Gallery of Past Branch Events

March 2, 2024

Multiple Small Containers with Sheila Advani

St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Arlington, VA

 
 
February 2, 2024
 
Tatami Weaving Technique with Gloria Hege
 
River Road Unitarian Universalist Church, Bethesda, Maryland
Members learned to construct dyed reed and wire structures to become elements in arrangements.
 
 
 
December 2, 2023  
 
Straight, Curved or Straight and Curved Lines with Yoshie Kurose
 
St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Arlington, Virginia
 
This is one of Sogetsu’s main elements—Line, Mass and Color. Book 3 Lessons 5, 6 and 7.
 
 
September 6, 2023
 
Arranging in Baskets by Noreen Linneman
 
River Road Unitarian Universalist Church  in Bethesda , Maryland
June 10, 2022 
 
Katsuko Theilke workshops
 
The Church of the Covenant in Arlington, VA
 
Bamboo Workshop
 
 
 
 
New Zealand Flax Workshop
 
 
 
 
June 9, 2022 

Ikebana International Chapter No. 1 Luncheon with Katsuko Theilke, Sogetsu Master Instructor

BelleHaven Country Club in Alexandria, VA

 

 

 
May 5-8, 2022  
 
Sogetsu Biennial Exhibition
The Art League at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, VA
 
Gallery
 
 
 
 
 
 
April 15-18, 2022  
 
 
Ikebana International Chapter No. 1 Annual Exhibition
The United States Arboretum in NE Washington, DC
 
 
 
April 2, 2022
 
The workshop on Renka Arrangements was led by Sima Sariaslani (Brandywine Study Group). Assisting her were Sheila Advani, Patricia Lemmerman and Elise Schoux.
The Church of the Covenant in Arlington, VA
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

Twenty-five members completed Renka arrangements in groups of five.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Renka

 

Sketching and Arranging

Keith Stanley

February 5, 2022

Keith led the workshop using Book 3 Lesson 20.

 

Keith used piggy back kenzans for stability.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The champagne corks were impaled on painted trifoliate orange used as a Hana Dome.                  

 
 

The view from above

      
 

The Hana Dome on the nagiere was made from bamboo shoots bound together with wax coated thread.      

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
Workshop Participants’ Arrangements
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Bare Branches
 
Linda Ely
 
December 9, 2021   The Church of the Covenant, Arlington, VA
 
 
Linda made arrangements with bare, colored and covered branches as the focus. 
 
 
Domino 
Painted Harry Lauder (Filbert) and Curly Willow, and Green Chrysanthemums. Glass Container.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Wrapped Up

Branches wrapped with Origami Paper and Gold Wire,

Colored Glass Marbles. Glass Containers.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural Pairing
Unknown Natural Branch in a Stone.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Triangles for Sofu

Sycamore Branch with Colored Aluminum Wire,

Gold Painted Branch, Veronica, and Chrysanthemums

Ceramic Chinese Globular Vase

 
 
 
 
 


Sticks and Stones
Natural Branches (2-unknown), Stones, Safflower and Artichoke. Aluminum Sculpture

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Natural Pine
Pine Branches and Chrysanthemums and a Wire Coat Hanger Hane Dome. Ceramic Container.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Shore Bird
Natural Branches, White Painted Branch, Driftwood and Dried Miscanthus.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Difficult Containers
 
Annette Ernst 
 
October 14, 2021    Bethesda Women’s Club,  Bethesda, MD
 
Participants brought containers they considered difficult to use. Each member was then charged to pass their container to another the person, receive a new container and complete an arrangement with the materials she brought.
 
Annette discussed what makes a container difficult and demonstrated how to arrange in five of her own. She advised the participants to consider putting another container inside the difficult one to create a ‘new’ container and to use mini rubber bands to affix materials together.
 

          Aunt Ruth’s
    Successful Delivery
Pressed glass Gladiolus vase, Hosta, water plant, Cala Lily                                

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      A Boat Load of Flowers           “Sweet” container that reminds the demonstrator of patent leather Easter shoes. Painted branches, Cane Stem Begonia leaves, Rabra, Hosta, Veronica, Aster

 

             3 Pots in 1
Container with three chambers, wired rope, colored plastic chain, Fascia leaf, Sunflowers   

 

               Tropical Virginia
A container with a large opening allows for a view of the water. Dried wood, Strelitzia, Ginger, Hosta, Gerbera Daisy

 

           Confetti
Square nageire with large opening, colored cable ties, Wild Canadian Ginger, Gerbera Daisy, Hosta, tropical leaves


Constructing Large Arrangements

Patty Lemmerman Demonstrator

February 20, 2021 via Zoom


Members share Large Arrangements

Patty Lemmerman critiqued

March 13, 2021 via Zoom


Celebration Arrangements

 Elise Schoux critiqued

December 11, 2020 via Zoom

Members created arrangements for various celebrations including Winter, Christmas, an anniversary and the surprise of plants still blooming in the garden.

