Online Image Galleries of Floral Art

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CHR

CHR

Design matters
Nov 28, 2002
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Ran across a couple image galleries of floral art folks might enjoy...

A collection of photographs from this year's San Francisco Bouquets to Art where local designers are invited to interpret paintings and sculpture from the exhibits at the de Young Museum.

A Flash gallery of exhibition quality floral designs from the Swiss branch of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana. Smaller in scale, the members' gallery is lovely as well.

I think of these kinds of sites as 'instant energy' because they're so inspiring.

If you come across any cool galleries, please post the links.
 
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Very cool Cathy! TY! *hug*
 
Awe inspiring!
 
Thanks!

Your thoughtfulness in posting the pictures of SOGETSU IN SWITZERLAND brought back lots of pleasant memories! Akiko has her MASTER TEACHER'S DEGREE from the SOGETSU SCHOOL hanging in our shop! I remember her arrangement of 55 gallon drums she had created an explosion inside of to show her interpretation of the effects of war! The display was done in the largest department store in NAHA OKINAWA in the mid 1960's. Also remember being in the audience somewhere, I think maybe San Diego and watching your showman husband build a huge arrangement by running down the aisles and stabbing the flowers into his creation! A scene I'll never forget, I think it was the mid 70's.
 
I wonder why more florists are not offering Ikebana style arranging in this country. While some of the authentic Ikebana arrangements (e.g., the ones in a shallow dish with Kenzan in it) might be difficult to deliver, the arrangement mechanics can be modified to make them deliverable.
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Loss of passion for some.
 
Dazeal said:
Loss of passion for some.
Click to expand...

A lot of things popular in Japan, things that used to be seen too exotic, have eventually become "American." If Sushi/Ninja/Anime worked, why not Ikebana? Anyway we are trying to make Ikebana sellable here; we haven't had much success yet (availability of nice, affordable containers are one of the many practical problems), but we will continue to try.
 
Goldy, I agree. My style of design is like Ikebana/Modern mixed. I am studying the 3 schools of Ikebana and the older I get the more minimalist I become.

Although I can't sell this look to the every day buyer, but for weddings and art galleries, I can.

In fact a highlight of my career was on Tuesday when this gallery: http://www.davisandcline.com/ asked if I would do a weekly design and of course, after I calmed myself, I said yes. My first design was rejected because I wanted my piece to be the art. They loved it, but said it takes away from the $80,000 pieces they need to sell. lol - I agreed. It was a design with Green Goddess Callas curved up from one side and shooting out the other in a clean line tear drop vase. Inside was a red lined tea leaf wrapped under water and another shooting out the back.

I'll try to get some pics next time.
 
goldfish said:
I wonder why more florists are not offering Ikebana style arranging in this country.
Click to expand...
Because they don't normally offer linear or minimalist designs.

Because customers don't know our stores can do that kind of work. Unless we develop a reputation for the style and promote it in print and online, how would they?

Because chop and drop designers don't execute linear work well. The fewer the elements, the more important material selection, technical execution and perfection of placement. There's a whole generation of designers that don't even know how to work well in foam, let alone a kenzan. ;)

May not be a loss of passion but a lack of experience or a supportive environment.

Of course, each school of Ikebana is quite different. Westerners (consumers and most florists) tend to think of the classic Ikenobo placements - shin, soe and tai - and not the expressive, interpretive forms of Ohara or Sogetsu.

I have a few more links to Ikebana sites you might enjoy:
http://www.ikebanahq.org/
http://www.ikenobo.jp/english/index.html
http://www.nihonkoryu.org/nihonkoryu/contents-e.html
http://www.sogetsu.or.jp/english/index.html
http://www.sogetsu-na.com/html/sogetsu_works.html
 
CHR said:
http://www.ikebanahq.org/
http://www.ikenobo.jp/english/index.html
http://www.nihonkoryu.org/nihonkoryu/contents-e.html
http://www.sogetsu.or.jp/english/index.html
http://www.sogetsu-na.com/html/sogetsu_works.html
Click to expand...

Thanks Cathy. We really, really want to incorporate Ikebana elements into our design, in part to dintinguish our little store from our competitors (including 1800, FTD, and the like). Also because of personal agenda, as I originally came from Japan and this particular artisry is something I always admired. My mother and grandmother practiced it.

We have been sending out free Ikebana-ish arrangements to local businesses and people seem to like them. We still have a difficulty finding the Ikebana containers that are (1) affordable and (2) suitable for delivery. Actually we ended up establishing an import company, so that we can import suitable containers direct from China.

Anyway, we are working on it. I don't know how long it takes to make Ikebana arrangements a commercial success, but at least it's a lot more fun to initiate something new than keep doing the "old stuff."
 
I also find that when I design in this way, I have to do it onsite and they don't travel well.

Thanks for the links Cathy!
 
I know this is an older thread, but thank you so much for starting it! I sooo needed to see some delicious Ikebana today.

My soul thanks you!!
 
Luckily, I have had the good fortune to so some ikebana study and to have worked with some great teachers of ikebana over the years. One of the most fun people to work with who does ikebana is Jackie Headecker AIFD. She did a program one time for us in SC. Soooo much information and soo much fun.

Also, I have an old issue of PFD that was all about ikebana. Incorporating the techniques, stem placements, and the like into modern american design is not hard.
Granted, it may not be true ikebana, but the overall concepts translate well into contemporary style design.
 
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