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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Friday, March 10, 2017

生け花 (Flower Arrangement)

Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arranging and each year members of the Seattle chapter of Ikebana International create a display of their work.  Tucked away beneath the escalators near the seminar venues, they may be missed. Here for your pleasure are this year's arrangements.



"As ikebana has many different schools of thought, philosophies, and styles with their respective rules for proper ratios and approaches, consider finding an ikebana class or reading a book on ikebana if you are interested in pursuing this further. Serious devotees spend years, if not decades, practicing and perfecting this classical Japanese art form. So in other words, it definitely requires more effort and intent than cramming a bunch of Gerbera daisies into your grandmother's vase"  From this website..

According to this site, the seven principles if Ikebana are:

1. Silence

2, Minimalism

3. Shape and line

4. Form

5. Humanity

6. Aesthetics

7. Structure

Find information about the various schools of Ikebana here

There are over 3000 schools of Ikebana so if you try, you're bound to get it right in at least one of them.  In one school the longest branch represents heaven, the medium, man and the shortest, earth.




These arrangements are admirable but, being a vase crammer myself, I don't know if I could pull off such elegant minimalism.

My pal Alison (Bonney Lassie)  remarked that this one using Fatsia leaves reminded her of our mutual friend Loree of Danger Garden.






May your weekend be filled with beauty, serenity, and balance.  

11 comments:

  1. Those are beautiful in their simplicity. I recently attended an Ichivo School Ikebana demonstration and we covered just three styles spanning 1400 years of one school. Amazing, but after learning enough to know what it takes I think I'll probably stick with vase cramming too.

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  2. Thanks for these great images. I have Ikebana baskets and a bronze usubata vase but, like you, I am a more is more person. Now and then I go minimal but an afternnon intro workshop to Ikebana Convinced me it was not for me.

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  3. It was fun looking these over with you! I wish I enjoyed flower arranging, but it's just not my thing. I really admire others' attempts though.

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  4. Some beauties here, others, not really my thing. Got a chuckle out of your self description as "vase crammer". :)

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  5. These are lovely, but not really my style. I'm like you, a 'vase crammer'. ;-) What a great new descriptive phrase!

    Have a fantastic weekend ~ FlowerLay

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  6. Interesting: you feature Ikebana and Loree features Bonsai...both restrained art forms from Japan. I admire them greatly, even while lacking the discipline to practice either.

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  7. I appreciate Ikebana, but I am a vase crammer too. I like abundance.

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  8. You aren't inspired to try Ikebana again next Monday, Peter? I admit to being a vase crammer myself but I do appreciate the elegance of many arrangements in this style.

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  9. Another fantastic idea......really appreciate you for this amazing flower arrangement tips. Inspires me a lot. thanks!

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  10. Lots of lovely arrangements, some are quite beautiful, I wish I could be so restrained!

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  11. These are all quite intriguing Peter and some are beautiful but they must require so much patience to assemble. As you suggest though with so many schools of Ikebana the odds of success are somewhat favourable :)

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.