.
About Ikebana International and Sogetsu school
Ikebana International is the world-wide organization consisting of people who love Japanese floral arrangements . Chapter 19 in Seattle includes about 10 various types of schools, some classic and some modern. Please refer to: www.iiseattlechapter19.org
Sogetsu school was developed during the post war period by Teshigahara Sofu who heightened ikebana as the creative art that has been enthusiastically accepted among the new generation. Sogetsu ikebana arrangements can be placed in indoor or outdoor spaces and can occupy small areas to vast spaces outdoors.
