The Laurel of Asheville‘s Community Events Calendar
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Fall for Ikebana: Autumn Splendor
September 23 - September 24
Free with admission to arboretum
IKEBANA INTERNATIONAL
Asheville Chapter #74
PRESS RELEASE CONTACT: Sue Grier, Exhibition Chair
For Immediate Release sue.grier.pottery@gmail.com www.ikebanaasheville.org
September 23-24, 2023
IKEBANA EXHIBITION & DEMONSTRATION at the NC ARBORETUM
Held in the Education Center at the N C Arboretum
100 Fredrick Law Olmsted Way Asheville, NC 28806
Free to the public after Arboretum entrance fee of $20 (free for current NC Arboretum Members)
September 23, Saturday, 9 am– 5 pm
September 24, Sunday, 9 am– 4 pm
Ikebana International, Asheville Chapter 74, is hosting an ikebana exhibition September 23-24 at the NC Arboretum. There will be ikebana designs for viewing throughout the weekend and members will be available to explain ikebana flower arranging techniques and materials. The exhibition will feature ikebana designs from the four main schools. There will be table-top designs, pedestal designs and floor/installation designs to show a full range of how ikebana can be displayed.
Ikebana is more than simply putting flowers in a container. It is a 600-year-old disciplined art form in which the arrangement is a living artistic expression. Nature is always changing, plants grow and put forth leaves, flowers bloom, and berries are borne according to the seasons. With stunning simplicity ikebana is a reflection of this dynamic life. One begins the study of ikebana by adhering strictly to the techniques of a chosen school and with practice, one’s creativity in this art form is developed. WNC provides a bounty of natural materials for this natural art.
There are many dimensions to ikebana and it is in the grounding of nature and personal expression that ikebana was used as a meditation technique by the Samurai warriors to still their minds on the battlefield prior to battle. A quiet mind delighted by beauty is still desirable in our hectic contemporary world.
Classes are available in the Asheville area for the following “schools” of Ikebana: Ichiyo is a contemporary style that harmonizes with the various spaces in our living environment. Ikenobo, officially recognized as the oldest school, offers the most traditional style of Japanese flower arranging. The Ohara School emphasizes the landscaped environment with the seasonal use of branch and flower material. Sogetsu, sculptural in form and intent, promotes free style and abstract designs.
The Asheville Chapter of Ikebana International (chartered in 1965) presents a program on ikebana flower design and/or Japanese culture on the fourth Tuesday of every month, February through October. The meetings are typically held at the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. They are FREE and open to the public. Presentations include flower demonstrations and cultural programs featuring such topics as diverse as using natural plant material, rocks and even weeds in designs.
Membership is $75 per year and provides monthly chapter meetings, copies of Ikebana International magazine, monthly online newsletter, invitations to events, international newsletters, regional conferences, and world conventions. The chapter celebrates the art with exhibitions throughout the year including Art in Bloom at Black Mountain Center for the Arts on June 16 & 17, 2023 and the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands Exhibition on July 20 – 23, 2023.
For more information on our programs, teachers and workshops, contact Candy Gallaher, Chapter President, candy.gallaher@gmail.com or www.ikebanaasheville.org
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