ZOOM Class #1
‘Modern times’ – ‘modern measures’ in a new world of government enforced isolation due to COVID 19.
Like most creative people ikebana artists will not be hampered by these restrictions so we now resort to new methods of sharing ideas and companionship by working in the virtual world of the internet
My students are so keen to keep developing their ikebana to the next level and to do this I now teach online. This has been very successful for the past 5 weeks but one challenge my students say they don’t meet up with the others. To resolve this challenge, I am now conducting ZOOM get together with theme.
Our first ZOOM meeting was lots of fun seeing and hearing how each of us coped with the theme Branch/es and Fabric. The interpretation of the theme varied somewhat but everyone soon started thinking along the lines of Sogetsu ikebana using the set ‘elements and principles’ after wrangling with technology .
Deb – Look closely and you will see a tenugui with a Yoyoi Kusama pattern that is harmous with the Banksia
Jorgen – The design driven by the crinkled form of the Yupo paper Jorgen acquired one of his wife’s scarves for the great cause of art to complete his work ‘Sailing into the Sunset’
Janet – Being sneaky Janet used the hole in the stool to stand the dried Banksia then disguised the technical working with fabric
John- Using a branch from a street tree he supported it in a container with fabric then used the remaining fabric to drape through the branch
Margaret – Simple dried branch set with Japanese Shibori fabric in a self made container makes for an elegant arrangement
Merrilyn – Very ingenious to use the fabric to anchor the wine wreath and Banksia to a common house brick and all the time keeping the colours harmonious
Sandy – Taking the theme literally I bound a weeping Mulberry branch in fabric – I will never make a nurse because I had difficulty binding the fabric around corners and joints. Threads from unravelled fabric added another dimension
Sawling – After much trimming and eliminating leaves the end result allowed the reds of the balls (golf balls covered in red fabric) and the draped red fabric to draw attention to the red shine of the Morton Bay figs.
Shan – A very new student use a dried branch with a chiffon ribbon joined and twisted onto the branch. She used a few pebbles to give weight to the work
Jeanette – Eliminating excess leaves to show the line of the branch, which now emphasises the red chiffon fabric as the focal point. The fabric almost looks like a flower – great idea to use if flowers are in short supply
John – Anchoring a Banksia into a kenzan, which is discreetly hidden by the draped fabric. Great idea for an impromptu arrangement because the Banksia will last out of water for at least a day
Merrilyn – The use of the tiny piece of fabric in this strong arrangement teases the mind making you ask questions – fascinating.
Deb – Not sure where Deb found the plant material – said it was the top of tree, what ever it is it works so well with the felt like fabric (would love to see the fabric up close) in the stone coloured container.
Merrilyn – Really on a roll wth this theme Merrilyn has used a discrete piece of fabric nestled in the corner of a large palm sheath with pebbles bound in a wire cage topped off with Candlestick Banksia. Great arrangement for long table