Ann Arbor Chapter 183 Programs

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May Workshop – Freestyle - Weaving and Artistry

Our chapter members enjoyed a wonderful day out at Camp Woodbury. Judy Charlick, a skilled ceramicist, basket weaver and instructor in the Ohara School came from Cleveland to lead a workshop entitled "Weaving and Artistry". In the morning we learned how to weave a reed form to incorporate into our arrangements. After lunch we made free style arrangements with them. Throughout the day we got to experience the beautiful natural environment at Camp Woodbury as well as the motto of Ikebana International "Friendship through Flowers" as we all got to know each other better. It truly was a day of creativity, friendship and rejuvenation.

For our April meeting Cheryl Linck, an instructor in the Ikenobo School of Ikebana, demonstrated how to make a Shoka Shofutai Isshu-ike which is a one material Shoka with Iris. 

This is a traditional form having three main parts: Shin, Soe, and Tai. 

Though Cheryl explained the Issuike form we had to modified the arrangements using a second material.

On a warm and sunny March, Janet Knowlton taught the Ichiyo school of Ikebana, focusing on the Basic Moribana Upright and Slanting Style - one of the basics of Ikebana. Janet demonstrated proportion, line, and

stem placement to create a beautiful and balanced arrangement. Janet discussed how to move beyond basic arrangement elements to use line to create movement. She also demonstrated the additional elements of space and mass.. This was another great opportunity for both the seasoned practitioner and beginners to step back to the basics to help us grow in this beautiful art.

On a warm and wonderful February, Leslie Rosinski taught Sogetsu school of Ikebana, focusing on the Basic Upright Style - the very basis of Ikebana. We measured our stems and placed them at certain angles within the kenzan as to achieve a pleasing effect. We do many free-style arrangements, but it is always good for both the seasoned practitioner and beginners to step back to the basics to help us along our way within this beautiful art.

For our January chapter meeting, Ichiyo instructor, Liz Larwa, led a workshop in creating a New Year’s arrangement using the basic upright style and focusing on traditional Japanese materials. We used pine, chrysanthemum, red berries and other materials. We learned about Mizuhiki, a cord which is often used in Japan in New Years arrangements, cards, gifts etc. as a symbol of warmth, affection, and togetherness. We learned various ways we can use it in our arrangements.

For our December chapter meeting, Janet Knowlton of the Ichiyo School led our holiday centerpiece workshop. The arrangement could include a candle for a festive look with variety of different materials to add interest and compliment the arrangement. We hope everyone enjoys these throughout the holidays on your table, entryway, or sideboard.

 For our November chapter meeting, Leslie Rosinski, a teacher in the Sogetsu School of Ikebana taught a lesson using dried, bleached or colored materials. She  combined  bittersweet vines, chrysanthemums in deep saturated tones, fall grasses and various other dried materials in a basket to create unique autumn arrangements. 

At our October chapter meeting, Terre Voegeli, Ichiyo Instructor taught a workshop focused on the 1st Ichiyo Advance form, the Vertical Form. 

The major motif of this form is a sense of vertical height no matter the shape of the container. 

Our meeting was held in one of the Matthaei Botanical Garden greenhouses and all agreed that it was a fantastic venue. 

The Ann Arbor chapter met for our September Ikebana meeting at Matthaei Botanical Gardens.

We celebrated 45 years of the Ann Arbor Chapter of Ikebana International with a delicious cake and a wonderful demonstration by our very own Chapter president and Sensei Liz Larwa. Liz is an instructor in the Ichiyo School and demonstrated how to use gladiolas in Ikebana arrangements. 

The Ann Arbor chapter met for our August Ikebana meeting at the shelter at Island Park.

Our instructor, Liz Larwa, from the Ichiyo school, led this outdoor summer chapter meeting creating arrangements utilizing fruits and vegetables. We had great fun with this theme for our last outdoor summer meeting. Next month we will start our regular chapter meetings at Matthaei.

The Ann Arbor chapter met for our July Ikebana meeting at the shelter at Island Park.

Ichiyo instructor Terre Voegeli presented a water arrangement where the design elements are above and below water. It was a lot of fun and the perfect lesson for a hot summer day

The Ann Arbor chapter met for our April meeting, Ikenobo Instructor Cheryl Linck led a delightful workshop on creating miniature arrangements. We put on our creative hats and made Ikebana in our tiny vases, small bowls, teacups, or small ikebana containers.

