March 4—8, 2010
Ikebana is the art of Japanese flower arranging and Sogetsu is just one of the many schools of Ikebana. They practice Ikebana for contemporary times. Sogetsu does not emulate nature; they encourage students to use lines, hues, and masses provided by nature to create their own interpretation.
For our Ikebana Show, Sogetsu members select works of art of all media by Art League and Torpedo Factory artists to create harmonious installations. The carefully crafted compositions of art and nature create a peaceful and reflective environment in the gallery. A Sogetsu member is on hand in the gallery at all times, watering the arrangements as needed and answering questions about their art form. This dynamic, interactive collaboration brings fresh energy to The Art League Gallery. This year, our gallery hosted the Ikebana Show in conjunction with 100.Tea.Bowls, an exhibit featuring the ceramic works of Art League artists and artists of the Torpedo Factory.
This exhibit included several events:
Flower arranging demonstration: Saturday, March 6, 1:00 pm
Japanese Tea Ceremony and discussion of Chado, the Japanese way of tea, with Stephen di Girolamo of the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution: Sunday, March 7, 1:30 pm
Musical Performances by the Washington Toho Koto Society, performed by Mrs. Kyoko Okamoto: Sunday, March 7, 3:00 pm