Sandi lead a workshop at our July meeting. Sandi demonstrated how to arrange flowers from the dairy in everyday or unusual containers. “Sogetsu Ikebana can be created anytime, anywhere, by anyone with any kind of material”. (Book 1, page 2, Akane Teshigahara). Members used a mixed bunch of flowers from the supermarket or dairy and an everyday container to create their own ikebana. 1 piece of branch material to incorporate into their arrangement was provided. They could add a small piece of greenery too. View arrangements here.
Revising Basic Arrangements by Helen Wareham
Basic nageire using freesias and lemonwood
I wanted to have a workshop on the arrangements in Sogetsu textbook 1 and 2 as these are the basis of Sogetsu ikebana and every student studies them for the first 40 classes. However, once students advance to the next textbooks they do Freestyle ikebana and sometimes forget how useful the beginner ikebana can be. It is easier to show these arrangements in moribana (flat) containers as there are proscribed positions for the kenzan (pin holder).
I decided to prepare several arrangements in matching glass bowls, using the same greenery for the 2 longest branches, Shin and Soe. This meant that I could cut the branches beforehand and it was quite easy to put them quickly on the kenzan. I used shop bought flowers for the third main line, Hikae.
After the arrangements were done, I asked the workshop participants to identify each arrangement from the textbook and then members created their own textbook arrangements. At the end the group reviewed all the ikebana works and identified the particular textbook lesson for each.
Members seemed to enjoy the workshop and the discussion about the textbook. View arrangements here.
Sandy Marker Workshop
Sogetsu Teachers’ Association Wellington hosted Sydney based Sogetsu teacher Sandy Marker (1st Grade Teacher Jonin Somu) for two workshops on Saturday 11th May 2019. Sandy was the recipient of the 5th Norman and Mary Sparnon Scholarship and studied Sogetsu in Japan for 3 months in 2015. Have a look at her website: Sandy Marker
Sandy’s Workshop View photos of arrangements by members.
Sandy’s arrangement using tulips, pine and special fixings.
Sandy’s workshop with arrangements by members.
