September 2010 - Illinois Prairie Chapter - Ikenobo Ikebana Society ...

Illinois Prairie Chapter of the Ikenobo Ikebana Society of AmericaThe Arranger2303 Seaton Court, Champaign, Illinois 61821-6623 September 2010, issueEnjoying IkebanaSpecial Visiting Professor Hiroko KawaiProfessor Kawai teaching at Japan House..Prairie chapter hosted Special Visiting Professor Hiroko Kawai inMay. We enjoyed two days of workshops including shimputai rikka,shoka sanshu-ike, and free style.Kawai Sensei’s shimputai rikkaGunji Sensei and Kawai Sensei posewith Gunji Sensei’s Shimputai Rikkain the tokonomaShimputai Rikka Participants Group Photo

Crabapple Love by Jeanne Holy2010 may be the year of the tiger according to theChinese lunar calendar, but if Mother Nature has herown calendar, surely it is the year of the crabapple. Ihave several crabapple trees in my back garden andone in the front. There is a cornucopia of apples on theground for all the bees and squirrels to feast on. Downthe street, some trees are so laden with apples thatfrom a distance they appear to be late October trees,displaying their fall colors.Practicing and teaching Ikenobo ikebana over theyears has given me access to a language that only youreyes can hear and your heart understand. This year thecrabapple is serenading me with its siren song ~ I amnot pine nor plum nor bamboo ~ just a crabapple.I am mesmerized by its beauty and humility, but mostly by its vigor and abundance. It is ALIVE. I know thismoment will not last so what’s an ikebana girl to do? Take the day and play with crabapple of course!But times are tight and flowers are a luxury. All of my ikebana materials for the day were cut from my garden,or those nearby (neighbors beware!) This time of year you may also have patio plants that are at season’s end.Take good advantage, and use them for ikebana.These two ikebana were inspired by the feeling I hadwhen I shot the cover photograph. I enjoyed the massand color of the cascading branches against the blue skyin the naturalistic free style. The sanshu-ike is about theautumn breeze and late afternoon sky.Freestyle: crabapple, hibiscus, oleander, butterfly bushshoka sanshu-ike: blue mist spirea, silver shadowmiscanthus, crabapple

A close up of the crabapple felt like happy hour, so I decided anikebana cocktail was in order! For a quick freestyle try addingcrabapples to a clear glass. They are beautiful under water andpractical for anchoring othermaterials.shimputai rikka(below): oleander, crabapple,micanthus, ornamental onion, toad lily, pinksummersweet, chrysanthemum, variegated pinefreestyle: crabapple, oleander, micanthus,lirope muscari, sweet flagfreestyle: Japanese anemone, crabapple, micanthus, sedum,chrysanthemumThis back lit photo (left) gave me a feeling of beingunderwater. My pet goldfish (above) appear to enjoyswimming amongst the anemone and crabapple in theirunderwater freestyle garden.

Gunji Sensei demonstrated Sanshu-ikeand Shimputai shoka using the samematerials (left)Al MarxDolores DasAurora VillacortaLiesel Hess CarpVirgie YoungMichelle Farber

Illinois Prairie Chapter Fall 2010 Workshop Reservation FormsAll workshops will be held at Japan House andfloral materials will be provided. If you have somematerial in your yard that you can donate for aworkshop please let us know. Also if you havequestions, or need toleavesborrowmusta vasebeorpreparedkenzanfor thecontact Jeanne workshop Holy; phone so please 217-637-5221 sign up if oryou canemail jholy@shout.net . Please return forms,checks and written correspondence to: us knowIllinois Prairie Chapter,2303 Seaton Ct. Champaign, IL 61821-6623drawing by Jeanne Holyhe workshop.October 9th - Shoka Henka Kei9:30 a.m. to noonjodan, chudan, gedan nagashi(RSVP by Oct. 5, 2010)Name:____________________________Member and first time Guests: ( ) $15Non-members: ( )$25You will need to bring a shoka style vaseand good kenzan. Floral materials provided.November 13th Rikka Shimputai9:00 – noon (note early start)(RSVP by Nov. 9, 2010)Name:______________________________Members: ( ) $25 Non-members: ( )$35You will need a Rikka vase, ashi kenzan, tape, wire,and wire cutters. Floral Materials provided.December 11th Freestyle 9:30 – noon(RSVP by Dec. 7, 2010)Name:___________________________Member and first time Guests: ( ) $15Non-members: ( )$25You will need a container – your choice, andmay use tape, wire, etc. Bring a snack to shareand we will party in the kitchen after theworkshop. Floral Materials provided.