WORKSHOPS in OTTAWA

On Saturday of last weekend I gave two workshops that had been previously arranged by the Ottawa Branch of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana. 

The theme of the first workshop, set by the Branch Committee, was Book 5 Lesson 7 'Composition Using Unconventional Materials'. The focus of the exercise is use of non-plant materials '...to explore a composition which cannot be made in an ordinary arrangement...' with plant materials. The same materials were provided for each participant; a rolled sheet of cork 
60cm x 30cm and a 100cm length of rather stiff, silver coloured, artist's wire. I thought the choice of materials, by the Branch committee, was good for the exercise as both the flat sheets and the wire had qualities unlike the botanical materials usually used in ikebana. 

This is my  demonstration example as I prepared it on the day before the workshop. My thinking was to use cones as an interesting geometric form that could stand without other support. My fantasy was to be able to have at least one standing on its point. However, the cork sheet started to crumble when it was tightly curved. So I ended up supporting it with a loop of the wire.

Rather than spend a lot of time fiddling around demonstrating fixing the materials, I re-assembled the 'sculpture' I had created. I then spoke about the importance of this and similar exercises in the Sogetsu curriculum that encourage us to experience other forms of the plastic arts. Such experiences, often outside our 'comfort zone', expose us to design ideas independent of the constraints of botanical materials. These experiences then feed back into our ikebana, perhaps unconsciously. It is worth remembering that Sofu Teshigahara sculpted in wood, stone and metal, and was an accomplished calligrapher and ceramicist.

Below are sculptures created by some of the participants in the morning workshop. I apologise for not having recorded the names of their creators.

  

  

  

This photo shows a general view of the room and the participants at work during the second session. The theme was to make an ikebana arrangement 'Complementing a work of Art'. Unfortunately I was not able to photograph any of the afternoon work.

The following day, with our hosts Leonora and Richard and some other friends, we enjoyed a meal and an ikebana activity at the country home of the ceramicist and ikebanist Janet Keefe. Photos next week.

After a further three days in Ottawa we then travelled to Montreal where we spent Thursday and Friday.

Greetings from Christopher
1st September 2018

(Congratulations to Colin and Tony on their marriage today.)