Suburban flower artists show colors through ikebana
Ikebana means Japanese flower arranging. In the Chicago suburbs many people enjoy this historic art form whether or not they have a Japanese heritage or have traveled to Japan.
No matter what his or her background, each artist is part of a huge, international community connected with the island nation and its rich traditions and current tragedy.
Toshi Kolback of Lake in the Hills is a flight attendant who travels to Japan frequently. And Paula Danoff of Winnetka started studying ikebana when she lived in Japan years ago. Now she chairs the show that the Chicago chapter of Ikebana International will have at the Chicago Botanic Garden Saturday and Sunday, April 2 and 3.
Karen Madigan of Lincolnshire is an architect who has always loved flowers but has never been to Japan.
Jinhee Rii of Round Lake has a Korean background, but she likes Japanese style and enjoys working with Yaeko Baily of Glenview, a sensei or teacher of a more modern, less-rigid form of ikebana called Sogetsu, one of several schools or styles.
Ikebana uses empty space as a feature of its asymmetrical designs that have a harmonic, even mathematical, relationship with their containers. Its importance in Japan reflects the love for nature in that country.
“Sogetsu is more free,” said Baily. “Other schools have more strict rules.”
Other schools include ikenobo, ohara, chiko and saga goryu.
Baily usually purchases the plant materials for her classes, but she and the students will all go shopping together the day before the show.
“This is a time for them to express their feelings through flower arrangement,” she said.
And they will demonstrate how to create arrangements at the show because that, too, is part of their education.
Potters make special containers for ikebana, but these are not necessary, and Danoff has seen stunning arrangements in black dishes from Bed, Bath & Beyond and garbage cans from Crate & Barrel.
“I have made arrangements out of beer cans. It's the same principles — line, space, mass, colors,” she said. “Sometimes there are not any flowers, just stems or leaves or only branches. Each piece of plant material is individually selected.”
The temporary nature of the project is part of its appeal to Danoff.
“You can go and accomplish something within a couple hours and relax.”
But of course an artist always takes photos of the work.
Here's an ikebana secret: Yes, in most traditions the artists use kenzan or frogs — small spiky things that hide in the bottom of the container to hold the stems in position. Kolback has caused a stir at U.S. Customs when she has declared she is bringing back “frogs.”
Ikebana demonstrations and arrangements
<b>When:</b> 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 2, and Sunday, April 3.
<b>Who:</b> Chicago chapter of the International Ikebana Society
<b>Where:</b> Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe, a half mile east of the Edens Expressway (I-94)
<b>Admission:</b> Show is free with admission to the garden, which costs twenty dollars per car
<b>Information: </b>chicagobotanic.org, (847) 835-5440; or chicagoikebana.org