AUTUMN NEWSLETTER #54 September 2024
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
As summer winds down, school is now back in session, and before we know it, the leaves will start to transform into lovely hues of red and gold. This will be my last message to you as I prepare to hand over the VIA Presidency to Yoko Masuda of Sogetsu at the AGM in January.
Our Spring Show this past May was another success and we received much positive feedback from our guests. We were also happy to welcome two new VIA members from Ohara, who visited our exhibition and were inspired to join our association. Welcome Amanda Fu and Jenny Lee!
Following the Spring Show, VIA participated in the Powell Street Festival over the August long weekend. This festival always feels like the epitome of summer and celebrates Japanese culture in Vancouver. We were pleased to have had several displays and three demonstrations over the course of the weekend. Thank you to all who volunteered your time to make our ikebana exhibit a beautiful and tranquil reprieve for festival goers.
I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to all members who have been tremendously supportive towards me during the past three years. I have learned so much about the ikebana community and of our association, and I am especially grateful for the opportunity to get to know many of you better. It has truly been an honour to lead the VIA and I hope to continue my involvement in other capacities for years to come.
With warm regards,
Kimberly Cooke, VIA President
UPDATE: New Denver Ikebana Project, a new date!
It was with great disappointment that we needed to cancel/postpone “Ikebana in New Denver” this past July. We were just 3 days away from departing Vancouver – supplies packed, ready, and everyone so excited!
The wildfire situation in the region prevented our project from going forward. Our decision to cancel was based on many factors other than the intensity of the fires that were out-of-control in the region. We were deeply concerned for the citizens and their safety as well as the safety of our 12-member team. It was with a sincere concern for New Denver and all the surrounding communities with two communities evacuated, and seniors in homes evacuated to a safe location. New Denver was on high alert; road closures north and south, thick smoke, and homes threatened.
The good news is that all Kootenay community members are safe, and, although some structures were lost, no lives were lost during this trying time.
The other great news is that the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society Community Fund directors have extended our grant agreement, and we have confirmed a new date of Saturday, June 21, 2025, in New Denver! Our team is thrilled!
We will keep all members informed of our progress in the New Year as we get closer to the new date.
Hollis Ho
Sakura Days
The Sakura Days Japan Fair is presented by The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival in partnership with the Japan Fair Association of Vancouver (JFAV), the all-volunteer organizing committee of this two-day event. Ikenobo, Sangetsu and Sogetsu Schools participated in this event and all those pieces were beautifully presented. So many people visited the Discovery Room to see and enjoy all of our arrangements!
Meanwhile, each school hosted a workshop and all the seats were sold out quickly. The participants created their arrangements based on each school’s philosophy and principles. They got to take their arrangements home with them to enjoy.
The entrance piece was done by Yoko Masuda from Sogetsu School; “The entrance piece was arranged on the driftwood. I used palm leaves, sprayed mums, pine, maple branches and white and gold painted branches. I used the light pink mums to resemble cherry blossoms, aiming to express the excitement of the festival while evoking a grounded and calm feeling.”
Yoko Masuda
Mrs. Boycott, Romi Chan and Yoko Masuda
Burnaby Blooms
Burnaby’s beloved springtime celebration, the Burnaby Blooms festival, returned on Sunday, May 5 at the Shadbolt Centre of the Arts and at Deer Lake Park. The event showcased exquisite garden designs, artistic floral displays, and captivating installations that left attendees in awe and delight.
Inside the Shadbolt Centre, Joan Fairs, Cecily Chang, Mina Alimohammadi and Taz Tsai each presented displays representing their schools. There were many people who showed a keen interest in Ikebana and asked lots of questions. Joan from Sangetsu and Cecily from Ikenobo also gave a well-attended demonstration in a tent outside the Centre.
This casual and relaxed setting event is a must-visit for any flower enthusiast. In addition to the incredible artworks, the Burnaby Blooms festival offered educational talks, workshops, and demonstrations with an emphasis on sustainability and eco-friendly practices.
Taz Tsai
SPRING SHOW 2024
On May 25 and 26, the VIA Spring Show was held at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Yaletown. The facility with its high ceilings and white walls is a perfect backdrop to highlight any artistic endeavor. The entrance greeted visitors with a series of arrangements provided by the Sangetsu School.
After entering the hall, people were amazed by the exhibits provided by 56 participants from 4 schools: Kado Sumi, Ikenobo, Sangetsu and Sogetsu. Again, each school showcased their own teachings of ikebana. As one strolled between the aisles, they could discern that modern living spaces differ from those when ikebana was first introduced, by the size and style of container used in each arrangement. Most of the arrangements used spring flowers, such as peony, allium, tulip and calla. On closer examination one could see that the flower chosen may be a bud, signifying the future or a flower that is past its’ prime, reflecting the past. There was floral material, processed floral material and non-floral material used, which initiates the question, “What should be the focal point of ikebana expression?”
Arrangements by the members of Kado Sumi
In addition to the arrangements displayed, demonstrations were performed by 3 schools. All were very well attended and the reaction by the audience to questions and their applause was much appreciated. The Sogetsu demonstration was performed by Hollis Ho, the Sangetsu by Joan Fairs and Ikenobo by Akemi Komori.
