February Meeting

Twenty four members attended the evening meeting, which was the first for 2023. President Nobuko Kobayashi welcomed the guest speaker Prue Simmons, a self described "Zoologist turned Saori weaver!". Ms Simmons is an expert in and teacher of the unique Saori weaving technique developed by the late Misao Jo. 

Saori weaving uses a simple loom which is easily mastered. Once they are confident students are then encouraged to weave without preconceptions, rules or expectations.  Ms Simmons gave a lively presentation followed by a demonstration of this method of weaving. Members were impressed by the speed and ease with which vibrant cloth was created in front of their eyes.

The weaving demonstration was followed by an ikebana demonstration by Midori Nakajima, a Sogetsu School member of the Melbourne Chapter.

Midori introduced into her ikebana some dried material that had been twisted together. 

As you can see above, Midori placed the dry material in a loose manner. This is to reflect the free and unplanned introduction of different colours and yarns in the Saori weaving technique.

Below are the ikebana arrangement prepared by members on the theme of the meeting.

Akemi Suzuki

Chieko Yazaki

Christopher James

Jenny Loo

Elizabeth Angell

Thea Sartori

Jacqueline Boyce

Aileen Duke

Lara Telford

 

NOVEMBER MEETING

The guest presenter for the end of year meeting on 8th November was the Niigata born, Australian textile artist Ema Shin. Ema studied traditional and contemporary print making in Tokyo and a Masters in Fine Art in Nagoya. Ema has held artist in residency positions, exhibited widely and conducted woodblock and textile workshops. Her recent art practise has extended into tapestry and mixed media sculpture. The focus of her work has been to explore the physical and mental experiences of women, as well as the fecundity of the female body. 

At the meeting Ema gave a slide presentation covering the evolution of her work, explaining and demonstrating techniques including tapestry weaving.

Fourteen of the members present created ikebana with a contemporary feel. 

Angeline Lo

Betty Karanikolopoulos

Christopher James

Chieko Yazaki

Helen Gray

Helen Marriott

Judy Hajdu

Julie Ireland

Jenny Loo

Majorie Campkin-Smith

Margaret Leung

Toula Karanikolopoulos

Wendy Sun

Yukako Braun

As it was the last meeting for 2022 donations were made to our selected charity the children’s Cottage by the Sea.

OCTOBER MEETING 2022

Saturday 15th an afternoon workshop was led by Naomi Nakajima the Head of the Ichiyo school in Victoria. Born in Tokyo, Japan. Naomi first studied Floristry in Tokyo, England and Australia. She met Masumi Jackson at an ikebana exhibition in Daimaru Melbourne with whom she then studied Ichiyo School Ikebana for 18 years until Masumi passed away in 2015. Naomi has been the head of Ichiyo School of Ikebana Melbourne Branch since 2013.

The Ichiyo School of Ikebana was founded in 1937 by Meikof and Ichiyo Kasuya.  They sought to create an original style of ikebana that was suitable for the modern lifestyle. 

The theme of Naomi's workshop was to make ikebana using vegetables. Flowers and branch materials could also be included.

Because she was using vegetables, Naomi conceptualised the  three ikebana arrangements she created as courses in a meal. The first ikebana, above, is the entree.

The second ikebana is the palate cleanser.

The largest ikebana, the third, is the main dish,

Below is the ikebana made by the members who attended the meeting.