The Ann Arbor chapter met on St. Patrick’s Day for a March workshop appropriately titled “Focus on Green”.  The word “green” originally had the meaning of “grow”. Green is truly a fundamental element of life bringing pleasure, peace and relaxation.  Leslie, a Sogetsu instructor, led the workshop.

The chapter reconvened February 24th for our first in person 2022 chapter meeting.  We were able to move into the auditorium and loved the airiness of the room.   February’s workshop theme was Mardi Gras and the arrangements were full of life and cheerful.

 The chapter January challenge was to create a New Year arrangement.

The New Year is the biggest holiday in the Japanese culture. There are many celebrations and traditions observed to bring in the new year that include visiting loved ones, sending out greeting cards, cooking special foods, and decorating the house.

Arrangements are made using traditional materials such as bamboo, pine, and sprigs of plum branches. I have heard tulips can be used in place of plum branches. 

 We held a very enjoyable January  meeting on zoom due to the spike in Covid in Michigan. The theme was arrangements for the New Year. We viewed arrangements created by our members and others. We watched two demonstration videos from the Sogetsu School of Ikebana. 

Sogetsu ikebana instructor Megumi Kaneko Schacher creates a New Year 2022 arrangement using a double mouth iron container. She completes the arrangement using traditional mizuhiki rice paper cording in red and white for celebratory occasions.

Lemoto Akane Teshigahara has been the Sogetsu iemoto for the past 20 years. She creates two New Year arrangements using various materials and techniques.

We had our December Workshop at Matthaei Botanical Gardens.

Cheryl Ann Linck led our December chapter meeting with her Ikenobo Freestyle "Out of the Box" arrangement.  She suggests that the gerber daisy can be replaced with long lasting carnations to extend the life of the arrangement through the holidays. 

It was a creative arrangement that everyone enjoyed making.

We had our November Workshop at Matthaei Botanical Gardens.

Liz presented the Ichiyo Group Contrast Form at the chapter’s November meeting.  It was the second in person meeting at Matthaei and everyone was happy to be able to continue meeting.  Part of Liz’s presentation was how to manipulate eucalyptus to create the curved lines for the arrangement.  It was a very informative meeting. 

We had our October Workshop at Matthaei Botanical Gardens. It was great to back together in our classroom at Matthaei! Leslie Rosinski from the Sogetsu School of Ikebana taught us a lesson on creating fall basket arrangements using natural objects found in nature.  She reviewed each of our arrangements and provided insight on form and technique.

 We had our September meeting in October on zoom and it was enthusiastically received! Leslie Rosinski from the Sogetsu School of Ikebana taught us a lesson on creating fall Morimono arrangements using natural objects found in nature and fruits and vegetables.  She created  three arrangements. This was followed by a slide show narrated by Liz Larwa. She shared photos from a demonstration and workshop she recently attended in Washington, DC featuring Naohiro Kasuya, the lemoto of the Ichiyo School of Ikebana. 

At our August Ann Arbor Chapter meeting , Terre Voegeli taught a class in creating an Ichiyo style arrangement using just gladioli. There were many beautiful colors to choose from. . Many thanks to Janet Torno for hosting our meeting.   

We had a wonderful chapter meeting last week and once again were blessed with beautiful weather. It is so soothing and peaceful to be in nature when we are creating arrangements. Terre Voegeli our wonderful treasurer and newly minted teacher in the Ichiyo school taught a class in a Three View Form using hosta leaves and flowers from our gardens. Many thanks to Janet Torno for hosting our meeting.  

We had a wonderful chapter meeting yesterday at the home of one of our members. Gathering together and doing Ikebana outdoors in such a beautiful setting by the lake was exquisite! Liz Larwa, our fearless chapter president made a very successful debut as a newly minted instructor in the Ichiyo School of Ikebana. She and Terri had gather quite a bit of materials for us to choose from.  We used loose weave round placemats as the containers with repurposed tuna fish cans, etc. to hold the kenzans in place to create free style arrangements. It was really fun to see all the varied and beautiful arrangements that were created. We followed our class with  a short organizational meeting and enjoyed lunch together. Thank you to our host and to everyone who participated in and helped with this event.