Flower Arranging
Ikebana as Sacred Path
Taught by Brooke Pohl, ikebana is a contemplative art of flower arrangement. Rooted in an ancient Japanese tradition, ikebana combines the beauty of flowers with one’s creativity to open a path to self discovery. It hones our patience, mindfulness, confidence and artistic instinct.
What sets ikebana apart from other art forms is that the artist creates with live material. To notice and expose the essence of a branch or flower is the art of joining nature with one’s heart and mind. Much of the practice and delight of ikebana is to collect materials from one’s environment and make a small expression with what one finds. The goal in making any ikebana arrangement is to find unity in all the parts, including the container, and allow the parts to harmonize and speak to each other as in a good conversation. If one “listens’, perhaps a viewer will “see” what the artist has to say.
We usually have ikebana arrangements at various locations within the Center when we put on events. These uplift the energy of whatever event we are hosting, by joining the energies of heaven and earth, mind and heart.
To learn more about Brooke and ikebana, refer to her website and facebook page. Here is a radiolex interview with Brooke: https://soundcloud.com/radiolex/lexington-art-throb-brooke-pohl
Upcoming Workshops and Classes
- The Art of Ikebana Workshop, September 24, 1-5pm
- Entering the World of Ikebana, a 2-hour class for beginners, October 8, 2-4pm
- Freestyle Ikebana, a 2-hour class for people with prior experience, (including the Oct 8 beginner’s class), October 15, 2-4pm
Below is a video of one of Brooke’s exhibits, which was Mill & Max’s first exhibit on the January Gallery Hop in 2015.
