Post apocalyptic scene

Hello all,

My goodness, it's been an unbelievably busy time, ikebana-wise and I am utterly worn out. I've exhibited at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) eleven times so far and, each time, I try to come up with something I haven't done before. There's a great deal of work involved and I had intended to give it a miss this year, however, my cousin Nick offered me a large perspex dome because he didn't know what to do with it and, of course, I jumped at the offer.

I knew I would use it at MIFGS and it wasn't long before I came up with the idea of depicting a post apocalyptic scene, with vibrant life under the dome but devastation all around. This was a very conceptual work and not at all Ikebana but I wanted to make an environmental statement.

Sadly, the dome was very reflective, making it difficult to photograph, so at the end of the show, I took a photo of the interior without the dome.

On the right hand side I had a running waterfall over rocks into a pond but, again, it didn't photograph well.

At the same time, our Ikebana International Melbourne Chapter is celebrating its 60th anniversary with many events planned. Firstly, we had the privilege of the Iemoto (Head of School) of Ichiyo School,  visiting us and making a large display at MIFGS with displays by the other four schools on either side. The exhibit was awarded a bronze medal. The theme was 'Green Bamboo and Autumn'.

Below are the photographs of the exhibits taken separately because it was impossible to photograph the whole display due to its size.

Ichiyo School exhibit

Sogetsu School exhibit

Ikenobo School exhibit

Ohara School exhibit

Shogetsudokoryu School exhibit

A luncheon was organised for our members with a demonstration by the Iemoto last Thursday. Mr Naohiro Kasuya chose the column in the centre of the room, around which he created an installation without the use of mechanics such as wire screws etc.

Mr Naohiro Kasuya

The table arrangements for the luncheon were made by volunteer members and I was one of them. An oval shaped ceramic bowl was given to each of us and we were asked to make a table arrangement that would, then, be won by one of the guests at each table.

There were many considerations for making this arrangement - it had to be low so as not to obstruct the guests' view of each other, it was to be viewed from all sides, it had to be without a kenzan and it had to be portable - both by us to the venue and by the winners to take home.

Below are two views of my arrangement. I used green bamboo to create a structure that could stand independently over the bowl, onto which I wired the swan flowers and aspidistra leaves. The winner seemed very pleased.

But wait, there's more!

Last Saturday, Mr Kasuya conducted a workshop on the theme 'No Kenzan' arrangement in a suiban, in the Ichiyo school style. We have the same theme in the Sogetsu school but the principles are very different. I found it a very interesting and learning experience.

We all had four stems of tortured willow to create a base in the suiban, which would support subsequent branches and/or flowers. Then we could choose a small bunch of foliage material and a small bunch of flowers.

Mr Kasuya with his example

Lucy with her arrangement

My arrangement at the workshop

But wait again, there's even more!

On Sunday, the last day of the show, members of the five different schools demonstrated on the main stage. I was the Sogetsu demonstrator with my trusty assistant, Lucy. We were the opening act.

Julie Ireland, our tireless events coordinator, suggested we make one arrangement that non ikebana members of the audience could go home and make themselves. So, I chose a very simple glass vase, two mother-in-law tongues and a small tamarilo to show that we don't need a fancy container or expensive flowers to create something interesting. That's the first photograph, below.

For my second arrangement, I chose the theme from Book 5 - 'A Composition Expressing a Moovement. I used part of a large philodendron leaf and three long stemmed crucifix orchids (Supplied by Eugenia Chudacek) to depict 'Flight'

There were very bright screens behind the stage, which made taking good photographs impossible. Below are the best of a bad lot of me and Lucy demonstrating.

On that Sunday evening we had to take down our exhibits. My poor, long suffering husband, Sam arrived with a borrowed ute to take everything back home. Carrying the dome to the Exhibition Buildings and then back home was a major challenge. It is 1.8 metres in diameter, making it too wide for the ute tray. Securing it took some effort and ingenuity but we did it and now it's sitting on my lawn. Anyone want to buy a large perspex dome?

And last but by no means least, my grandson's basketball team won their championship on Saturday and Xavier was named 'Best Team Player'. Could Yiayia be any more proud?

OK! I'm going to bed now. I'll write about class on my next post. Thank you for staying to the end.

Bye for now,
Emily