HAIKU - - - - - 'POETICAL IKEBANA'

At the first meeting of the Chapter on 9th February 2016 a presentation was made by three members whose ikebana had been selected for the book 'Poetical Ikebana', that was published last year. The book featured works by ikebanists from all around the world. The ikebana was created in response to Haiku that had been circulated in advance. We were all pleased that one of our own members was chosen to have her work on the front cover of the book.

Here is the book and Robyn Unglik's recreation of her ikebana.  Below is the haiku:

He doesn't loosen

although shaken up by the wind

the last apple   

     

Philip Keon also recreated his work and showed the relevant page of the book. Below is the haiku:

First snow

how quiet do the white flakes

whirl downwards 

In the photo above Margaret Wilson gave a demonstration in which she created a new ikebana work in response to the same haiku she had chosen in the book.

    

The finished work and below the haiku:

Still the red sun
is glowing pitiless

but the autumn wind rustles 

At the meeting were 11 members of the Melbourne Chapter of Ikebana International, all of whom had their work represented in the book.

Left to right: Betty Karanikolopoulos, Toula Karanikolopoulos, Eugenia Chudacek, Philip Keon, Helen Novic, Robyn Unglik, Emily Karanikolopoulos, Theresa Feile, Margaret Wilson.

In front: Christopher James and Lara Telford.

Below are other ikebana arrangements made by members on the day of the meeting, each one in response to a haiku poem.

Elishia Zhang

Pat Hetrel

 Betty Karanikolopoulos

 Toula Karanikolopoulos

Lee Johnstone

Chieko Yazaki

Click on the blue text to return to Ikebana International Melbourne home page.

HAIKU

At the November meeting our guest speaker was Dr Hironobu Kitaoji, Director of Japan Seminar House. 

He spoke about various aspects of the haiku poetry form and its evolution from the 12th to the 19th century. This included the observation that as art forms both haiku and ikebana were indicating something beyond what was immediately present in the work itself. He also pointed out that the reader of haiku was able to discover something new, by the poet shifting the point of view in the second part of the poem.

By illustration he proposed such subtle interpretations as the idea that a storm wind was chasing flying blossoms rather than causing the blossoms to scatter.

"chiru hana o   iokaketeyuku   arashi kana"

"Oh, the storm! Chasing the scattering blossoms"

Fujiwara no Sadaie, 1162 - 1241

In addition Dr Kitaoji spoke warmly about the late Norman Sparnon. He said that in the aftermath of WWII Norman's eyes were opened with wonder when the people of Tokyo came in huge numbers to look at the beauty of an ikebana exhibition even though they were surrounded by the devastation of the city.

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Following the guest speaker, a demonstration was given by Keiko Mii, of the Ohara School. 

Keiko said:    My haiku is Matuo Basho's (1644-1694)

あじさいや かたびらどきの うすあさぎ
紫陽花や 帷子時の 薄浅黄

Ajisai ya    Katabira doki no    Usu asagi 

Hydrangeaー 
        light blue in 
                   hemp kimono

Katabira (帷子) in this haiku is a hemp kimono for summer wear, whose colour is pale blue, like that of Hydrangea.

  Below are some ikebana made by members at the meeting.

Chieko Yazaki

Oh what a glorious sunlight, shining over the young green leaves in the Nikko mountain.                   

                                                          Matsuo Basho

Eiko Roskam 

Sitting on open veranda

facing new bamboos

how much I miss my late mother.

                                                             Hakyou  Ishida

Sally Wilkinson

Lighting one candle

With another candle

Spring evening                                        

  Yosa Buson

Additional photos of ikebana created at the meeting.

I would also like to draw your attention to the launch of I.I. Melbourne Chapter's new website. The address is: www.ikebanainternationalmelbourne.com 

Please check it out and save the address to your 'favourites'                                       

Christopher James
webmanager

                

NATIVE FLORA

The theme of the meeting on Tuesday was 'Let's Go Native', focussing on the wealth of Australian indigenous plants. Our guest speaker was Mr Barrie Gallacher, a 'Garden Ambassador' and volunteer guide at the Royal Botanic Garden, Cranbourne in Melbourne's outer east. Mr Gallacher gave an excellent virtual tour of the garden using a slideshow. In the opinion of a number of I.I. members at the meeting, this garden is well worth a visit for its presentation of flora from the great range of the diverse botanical environments in Australia.

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Emily Karanikolopoulos, Sogetsu, gave a demonstration of a freestyle ikebana using: Gymea lily leaves, 'spear' grass and red callistemon. 

Above is her completed arrangement. Below are photos of a number arrangements setup by members using Australian native materials.

Christopher James: Luecophyta brownii and Lepidosperma gladiatum.

Robyn Unglik: Callistemon and red Eucalyptus flowers.

Thea Sartori: Eucalyptus macrocarpa.

Marcia Lamrock: Banksia spinulosa.

Rosemary Horden: Leptospermum continentale, Actinotus helianthi and a helichrysum. 

Elizabeth Angell: Casurina stricta, red Calistemon and Eucalyptus caesia seed pods.

Leonora Duffield: an I.I. member from Ottawa, Eucalyptus lehmannii.

Eleanor Heath: also from Ottawa, used Leptospermun continental and Waratah.

Nicole McDonald: Eucalyptus bark and Callistemon.

Marjorie Campkin-Smith: Waratah and the fruiting branch of a palm.