MASTERCLASS #34

 

Hello all,

At our recent masterclass I threw the attendees into the proverbial deep end. I provided each of them with an entire plant of agave. Some were larger than others but they were each a full plant. 

I love working with agave and have used it in many different ways in the past. In my early years of ikebana, I used to travel quite a distance to help myself to a large clump that was growing by the side of the road. More recently, having planted some in my garden, I have plenty of the variegated type in three, large clumps. Of course, I realise now, that you CAN have too much of a good thing and I had to do a serious cull. Hence the abundance of material for our class. 

Below are two photographs of examples of the plants I provided. There are challenges with using this material, the principle one being the weight. It is, also, quite soft, so that mechanics like wiring are not very successful. Also, using a kenzan is not an option.

I, also, provided each participant with six stems of umbrella grass. They were required to use some or all with their arrangement.

In my arrangement at the top of this post I used a vertical fixture to secure the plant on top of this vase. I chose the vase because of its height and because it has a wide base which gives it stability. Sam calls it my octopus arrangement.

Lei used only two of the leaves from her plant and, try as she might, could not use the umbrella grass successfully. Even though it was a requirement to use it, I agreed that she should not, as the arrangement was complete as it was and anything added to it would be mere decoration.

Cymbie had a similar idea to me but she did not copy me, as mine was hidden in another room for just that reason. I revealed mine at the end of the lesson.

Bredenia had to balance the heavy plant upright in a reconstituted stone container. She used a thick skewer through the plant and wedged it as a horizontal fixture.

Christine chose a very heavy container made of Mexican onyx to match the colour on some of the leaves. From the umbrella grass she used only the seed heads.

Vicky trimmed her very big plant, heavily and balanced it on a large, platter shaped container. She created contrast and asymmetry with the use of triangles made from umbrella grass stems.

Lucy had the biggest plant of all and, she too, had to trim heavily. She chose a container with a split through the centre, into which she wedged the agave. She created a structure of small triangles with the umbrella grass stems, contrasting with the agave.

I made the arrangement, below, without the umbrella grass, before class. This is just me playing and trying new ways to use agave.

At the end of the class I had a large number of agave cuttings to dispose of. However, being the ikebana tragic that I am, I could not throw everything away. I used pieces of the 'heart' of the plant for the arrangement, below. The accompanying material is leafless wattle (acacia aphylla).

Because the agave in the arrangement, below, had been out of water for a number of days, it was soft and pliable allowing me to intertwine the pieces. I was quite happy with the arrangement as it was but, then, I wanted to see what it would look like with flowers, hence the second picture. I felt the arum lilies suited the agave in colour and style. I will let you decide which you prefer.

Bye for now,

Emily