MASTERCLASS #24 - WISTERIA

 

Hello all,

At masterclass on Saturday I provided all the attendees with large, rather unruly pieces of wisteria but different accompanying materials. My wisteria had climbed a nearby loquat tree and was threatening to take over. I had employed a couple of young men to remove it from the tree but gave them strict instructions to keep it intact. Once on the ground, it took a Herculean effort for me to disentangle it and cut it into manageable pieces. I had placed the pieces on the lawn because they didn't fit in the studio, from there the students took them and some of them worked on the wisteria, outside before coming in.

I had not prepared an arrangement before the class but, when I was collecting the leftover pieces from the lawn I couldn't resist using some myself. What was left were the thicker, less twisted pieces of wisteria. I made the structure, above and added the green goddess lilies following the same lines.

Cymbie used one of my self made containers with holes all around. She threaded the wisteria through some of the holes, creating an interesting space. The jonquil leaves followed the line of the wisteria and the flowers created a very fragrant mass.

Leigh used a ceramic container which has a handle made of twisted wisteria. She created interesting spaces by adding to that wisteria. The curculigo leaves added contrast and the camellia reticulata a focal point.

Jenny also used one of my self made containers, quite a large one in fact and created a network of irregular sized spaces with the wisteria. The photograph makes the arrangement look flat, when, in fact, it wasn't. Arum lilies and monstera deliciosa leaves completed the arrangement.
 

Akemi chose a very interesting but challenging container, which comprised of a flat plate with irregular holes placed over a large bowl. In order to secure the wisteria upright, quite a lot of mechanics had to be employed between the plate and the bowl. The New Zealand flax continued the lines of the wisteria and the Brushfield's yellow camellia created an informal mass.

Christine's piece of wisteria lent itself to going high. She chose a tall, glass vase and spent some time securing the wisteria in position. She opted not to use the gymea leaves that were part of her materials but placed only two green goddess lilies vertically, contrasting with the curves of the wisteria.

Lucy made a swirl of circles, which she secured onto a metallic vase. Two strelitzia reginae leaves were fed through the 'circles' and an oriental lily flower and buds were peeking from behind.

Vicky used another of my self made containers and, although she was a little disappointed with the material that was allotted to her, she made a very charming arrangement with the pale green banksia flowers and leaves with a silvery back. 

It was one of our most challenging Masterclasses but, when we managed to tame the unruly wisteria, we had a real sense of achievement and satisfaction.

Bye for now,

Emily