Baton Rouge Chapter #42

Our chapter hosted a wonderful event on March 15, 2023 featuring a visit from our I.I. North and Central American Region (NCAR) Advocate, Susan Cano from North Carolina. In attendance were thirty-three members including four members from New Orleans Chapter #97. The meeting began with a social hour with “Coffee and Sweets” provided by the Baton Rouge officers which was followed by a brief business meeting led by Baton Rouge Chapter President Debra Charles. The program was “Sogetsu Arrangement Combining Fresh and Unconventional (Wire) Materials” using any type of wire and container.

Susan Cano has been President of I.I. chapters in Bangkok, Mexico City, Miami, and Asheville, N.C. and holds the highest teacher level of First Grade Riji in the Sogetsu School. She demonstrated eight arrangements using fresh material and wire as inorganic (Ichiyo) or unconventional (Sogetsu) material. She showed how unconventional materials such as wire could be combined with the fresh material and either harmonized or contrasted with the characteristics of the fresh material. Following the very informative and interesting demonstration, chapter members created their own arrangements. Afterwards, Susan critiqued each member’s arrangement providing the opportunity for learning from her observations and suggestions. The event was fun and informative for everyone!