MARCH MEETING

The March meeting marked the 65th anniversary of the Melbourne Chapter of Ikebana International. As has become our custom, a birthday cake was made by Marjorie Campkin-Smith.

The cake was cut by Mrs Shimida (right), the Co-patron of the Chapter with her husband the Consul-General of Japan. In the centre is Elizabeth Angell, the 16^th President of I.I. Melbourne, and on the left Marjorie Campkin-Smith, the 23rd President.

The Guest speaker at the meeting was Anna Konecny, who has become an expert in the art of making Mizuhiki jewellery as well as other decorative forms. 

Anna has been making Japanese Washi paper for a long time but only in recent years has she developed a strong interest in making Mizuhiki jewellery which has gained wide attention. Mizuhiki is made from tightly wound Washi paper. 

At the meeting she showed examples of her work and taught the members how to make a plum flower with Mizuhiki.

This Omukaebana, welcoming ikebana, was created by Chieko Yazaki using bare branches, fresh pine, a pine cone and two elaborate Mizuhiki knots. 

Below are ikebana arrangements made by some of the members present at the meeting.

Yuko Asano

Emily Karanikolopoulos

Betty  Karanikolopoulos

Midori Nakajima

Karen Thode

Wendy Sun

Akemi Suzuki

Nobuko Kobayashi

Beverley Webster

Helen Marriott

Reiko Ito

FEBRUARY MEETING. VALE ROSEMARY FARRELLY

 

The first meeting of this year was held on Saturday 10th February and attended by 26 members.

 

The guest speaker was Naoko Goghlan, a Japanese born and trained potter. Naoko gave a brief historical overview of the evolution of pottery in Japan dating back to the Jomon Period 14,000 - 300 BCE. She showed a video of herself preparing clay and then throwing a vessel on a wheel. She also spoke about her own work showing some of her signature forms and glazes she has developed, (seen in the photo above). Naoko also spoke about the classes she conducts in her Eltham studio. 

Following Naoko's presentation, an ikebana demonstration was given by Sogetsu teacher, Emily Karanikolopoulos. She arranged ikebana in vases that she had made herself some years ago.

This first ikebana was insitu when members arrived, a "Welcoming Flower" ikebana near the hall entrance.

This vessel was inspired by pottery created by Hiroshi Teshigahara, the third Iemoto of the Sogetsu School. One branch with an apple still attached and a single Hydrangea head.

This vessel is triangular but shown side-on. A variegated New Zealand Flax leaf and a single sunflower.

An unusual bottle-shaped vessel with a painted structure made from chopsticks. Two stems of Crucifix orchid and a single leaf of New Zealand Flax.

The following images are of ikebana made by the members present.

Jacqueline Boyce

Chieko Yazaki

Karen Thode

Thea Sartori

Swann Lam

Margaret Leung

Christopher James

Akemi Suzuki

Julie Ireland

Lucy Papas

Rosemary Hordern

Sally Wilkinson. In memory of Rosemary Farrelly, a long standing Ohara teacher and member of the Melbourne Chapter. Rosemary died peacefully at home at the age of 97 on 24th January.

NOVEMBER MEETING

 

The final meeting of the Chapter for 2023 was held on the 14th November and attended by 29 members and two visitors. We were also pleased to welcome our patron Mrs Shimada, the wife of the Consul General of Japan.

The guest speaker was Dr Miriam Ford the President of the Australian Plants Society Victoria.

Dr Ford gave a highly informative presentation about Australian native plants and the specialist nurseries that grow them as well as some florists that stock them. She also recommended visiting the Cranbourne, Melton and Kawara (Kalorama) Botanical Gardens, as well as the Marilyn Sprague garden (Manangatan) and the Philip Johnson garden in (Olinda). The latter two being private gardens.  Her presentation also covered vulnerable and endangered species.

The demonstration at the meeting...

...was given by Akemi Suzuki, a Sogetsu teacher, who made two arrangements using some Australian native materials.

The native material featured in her first ikebana was some branches of Eucalyptus. To these she added two exotic, pink Anthuriums.

Her second ikebana featured long branches of Geraldton Wax flower which comes from Western Australia. To this material she added a central focus of Peony buds.

Below are ikebana arrangements made by some members at the meeting.

Betty Karanikolopoulos

Chieko Yazaki

Emily Karanikolopoulos

Helen Marriot

Jenny Loo

Karen Thode

Lara Telford

Lucy Papas

Margaret Leung

Thea Sartori. 

Sorry, Ikebanist not identified.  (Ed.)