AUTUMN NEWSLETTER #52 September, 2023
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Dear Members,
As we awaken to mornings that have a fresh crispness to the air, I hope that you are still able to enjoy the warmth of the afternoon sun as we transition into autumn.
Our busiest season was in the spring, with Sakura Days and our annual Spring Show. But this summer the VIA was also pleased to participate, as usual, at the Powell Street Festival. This year, we were fortunate enough to be able to utilize most of the space inside the Buddhist Temple for our displays. We also had three well attended demonstrations over the course of the weekend, which are always engaging and informative. The VIA is grateful for the continued partnership with the Powell Street Festival Society in order to educate and promote the Japanese cultural art of ikebana.
As our 2023 season winds down, we have been given the opportunity to teach a fall/winter workshop series in conjunction with the Consulate of Japan. For those unfamiliar, the “Touch of Japan” workshops collaborate with several elementary and high schools across the lower mainland. Instructors are given a modest budget and honorarium to provide basic ikebana instruction to a class of children on set dates throughout the semester. We have October 17, January 9 (tentatively filled), and February 6 open and in need of instructors. If you are interested, please contact me for more information.
In other news, I regret to inform you that our Vice President, Margaret Ng of Ikenobo, has stepped down from the executive. I will continue in my position for the 2024 season while our 2nd Vice, Yoko Masuda of Sogetsu, readies herself to take over the presidency in 2025. I would like to sincerely thank Margaret for her hard work and enthusiasm over the course of her term. We will truly miss having her as part of the executive committee and wish her the best in her health and happiness.
Margaret’s resignation will leave a vacancy for 2nd Vice President, so if you would like to make a nomination for this position or volunteer yourself, please step forward.
Again, it is with my deepest gratitude that you all continue to spread your love of ikebana throughout the community and with each other, through displays, teaching or even with a thoughtful gesture to your neighbour. Without our dedicated members, we wouldn’t have the impact that we’ve been exhibiting to date. Please continue to be inspired, and I look forward to working with you all in the year to come!
Sincerely,
Kimberly Cooke, VIA President
O-Hanami
Joan Fairs
On April first, the National Nikkei Heritage Centre celebrated “O-Hanami”, the Spring event to admire the cherry blossoms, and to incorporate many things Japanese. There were displays, martial arts performances, tea ceremonies, and a special box lunch which got sold out very quickly! People preregistered to get dressed up in Kimono, and there were demonstrations, food kiosks, as well as many craft and Japanese goods booths both inside and out.
The VIA was invited to have a small ikebana display in the main hall. A few members of Ikenobo, Sangetsu and Sogetsu made spring themed arrangements. This was a good opportunity to advertise our upcoming Spring Show at the Nikkei Centre. The event was so well attended that it was standing room only, throughout most of the day!
Arrangement by Cecily Chang.
Ikebana demonstration in Yarrow
Joan Fairs/ Betty Girard
Early in the year, the VIA was approached by the Floral Judges of the Fraser Valley to do a demonstration for the many members of floral groups in the Valley, to be presented in early April. They asked for the theme to be one of making flower arrangements without the use of floral foam, wires or other foreign materials. Joan Fairs rose to the occasion and the presentation was well received. Please see the article below, on the demonstration written by Betty Girard of the South Burnaby Garden Club.
Sakura Days Japan Fair
Yoko Masuda
Sakura (Cherry Blossom) is a symbol of Spring in Japan and people have parties under Sakura trees at parks to appreciate its beauty. VanDusen Garden hosts an amazing fair every year and through VIA, we are honoured to participate in the part of Japanese culture presenting Ikebana. Sogetsu, Ikenobo and Sangetsu members displayed in the Discovery Room and Romy Chan of Sogetsu provided the entrance piece this year over two days on April 15th and 16th. We had many visitors complementing our work and appreciating each arrangement!
This year, we were also invited to host workshops at the event. Kimberly, with the help of Emily of Sangetsu held the Saturday workshop. The Sogetsu workshop was on Sunday at 10 am. Yoko and Judie hosted it. It was held in the Cedar Room of the Floral Hall. Everyone seemed to enjoy the process and expressed their creativity in their own way.
Romi with her entrance arrangement.
Kimberly at one of the workshops.
Thank you for those who participated!
Spring Show 2023
Kado Sumi School participated in the 2023 VIA Spring flower show. Our theme this year was Bamboo. Those who viewed the various arrangements from all the VIA schools seemed to enjoy them and took photos of their favourites. The Bonsai displays in the Ellipse Lobby also attracted more visitors to our show. There were also visitors from the Nikkei Home next door. As always, this year’s Spring Show was very beautiful.
The Nikkei Centre, with its large Hayashi Hall, is an ideal place for this Ikebana show and consideration should be given to using this venue as our annual spring show location. In order to do so, VIA could consider partnering with the Consulate of Japan in obtaining sponsorships from Japanese companies to help cover the rental costs. In addition, VIA could consider seeking community or cultural grants from the City of Burnaby and the BC government. In deciding where to locate future VIA shows, perhaps VIA could seek input from the entire membership versus the few people who attend the VIA meetings. This input could be obtained from each member when they pay their annual membership dues.
Karen Mizushima
On May 6th and 7th, under clear sunny skies, the Spring Ikebana Exhibition was held at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Center and Museum in Burnaby, British Columbia.
The Vancouver Ikebana Association (VIA), which celebrated its 58th anniversary, co-hosted an exhibition with the Nikkei Center for the first time this year. Works by the Nikkei Bonsai Club were also exhibited in the lobby, and both days were crowded with people interested in flowers and miniature plants.