Workshops, led by Sogetsu, Ikenobo and Sangetsu continue to be well received by the public. Spaces quickly sold out after being listed, so Sangetsu led a second work-shop on the last day to accommodate those on the wait list.
In conclusion, VIA members should continue their efforts to create ikebana so that we can pass down the art of Japanese flower arranging to future gener-ations and the public at large.
Rose Scott
Sangetsu Conference, Burnaby
Sangetsu North America held its first ever conference in Canada in late June in Burnaby, at the McGregor House. The conference is usually held every two years, with the exception of during the Covid years. Almost 30 people came from throughout the States, and several from the lower mainland.
The usual three day conference was expanded to include a fourth day especially for instructors to study Shoka, and Korinka (an advanced style unique to Sangetsu), the latter style using materials foraged from the McGregor grounds. At the conclusion of the four days, we held an exhibition of our arrangements and invited all to come. On the following day, five instructor candidates took a written and practical exam to become first level instructors. All five candidates were successful!
Back row: new instructors Beth MacLaren (Burnaby), Carol Zhang (Delta), Mary DiLibrio (Boston), Dina Holguin (New York), and Aki Tanaka (West Vancouver). Front row: Senior instructor Mary Jane Sasser (Maryland), Master Instructor Joan Fairs (Burnaby), and Master Instructor Helena Arouca (Virginia)
A large taisaku greeted visitors to the exhibition Joan Fairs
Kado Sumi Ryu
1. We celebrated Sumi Sensei’s birthday in July with a special Chinese food lunch at Ellen Jackson’s home.
2. I am doing the weekly Ikebana sessions for the Seniors at Nikkei Home. There are 10-15 seniors who attend these Tuesday sessions which alternate between English speaking and Japanese speaking classes.
3. I did 3 arrangements in July at the Vancouver Buddhist Temple for their annual Obon service.
4. The Nikkei Foundation has requested volunteers from VIA to do 28 ikebana arrangements for their tables at their Sakura Gala on October 5. Heidi Leung and I are participating on behalf of Kado Sumi.
Karen Mizushima
Powell Street Festival
The Powell Festival, a Japanese summer festival that takes place over the August long weekend in Vancouver, is an annual event showcasing all things Japanese. I was delighted and surprised by the large turnout, which shows how much people crave the peace and positive energy that Ikebana can bring. The displays created a space of tranquility and an uplifting atmosphere — truly a heaven on earth!
VIA was once again invited to participate at the 48th Powell Street festival. In the hall of the Japanese Buddhist Temple, there were 2 from arrangements from Ikenobo, 5 from Sogetsu and 3 from Sangetsu. It truly felt like a world apart when one entered the room. During the festival, our show attracted quite a lot of people and some of them not only admired each piece, but also gathered and enjoyed the demonstrations from Sangetsu (see below) and Sogetsu (by Mina Alimohammadi)) on Saturday afternoon, and by Ikenobo (Akemi Komori) on Sunday. Several people showed interest in future study, so our VIA teacher’s pamphlets were given out. It was a mini exhibition, but very successful!
The newly certified instructors Aki, Beth and Carol from Sangetsu School did a half hour demonstration. Each brought materials from their home gardens. Aki made an upright moribana which presented summer flings; Beth’s plane and Mass created an interesting pond scene with simple hosta leaves; and Carol used an antique basket borrowed from Beth to create a Vancouver summer delight – Fireworks! One girl from the crowd was excited to tell her friends how she felt the energy of the flower fireworks!
Thank you instructor Mayumi for the early guidance in July and who allowed us to practice our demonstrations in her church.
Thank you Master Instructor Joan and the other teachers’ trust for the opportunity to do the demonstration. It was fun to work together and collaborate with one another. We have learned a lot.
Aki Tanaka, Beth MacLaren, Carol Zhang
Treasurer’s Report
Although our environment has been subjecting our membership with rain, mud slides, unbearable heat and fires throughout British Columbia, our organization has remained financially healthy.
We experienced a shortfall at our Spring Show of $945.32 due mainly to increased costs for printing, parking and honorariums. We had a shortfall last year of $691.63. Income for the 2 day show equaled the prior year, even though this year members were not required to pay a $20.00 participation fee.
I have prepared a budget for 2025 and do not foresee the need to increase our membership fee.
At present we have 88 members, plus 3 honorary members for a total of 91.
Note: VIA is sending out an urgent appeal to replace the treasurer, as Rose would like to retire from this position.
Rose Scott
Library Report
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. A selection of books are brought to each meeting to be taken out. An appointment may be made with Joan to borrow from our entire selection. Email: joanfairs@gmail.com or call her cell: 604-813-8054.
Joan Fairs
Instructors from Ikenobo Kado Sumi Group Instructors from Sangetsu
Cecily Chang, Margaret Ng Rie Yamazaki, Ellen Jackson, Heidi Carol Zhang, Beth MacLaren
Spring Show workshop. Leung, Karen Mizushima, Mrs. Sumi Powell Street Festival demo.
