© Shuji IkedaThis week I signed up to attend Ikenobo Ikebana workshops and a Sogetsu Ikebana demonstration . The two workshops are sponsored by Ikebana International Washington, DC Chapter #1 on Saturday, October 17, 2009 featuring Mr. Shuji Ikeda, Sokakyo Professor with the Ikenobo School of Ikebana. Details and registration are available on the Washington,DC Chapter #1 link above. After the workshops I will be going to see a demonstration by Ms. Soho Sakai, Riji of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana. The workshop is part of the World Association of Flower Arrangers 2009 Excursion Botanicus, a ten-day multi-state Seminar. The cost of Ms. Sakai's demonstration is $50, the event is at the L'EnfantPlaza Hotel in Washington,DC and it is open to the public . More information on tickets is at WAFA's website.
So this brings me to a question I have been pondering, and also asking for opinions on: Is it OK to study more than one school of ikebana? I know that you should not do more than one at the same time, but after you finish the curriculum for one school do you think studying another school is a good idea? I'd really like for your vote in the poll below, and also for some comments and thoughts on your opinion or your experience with studying with more that one school of ikebana.
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2 comments:
Pay attention to the different techniques from different schools, not necessary other schools philosophy.
A few years ago, I would say yes to study two or more different schools. Not now, especially I gain more confidence in Sogetsu ikebana.
First, Sogetsu really covers every styles.
I like Ohara's landscape arrangement. With Shin, Soe, and Hikae in mind, massing the lines to create movements, and pay attention to naturalistic color combination, it's not that difficult, or different from our schools approach.
I also like Ichiyo's moribana. But we have our own theme of Kensan Nashi (without kensan). It helps to study their approach, but not the whole school's philosophy.
You can spend your whole life to study ikenobo in order to make the most beautiful and the perfect rika. It becomes crafts. Ikebana becomes craftsmanship. Nothing wrong with that, but definitely not the reason I study ikebana for.
I feel study other arts help a lot to our creativity and sensitivity more than spending time studying other schools. Sculpture, ceramics are two disciplines I'm currently studying. That's my preference. I make my own containers, which draws inspiration from ikebana.
Hiroshi was a movie director, oil painter, scupltor, ceramic artist, calligrapher, stage designer, environmental designer/installation artist, and ikebana artist.
Thanks Ping Wei, I really appreciate your comments. I think it does come down to taking bits and pieces of other schools and not their philosophy as a whole, perhaps taking a part of a school you are drawn to and gleaning what you can use. Studying other art disciplines is very important also. I did try some ceramics and sculpture, and I need to return to those again for further studies. Maybe I'll even try something new like glass.
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