March 2, 2024
Multiple Small Containers with Sheila Advani
St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Arlington, VA
Ikebana International Chapter No. 1 Luncheon with Katsuko Theilke, Sogetsu Master Instructor
BelleHaven Country Club in Alexandria, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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/
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 .
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
Information on Renka style: http://nordic-lotus.blogspot.com/2014/11/renka-
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.
Branch Participation:
Annual Exhibition of Ikebana International Chapter No. 1
April 13 – 23, 2018 the United States National Arboretum Washington, DC
Session 1
Session 2
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:
SPRING 
ROCK
Verb and wishful noun The broken shards of pottery rocked back and forth when touched.
DROP
Water from melting ice cubes above dropped into the container below.
SWAY
The unique container swayed when pulled or pushed.
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:
Sogetsu Textbook 5 Special Training Session by Tone Olsen
November 29, 2017 Church of the Covenant Arlington, VA
The training session was designed for all Sogetsu members, and Sogetsu Teachers Association members.
90th and 40th ANNIVERSARY EVENTS:
Mr. Nakamora assisted by Ms. Mishima
Book 5: Miniature Ikebana
Mrs. Advani and Ms. Mishima
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.
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.
Flower
Using Glass Containers by Diana Cull
May 11, 2017
Using Flowering Branches by Mary Ellen Alden
March 16, 2017
Using Paper as a Design Element by Jane Redmond, Riji
January 14, 2017
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. Mahori, Branch Advisor and Tone Olsen Branch Director
Member Arrangements
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
2010
2009
2008
- 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
2012
2010
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 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.
