Contemporary Craft will host "Sogetsu Ikebana: Fundamentals & Techniques with Sogetsu Pittsburgh" on October 5, part of the 芸［Gei] : The Beauty of Ephemeral and Eternal exhibition running September 13, 2024 through January 18, 2025.
Create your own ikebana arrangement with the guidance of Sogetsu Pittsburgh.3-Hour Workshop
Date: Saturday, October 5, 2024
Time: 10am-1pm
Description: Led by Sogetsu Pittsburgh’s founder and principal teachers Reiko Nakajima and Atsumi Sewell, this session will include an introduction to the modern Sogetsu school of Ikebana, a demonstration of the process and key techniques of crafting a basic ikebana arrangement, followed by participants creating their own arrangements with guided instruction and one-on-one feedback.
Tuition: $55 + $50 materials fee
Materials: All materials will be provided and the practice Ikebana supplies are yours to keep!
More information and a registration link is available via the Contemporary Craft's event page.
Sogetsu Pittsburgh is a collective of ikebana practitioners dedicated to studying and sharing the modern art of Sogetsu ikebana through workshops, special projects and exhibitions. The group, founded in 1990 by Reiko Nakajima and Joan Walter, introduces the practice to the public and community through collaborations with various organizations and artists. Past partners have included the Carnegie Museum of Art, Phipps Conservatory, the Andy Warhol Museum, the Cleveland Botanical Garden, Ohio University Eastern and more. Sogetsu Pittsburgh was a 2023 Fallingwater Institute Artist-in-Residence, with members preseting Elements of Balance, a curated installation throughout the historic house, terraces and grounds. The collective continues to be led by Nakajima and Atsumi Sewell as principal instructors and is active with Ikebana International Pittsburgh Chapter #25, established in 1959 by Kay McKenna of Greensburg, cultivating the appreciation of ikebana in the region. Sogetsu is a school of ikebana founded in Japan in 1927 by artist Sofu Teshigahara on the premise that traditional ikebana – originally intended for alters, the tokonoma and tea ceremonies – could be expanded and be created “anytime, anywhere, by anyone.” Sogetsu incorporates influences including modern sculpture, abstract art, architecture, and design while honoring custom and particular techniques.
Contemporary Craft is located at 5645 Butler St. in Lawrenceville (map).