Ikebana and us

There was lean attendance for this month's workshop. It was held at the Amethyst .  It was a freestyle workshop.  Many of the arrangements were done in the Amethyst's glass vases and basket containers, and the members left the arrangements behind for display at the flower shop.  The use of oasis in flat containers was a challenge to the flower artists, as we usually use kenzans, and a lot of its surface had to be covered with materials. That was a learning experience too. Sitalaksmi brought a new white jar shaped ceramic vase with an interesting design on its surface.  As usual, it was wonderful to see the members' enthusiam and interest to be working with flowers. -  Malathi

November 2011 Sogetsu Study Group workshop Sorry for the late report - it is a couple of months overdue, but the holiday festivities delayed the putting together of the report! As we look at Ikebana increasingly as an art form, we decided that it was time to understand and study other related concepts to enhance our compostions.  So, the workshop was dedicated to very simple aspects pf photographing Ikebana, and the elements to be taken care of. All of usare at the moment comfortable with point-and-shoot automatics, and/or our phone cameras.  So, this was not about shutterspeed and aperture so much as about light, background and composition. Here are some of the experiments of the study group members. Chitra used the plain white wall as background and experimented with square vs round placemats and the effect it has on the composition.  The photograph was taken with a flash, and this has thrown dark corners at the extremities of the picture. Prerana work...

(A report by Malathi sensei. Pictures from Chitra and Venkatesh. ) The Sogetsu Study Group decided to visit Coorg as their annual travel to some nature-spot. 8 members were able to take this trip,while the other members were commited to their family engagements. With Manasi's suggestion and Ambika's help via internet and email, " Kabbe Holidays" was chosen. Our trip begins On 24th we left on the Chennai-Mysore Shatabdi, alighted at Mysore and a taxi and Sitalaksmi's car were waiting for us, as well as Venkatesh who joined us from Tuticoron. After a small coffee break we set off by road. The highway was good till we took the turn towards Virajpet. We sighed at the thick forest on either side of the road, the mile long bamboo groves, and the signposts that read 'elephants crossway' further 'wild animals area'. Unfortunately we did not sight any wild animals on our drive. The main bungalow at Kabbe, with one room for guests. The cheerf...

At the Taj.  Ballroom. By Malathi sensei Taken with a mobile phone, so please forgive the quality. 

A photo a day We have a Facebook album where we will post a photo a day. Keep a watch!

Working with linear mass. Malathi sensei demonstrates with kora grass sticks and roses Prerana uses subabul pods and anthuriums Pushkala masses umbrella plant, and complements with colourful ixora Chitra complements the wall of bleached material with ixora and leaf Trishala highlights the design in her vase with tall carnations and slender bamboo Venkatesh draws focus to the Cale he found at the florist! Seethalakshmi highlights the space, as she masses up the red stalks Molly contrasts the blue of her vase with the pink of the flowers balanced by the massed lines

The flower shop! Dear members, Meenakshi Sarin, Prerana Mehta, Shobhaa Ramji and I visited the Bangalore Sogetsu Chapter on the 15th of September and a programme of interaction was organised. Upon our arrival in Bangalore, All 4 of us picked our flowers from a wholesale outlet on our way to Lal Bagh where we were to meet the Bangalore Chapter members.  I cannot convey to all of you the awe and joy at seeing the abundance of colourful flowers!  Not only were the buckets  full of colourful flowers, there were bunches on the floor waiting to be placed and another van of flowers was waiting outside to unload. You can imagine what a variety we had to choose from as they were half the price we pay for them herein Chennai! We did 4 free style arrangements. Meenu, using the coconuts with umbrella plants  jerberas Prerana wished her arrangement to be minimalistic and used dry bamboo and jerberas, Shobhaa used strong stems of heliconia with s...