Los Angeles Chapter #4 USA
20250315-16
Demonstration Workshop Exhibition Open to the Public
Ikenobo, Ohara, Saga Goryu, Sangetsu, Sogetsu
We had our Chapter’s annual Spring Exhibition at the Los Angeles County Arboretum. Our theme this year was “REVIVE” which is a process to restore the devastated communities after the catastrophic fires many Angelenos experienced in January.
Our Chapter dedicated this exhibition to those who were affected by the fires and hoped to offer a place of respite while they visited our event. As we move forward, we recognize the power and impermanence of nature. The interpretive designs in the arrangements expounded on nature’s resilience with new growth/regeneration, while others show emotional renewal with the wabi-sabi (appreciate the flaws and imperfection in things) nature of the vessel used for the arrangement. It was not mandatory for members to incorporate the theme in their arrangement, but many members embraced it and made incredible moving designs.
Some incorporated actual items from the fires, such as a burned tree trunk and bush, another design used a burned and rusted wheel rim as a floral container.
There were a total of 52 display arrangements.
Throughout the exhibition weekend, we held demonstrations, and mini-ikebana workshops by various Ikebana schools for the public. All were well attended.
June 8, 2025
Demonstration Workshop Chapter Meeting Open to the Public
We began the meeting with a delicious social breakfast. Then, we thanked the current board members who were retiring, and the next administration’s (2025-2027) board members were installed and introduced. Afterwards the workshop began with demonstrations led by Sogetsu Riji Haruko Takeichi and four assistants, Rie Miura Strong, Devika Wijesinghe, Jina Wakimoto, and Meg Shimizu. They created inspiring basket structures with cane and Sogetsu arrangements. Takeichi sensei provided information with diagrams on how to construct the basket structures. All the workshop participants were given two coils of cane which were already soaked/wetted, metal wire, zip/cable ties and floral materials to create their designs. Everyone had an amazing time constructing their work of art.
