30TH SEPTEMBER, 2024

 

Hello all,

Lara Telford ran our recent Sogetsu workshop and she set the theme of 'Asymmetry'. Please go to Sogetsu Victoria  and click on Recent Workshops for more information and photographs of Lara's work as well as those of the members.

Mine is the arrangement, above. The dried material is from a xanthorrhoea  that had died and the camellia is Kamo Hon Ami. The asymmetry is quite obvious. However, Lara introduced a concept that we had not heard of before and that is 'Symmetrical Asymmetry'. I know, that sounds like an oxymoron but the way Lara explained it, it made sense. The arrangement is to have materials of equal size and volume on either side of the centre but the materials are to be different. I did not have materials for that kind of arrangement but I wanted to try it when I got home, hence the arrangement, below. I used magnolia soulangeana and loquat branches and some alstroemeria psittacina leaves in a self made container.

A month later, I set this theme to my advanced students. After a few protests and some grumbling, they managed quite well.

In my arrangement for the lesson I used umbrella grass with trimmed leaves, green goddess lilies and a sprig of Japanese flowering apricot in a ceramic container. 

Jenny used arum lilies and Japanese maple in a triangular, ceramic container.          

Lucy used a fan palm and a monstera deliciosa leaf in a strong nageire container. The vibrant colour of the two stems of clivias balanced the strength of the leaves and container.

Shaneen mixed exotics with native in this arrangement - cherry blossoms on one side and callistemon on the other. The bluebells added an accent of colour.

 Vicky used kiwi vine, green goddess lilies and one bluebell.

Nicole's arum lilies and leaves created the symmetrical asymmetry and she added a sprig of Dusty Miller (Jacobaea maritima) in a ceramic suiban.

Mary used a tsubo vase into which she placed a confer branch on one side and a philodendron that was trimmed on the other. Both materials were very strong and the iris japonica added lightness.

Lei's class theme was 'Preparing for a Future Exhibition'. In a round,metal container she placed leucadendrons, following the curve of the container and cymbidium orchids.

Dianne's class theme was 'Vines'. She used wisteria and clematis for the vines and the most magnificent magnolia for the colour accent.

Bye for now,

Emily