Celebrations Dec 2020


Freestyle Using Paper Cutouts by Diana Cull

November 19, 2020 via Zoom

Diana led the workshop based on the Sogetsu Lesson 4-11 “Using Both Fresh and Unconventional Materials” and Lesson 3-17 “Repeating Similar Forms or Shapes”. In this case, the “unconventional material” is paper made into shapes.      

FreestyleDianaCull


Branch Participation:

Biannual Exhibition at the Torpedo Factory Art Center

 Alexandria, VA 22314

May  2020 (Held virtually due to Covid-19 on Facebook)

https://www.theartleague.org/?ee_search_query=%7B%22post_type%22%3A%5B%22post%22%2C%22page%22%2C%22product

%22%2C%22mec_esb%22%2C%22mec-events%22%2C%22instructor%22%5D%2C%22s%22%3A%22ikebana%22%7D&s=ikebana


Using Chopsticks to Construct a Structure/Hana Dome by Gloria Hege

February 18, 2020    

Gloria Hege led our workshop at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church. Her arrangements used plastic Pick-up Sticks, River Cane and Lucite rods. 

 

 

 


A World of Peace and Friendship through Ikebana

by Mrs. Soei Chieko Mihori 

November 5, 2019 Ikebana for Ikebana International Chapter No. 1, Bethesda, Maryland

Mrs. Mihori dedicated the demonstration to the peace and friendship she brings from Florida to the Washington DC Metropolitan Area.

 

 

A very special exhibit took place at Longwood Gardens, October 3 – November 17, 2019.  It was an opportunity to to see our Headmaster, Akane Teshigahara’s work so close to us in DC.



https://longwoodgardens.org/events-and-performances/events/blooms-bamboo


Mrs. Chieko Mihori, our advisor, led our workshop using lauhala and anthurium.

November 2019

Arrangements composed by our Sensei.

         


Branch Participation:

American Public Gardens Association Conference

June 2019 United States National Arboretum,  Washington, DC

We created and exhibited arrangements for the American Public Gardens Association Conference 


Using Driftwood by Bev Andrews

May 9, 2019 Church of the Covenant, Arlington, Virginia 

Bev Andrews led the workshop on arrangements using driftwood .


Branch Participation:

Annual Ikebana International Exhibition 

April 12-22, 2019 the National Arboretum, Washington, DC

        

    

        

   

    

   

      

 

        

    

 

    


Paying Attention to the Container and 

to the Place Where the Arrangement Will be Put

by Sheila Advani

February 28, 2019 Church of the Covenant, Arlington, VA

The workshop introduced and reviewed what planning
needs to be done to be part of an exhibition: Book 4, Lesson 16: Paying attention to the container and to place where the arrangement will be put. Participants reviewed Book 5, Lesson 24: Using various locations (Placement) and Book 5, Lesson 25: Practicing for a Future Ikebana Exhibition (Creation) in preparation for creating their own arrangements.

Sheila’s Arrangements


Celebration Arrangements by Marjorie Bauman Demonstrator

November 29, 2018  Church of the Covenant, Arlington, VA

Marjorie’s arrangements:

                      Welcome Guests

Pineapple top, Buddha hand, citrus fruits, kiwi, grapes and nuts including pecans in honor of Ms. Baumans’ father who loved to pick pecans from a tree in their yard.

                         Buffet Arrangement

Football chrysanthemums, gold painted magnolia leafs and buds, silver birch branches and mirrored balls.

      New Year’s Arrangement

 

Umbrella Pine, bamboo, lisianthis and muzuhiki fireworks.

 

 

One Flower One Branch Arrangement

Arakawa amaryllis, umbrella pine


Improving Your Technique In a Suiban Without a Kensan

by Mrs. Chieko Mihori

September 29, 2018 Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church,

Kensington, MD 

Mrs. Mihori, our advisor, led our workshop. We studied “Improving Your Technique In a Suiban Without a Kensan” from Book 5 lesson 8.

  


Renka by Joyce Overholtzer

May 31,2018 The Church of the Covenant, Arlington, VA

The topic of the workshop was Renka. In the 1990’s, Hiroshi Teshigahara expanded the range of Ikebana by advocating Renka which is a series of impromptu Ikebana arranged by multiple artists.  Joyce Overholtzer will guide us through the process of creating a Renka design. 

Members’ Renkas

 


Branch Participation:

17th Biennial Sogetsu Ikebana Exhibit

May 1-6, 2018 Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA

Our Chapter in partnership with the Art League presented an exhibit combining art and nature. Members selected works of art by Art League faculty. Containers made by Art League students or from Sogetsu members’  collections were the vessels for the arrangements. The arrangements incorporated ingredients from a drink that was enjoyed during the Art on the Rocks event Friday night.