The event hall of the center was named “Mitsuo & Emiko Hayashi Hall”, and at the venue where the unveiling ceremony was just held, 65 works from the four schools of Ikenobo, Sangetsu, Sogetsu, and Kado Sumi were exhibited. 62 people who applied in advance, participated in the three workshops offered. It was so popular that there was even a waitlist.
Prior to the opening to the public, the Consul General of Japan in Vancouver, Mr. Kohei Maruyama, was invited as the guest of honor, and VIA founders Reicho Sumi of Kado-Sumi and Kiyoko Boycott of the Sogetsu School cut a ribbon together with VIA president Kimberly Cooke. At the event, Consul General Maruyama said in his speech, “I have never studied ikebana, but I am impressed by the process by which flowers and plants are brought back to life.” (Interviewed by Louise Akuzawa)
Cutting the ribbon to open the show: Reicho Sumi, Consul General Maruyama, President of VIA Kimberly Cooke, and Kiyoko Boycott photo: L Akuzawa
Works using seasonal flowers, leaves and branches. (Upper left) Sogetsu school, (Upper right) Sangetsu school, (Lower right) Kado Sumi, (Lower left) Ikenobo. Photos and write-up by: Louise Akuzawa, senior reporter, Vancouver Shinpo
Some of the Bonsai displayed in the lobby.
Photo by: Joan Fairs
Burnaby Blooms Festival 2023
Cecily Chang
Burnaby Blooms, the springtime celebration which was known as the Rhododendron Festival previously, expanded to two days (May 13-14) this year. As usual, Cecily Chang of Ikenobo and Joan Fairs of Sangetsu participated in this event.
There were workshops managed by Kimberly Cooke from Sangetsu School on both days, under a large tent on the field outside. The main exhibitions were in a room at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, alongside some displays and vendors from the Garden Club. The room was quite crowded and lively on the first day. However, the next day all vendors in the room had vacated. It was quite odd that there were only three tables of ikebana exhibited along the wall in that big room.
Although the atmosphere wasn’t as energetic, I still enjoyed my time creating my own art pieces and letting the public know more about Ikebana during the exhibition.
Hopefully there will be some improvement next year. More workshops perhaps? Maybe in that large room?
Powell Street Festival
Hollis Ho
The PSF is of great importance as it offers so many aspects of Japanese culture, including stunning Ikebana, to the public. This year was the 47th year! The location surrounding Oppenheimer Park was formerly known as “Japan Town” prior to the Second World War. FYI, in 1942, over 20,000 Japanese Canadians and those of Japanese descent were evacuated from the West Coast and sent to the interior to internment camps, and sadly Japan Town was lost.
VIA members from Sangetsu, Kado Sumi, Ikenobo and Sogetsu Schools presented a beautiful exhibition of Ikebana in the Buddhist Temple Hall, to the delight of the festival-goers. The Ikebana are always well received, and the demonstrations were all standing room only!
SOGETSU displays: Elizabeth Theriault, Noni Mildenberger, Victoria Furuye, Francesca Percival, Kenji Morishita
Sogetsu’s Yoko Masuda, with Noni Mildenberger assisting, presented a demonstration that led the audience from basic style to freestyle arrangements. Hollis Ho Sensei commentated. The unconventional material using crushed tin foil in Yoko’s handmade container was very interesting to many watching.
IKENOBO displays:Ting Zhou, Weijing Zou (Jean), Cecily Chang, Yuyu Lee
Ikenobo’s demonstration by Cecily Chang Sensei (President of Ikenobo Ikebana Society of Vancouver) who presented beautiful traditional styles and freestyle Ikebana. Her assistant was Jean Zhou.
SANGETSU displays: Daebin Im, Amy Chan , Beth MacLaren, Emily Matick
The last demo on the Sunday of the festival was by Joan Fairs Sensei from Sangetsu with commentating by her student, Emily Matick. Joan Sensei emphasized the Sangetsu philosophy of arranging quickly.
KADO SUMI displays: Mrs.Sumi Sensei, Karen Mizushima, Ellen Jackson
Note: Kado Sumi did not demonstrate this year
There is great importance to have VIA members on site to answer questions about the Ikebana on display, and especially important for those who exhibit their work as many are interested in the thought process of the arranger. I was at the PSF for the duration and especially enjoyed engaging with the visitors to share information on the art of Ikebana.
Congratulations on another artistic and informative VIA exhibition at the PSF!
Treasurer and Membership Report
Rose Scott
The Vancouver Ikebana Association has been very fortunate to have had support from its members and the public. I am happy to report that membership renewal has been outstanding and the workshops well attended by the public. The association is financially viable for the coming year. As stated in our constitution, a budget will be presented at our next business meeting. At the present time we have 85 paid members, plus 3 honourary for a total of 88 members.
Library Report
Joan Fairs
Our library books are available to all members of the VIA. There are ikebana books from the main schools as well as books with arrangements from several schools, combined. There are even books written in Japanese, French, and Chinese. Good thing that the photos are understandable in any language! Please come to our meetings to take out any, or make an appointment with Joan to see what is available. Email: joanfairs@gmail.com or cell: 604-813-8054.
Upcoming events
September 23rd: Business Meeting at the McGregor house Library 1:30
“A Touch of Japan” in conjunction with the Japanese Consulate. Workshops in Vancouver schools
October 17th
November 14th Ikenobo
December 12th Sangetsu
January 9th
February 6th
Please let Kimberly know if anyone else would like to teach a class.
