Ikenobo Ikebana floral art on display at Porter Library

A Shoka Shimputai Futakabuike arrangement of Japanese floral art, displayed at the Ikenobo Ikebana Society, Cleveland Chapter's exhibit last month. The chapter will host a show at Porter Library July 15-16. Photo by Barbara Geisinger

The Ikenobo Ikebana Society, Cleveland Chapter, is presenting an exhibit at Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, on Friday and Saturday, July 15-16. The exhibit can be viewed during regular library hours. It will be located in the Porter meeting room.

The Cleveland chapter of this Japanese floral art society was established in 1982 with Dorothy Kansaki as president. This exhibit is our way to honor our founder, Mrs. Kansaki, and to celebrate our 34th anniversary. We welcome anyone interested in learning the oldest School of Ikebana (522 years) to join our society. Since Mrs. Kansaki's passing, Linda Kay Johnson has been president. Classes are taught at Linda's home in Westlake, generally the third Saturday of each month, March through December. A two-day workshop is scheduled once a year with an Ikenobo professor from Kyoto, Japan.

For an explanation of Ikenobo, here are excerpts from "Ikenobo Origin of Ikebana," Ikenobo Ikebana Society, headquartered Nakakyo, Kyoto, Japan.

"The history of Ikenobo is the history of Ikebana. Ikenobo's history encompasses both the traditional and the modern, the two continually interacting to encourage new development in today's Ikebana. People in every era have loved flowers, but our predecessors in Ikebana felt that flowers were not only beautiful but that they could reflect the passing of time and the feelings in their own hearts.

"Rather than simply re-create the shape a plant has in nature, we create with branches, leaves, and flowers a new form which holds our impression of a plant's beauty as well as the mark of our own spirit. Ikebana should also suggest the forces of nature with which plants live in harmony – branches bent by winter winds ... a leaf half-eaten by insects. Like a poem or painting made with flowers, Ikenobo's Ikebana expresses both the beauty of flowers and the beauty of longing in our own hearts.

"Ikenobo's spirit has spread not only in Japan but throughout the world. It is our deepest hope that the beauty of Ikenobo will increasingly serve as a way of drawing the world's people together."

For more information about the exhibit, call Linda at 440-864-6418.

Barbara Geisinger

Gardener, floral designer, member of Ikenobo Ikebana Society, Cleveland Chapter, Member of North Olmsted Garden Club, and member of West Shore Antique & History Group

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Volume 8, Issue 13, Posted 9:27 AM, 07.06.2016