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Branch Participation:

Annual Exhibition of Ikebana International Chapter No. 1

April 13 – 23, 2018 the United States National Arboretum Washington, DC 

Session 1

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Session 2

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Session 1

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Composition Expressing a Movement/Composition of Movement

by Annette Ernst

Saturday, March 10, 2018 The Church of the Covenant, Arlington, VA 

Annette Ernst presented a demonstration inspired by “Composition Expressing a Movement”, Lesson 18, Book 5. The twist on this lesson was that we actually HAD MOVEMENT in the arrangements, so it was titled “Composition of Movement”. Members reviewed the lesson, chose your Movement verb and created a dynamic arrangement. A wide variety of verbs/motions and diverse thinking were presented.

Annette’s arrangements:

IMG_5779     SPRING                                 IMG_5778      ROCK  

Verb and wishful noun                          The broken shards of pottery rocked back and forth when touched.

IMG_5775       DROP

Water from melting ice cubes above dropped into the container below.

                                              IMG_5774       SWAY

                                    The unique container swayed when pulled or pushed.

IMG_5773       SPIN

The part of a floor arrangement suspended from a branch spun delicately.


Composition using Unconventional  Materials by Ruth O’Donnell

Thursday, February 15, 2018 Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church Bethesda, MD 

Ruth O’Donnell demonstrated lesson 7 from Book 5, “Composition using Unconventional  Materials”. Each member brought unconventional materials and supplies and composed an arrangement. It was fun to see the wide variety of materials that were used.

Ruth’s arrangements:

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Sogetsu Textbook 5 Special Training Session by Tone Olsen

November 29, 2017 Church of the Covenant Arlington, VA

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The training session was designed for all Sogetsu members, and Sogetsu Teachers Association members. 

 


90th and 40th ANNIVERSARY EVENTS:

 

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SPECIAL SOGETSU DEMONSTRATION by Mr. Sozan Nakamura
 
October 16, 2017 Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church Bethesda, MD 
 
 
To celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Sogetsu School and the 40th anniversary of the Washington, D.C. Sogetsu Branch, a demonstration by Mr. Nakamura, Master Instructor of the Sogetsu Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan took place. The demonstration was held on October 16, 2017 at the Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church,  Bethesda, MD.

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IMG_5576 Book 5: Miniature Ikebana

 

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Mrs. Advani and Ms. Mishima

 

 

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Mr. Nakamora and

Mrs. Mihori, Branch Advisor

 


SPECIAL SOGETSU WORKSHOPS by Mr. Sozan Nakamura

October 17, 2017 Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church Bethesda, MD 

Mr. Nakamura conducted two workshops:

Arrangements for Celebrations Using Mizuhiki (paper strings). The subject of this lesson is to make a celebratory arrangement using mizuhiki in various ways. Participants created calligraphy placards to accompany the celebratory arrangement.

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Sogetsu

Freestyle Arrangements Complementing an Artwork

The object of this lesson is to use calligraphy works by Sofu Teshigahara as the inspiration for freestyle arrangements.

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Flower


Using Glass Containers by Diana Cull

May 11, 2017

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Using Flowering Branches by Mary Ellen Alden

March 16, 2017

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Using Paper as a Design Element by Jane Redmond, Riji

January 14, 2017

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Arrangements Made Without Containers  

Joyce Overholtzer, Riji

November 3, 2016


Re-creating a Container Using Unconventional Materials by Mrs. Chieko Mihori, Riji

September 28, 2016

Mrs. Chieko Mihori, Branch Advisor, helped us re-create a container using unconventional materials. ” The container is always part of your arrangement but now the container is part of your design.”

Mrs. Mihori

Mrs. Mihori

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Mrs. Mahori, Branch Advisor and Tone Olsen Branch Director

Mrs. Mahori, Branch Advisor and Tone Olsen Branch Director

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Member Arrangements

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Sogetsu Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Branch participated in the following arts events.

  • Sogetsu Exhibitions at U. S. National Arboretum

Members of the Sogetsu Washington DC Metropolitan Area Branch held exhibitions for public viewing at the United States National Arboretum in Washington, DC.

2011

2011

2010

2010

2009

2009

2008

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  • Torpedo Factory Art Center Exhibitions

Every two years the Sogetsu DC Branch puts in an exhibition of Sogetsu Ikebana in the Art League Gallery of the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA. The Sogetsu arrangers choose a work of art from one of the participating artists. An ikebana, made in one of the participating potter’s containers, is displayed with the artwork. Our ikebana arrangers always find inspiration and excitement in this exhibition.

2014

2014

2012

2012

2010

2010

2008

2008

  • Ikebana International Exhibitions
    U. S. National Arboretum

These annual exhibitions represent several schools of ikebana. Sogetsu members contribute modern creative arrangements to complete the representation of traditional through contemporary designs by various schools.

Visit Ikebana International

                                                               Visit Ikebana International Chapter 1.                     

  • Outdoor Workshop November 6, 2010
    U. S. National Arboretum

Members of the Sogetsu Branch of Washington, D.C. constructed large outdoor ikebana arrangements of dried branches and other natural materials. The work was done under the guidance of Kika Shibata, Sogetsu West Coast Regional Coordinator of North America, who also demonstrated construction techniques and critiqued the finished arrangements. Members of the public were invited to observe free of charge.

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Outdoor Workshop

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