FEBRUARY MEETING

As an experiment, the first meeting for 2020 was held at 6.00 pm to offer an opportunity to our working members to attend after work or studies. We were pleased to see the smiling faces of thirty-seven members and five guests. 

This month's guest speaker was Phillip Rhodes a highly skilled and experienced milliner. After completing his apprenticeship Phillip worked in London where for the first time he worked in the world of the theatre. Over the course of his career has run his own salon and created head-wear for the Australian Ballet, the Melbourne Theatre Company and the Australian Opera.

To illustrate his presentation Phillip showed and discussed the creation of four hats he had created for the Melbourne Theatre Companies 2011 production of 'The Importance of Being Earnest', which starred Geoffrey Rush in the role of Lady Bracknell.

Following  Phillip's presentation Lucy Papas gave a demonstration of ikebana inspired by millinery and Mr Rhodes presentation.

In the preparation of her presentation Lucy said that she also had in mind the glamorous headwear seen in many mid-century Hollywood films worn by film stars like Lana Turner. 

The first of Lucy's ikebana used a palm spathe, a stem of and some red Flowering Gum. She had painted the spathe light blue on the upper surface and gold underneath.

   
In her second example used two leaves each of Strelitzia, New Zealand Flax and (curled) Aspidistra

Below are ikebana works created by members for the meeting.

Emily Karanikolopoulos, Sogetsu School.

Chieko Yazaki, Shogetsudo  koryu School.

Eugenia Chudacek, Sogetsu School.

Margaret Wilson, Sogetsu School.

Felicia Huang, Ohara School.

Josephine Tan, Ohara School.

Akemi Suzuki, Sogetsu School.

Lyn Wong and Anne Conrick, Ohara School.

Elizabeth Angell, Sogetsu School.

Julie Ireland, Sogetsu School.

Jacqueline Boyce, Sogetsu School.

Betty Karanikolopoulos, Sogetsu School.

Christopher James, Sogetsu School.

Midori Nakajima, Sogetsu School.

Beverley Webster, Sogetsu School.

Lara Telford, Sogetsu School.

Sally Wilkinson, Ohara School.

A CHILDREN'S WORKSHOP.

The first event in 2020 for the Melbourne Chapter of  I.I. was held on Thursday 23rd January during the summer school holidays. Members of Ikebana International Melbourne Chapter conducted two Children's Ikebana Workshops at the MUJI Chadstone store. 

The workshops were led by Chieko Yazaki and assisted by Helen Marriott, Rachel Lok, Chiemi Daly and Jenny Loo. Our Chapter President, Trish Ward and two MUJI staff were also present.

The 45 minute workshops were designed for up to 10 children between 5 and 12 years of age. In all 18 children participated, some of whom were outside the planned age range. 

Chieko gave a brief talk about Ikebana and showed the basic structure by a sketch and then demonstrated the exercise.

Each child was given a plastic vase with oasis, a pair of hasami (scissors) and a bunch of material including: Emu grass, Gerberas & Alstromeria.

The children could hardly wait to start and worked enthusiastically finishing their arranging in 20 minutes.

The parents and helpers were busy watching children handle hasami safely and assisting where necessary. Mothers were busy taking photos of their children with final arrangements. 

The Children and mothers were very happy making their ikebana and were pleased to be able to take their creations home after the workshop. Some said that they will place the Ikebana arrangements on the Chinese New Year celebration table. 

The workshop was successful as it was conducted safely and everyone involved was happy. This workshop was the first such event at the MUJI Chadstone store and the culmination of many meetings over a period months between I.I. and MUJI management.

The children proudly received a Certificate of Achievement for participation, which was designed by Rachel Lok.