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The Ichiyo School of Ikebana
The Ichiyo School of Ikebana was founded in 1937 by a brother and sister--Meikof and Ichiyo Kasuya. Since the school's establishment, the two ikebana masters sought to create original ikebana that would be suitable for modern lifestyles and environments. They focused on two types of flower arrangements: one to fit diversified personal surroundings, from traditional Japanese tokonomas, or alcoves, to Western entry tables, and another for public spaces from stage settings to hotel lobbies.
The Ichiyo School instructs students worldwide by using unique, systematically organized textbooks. In 1966, centers for instruction in Europe and the United States were established, and today Ichiyo ikebana is widely known overseas. Tests are written in both Japanese and English. In the beginning, the school offers students more formal training based on text books and supplemental material. However, as the student progresses, the instruction is received more directly from one's teacher based on the student's needs. The student's own creativity is developed and expected as one progresses.
The principles of ikebana as understood by the Ichiyo School of Ikebana include seeing balance, harmony, and form in the arrangements we create. Every arrangement should have form, line, texture, color and space. Arrangement can be any size as long as they retain these qualities. Branches, leaves, and grasses provide form and line movement and play a dominant role in an arrangement. Arrangements are many times asymmetric and should be seen from the front in most designs. Development of this art form is a lifelong study.
Ikebana is not a commercial pursuit. its benefits include adding environmental beauty in daily life, development of patience, discipline, imagination, sense of well-being, personal awareness, sharing the experience with others, and improving the overall quality of life by seeing beyond ourselves. As an art form, ikebana cannot be learned without the aid of a teacher. There are many schools of ikebana, and each interpret this art in their own style.
My training started in early 2012 and continues to this day. My teacher is Gail Newman. However, during the winter, when she is in Florida, I take lessons from her teacher--Karen Napoli. Presently, I'm a Junior Associate Master working on my Associate Master certification which is expected this year. Over the years, it has been possible for me to work with the Iemoto (Head Master) of the school when he comes over to the United States for teaching conferences.
Learning Ikebana
How does one learn ikebana? Well, the first step is to find a teacher. If there are no teachers in the area, it may be possible to take lessons through online instruction. However, finding a teacher who does online instruction and learning ikebana through online lessons is very difficult and just not as good as in-person instruction. Ikebana is a hands-on learning experience and there is nothing better than in-person instruction. Luckily, in this area of New York, there are multiple teachers. Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53 has a list of schools and teachers from which one can choose. In the Buffalo, NY area, there are two teachers--me in the Ichiyo School of Ikebana and Jo Ellen Budnick who has been trained in the Ohara and Chiko Schools of Ikebana. Her information can be found on the Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53 website on the "Teachers" page.
Once a prospective student has an idea what kind of ikebana teachers there are in area their area, the next step is finding the school of ikebana that most attracts them. In this area, one can look over the Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53 website "Schools" page to get a sense of what the different school's styles are. Once a school is selected, then one just needs to contact a teacher and arrange lessons.
Ichiyo School of Ikebana Lessons in the Buffalo Area
If one is interested in taking Ichiyo School of Ikebana lessons in the Buffalo area, all he or she needs to do is submit their information in the form below and click the submit button.
Teaching styles
In any school of ikebana, the curriculum may be the same, but each teacher has their own style of teaching. It is important to find a teacher with which one is comfortable. How one teaches ikebana can be affected by many different factors.
My practice and teaching of ikebana
My practice and teaching of ikebana has been greatly affected by what brought me to learn ikebana in the first place. Being a formal student in the Mountains and Rivers Order of Zen Buddhism centered at Zen Mountain Monastery in Mt. Tremper, NY, one is asked to take up an art practice as part of their training. This art practice has been conventionally done through one of the traditional Zen arts such as ikebana. So, when I moved to Rochester in 2012, joining Ikebana International and taking lessons just made sense. And I've continued to this day. My practice of ikebana has been and continues to be influenced by my practice of Zen Buddhism. In this light, ikebana is not just about making pretty flower arrangements, but the main goal is to reveal the plant material's true nature, which is our true nature and the true nature of the universe--perfect and complete, lacking nothing. So, when an ikebana arrangement is done well, the viewers have the opportunity to see beyond themselves and experience life in all its intimacy.
Lessons
Presently, lessons cost $10 per lesson plus the cost of materials which the student keeps. Payment is at the time of the lesson. In the beginning floral material is supplied by the teacher, but as one continues to grow in their ikebana skills, the student will take on more responsibility in provider their own. How often one takes a lesson depends on the student and teacher's schedules. Lessons are typically given in the teacher's home.
How does one learn ikebana? Well, the first step is to find a teacher. If there are no teachers in the area, it may be possible to take lessons through online instruction. However, finding a teacher who does online instruction and learning ikebana through online lessons is very difficult and just not as good as in-person instruction. Ikebana is a hands-on learning experience and there is nothing better than in-person instruction. Luckily, in this area of New York, there are multiple teachers. Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53 has a list of schools and teachers from which one can choose. In the Buffalo, NY area, there are two teachers--me in the Ichiyo School of Ikebana and Jo Ellen Budnick who has been trained in the Ohara and Chiko Schools of Ikebana. Her information can be found on the Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53 website on the "Teachers" page.
Once a prospective student has an idea what kind of ikebana teachers there are in area their area, the next step is finding the school of ikebana that most attracts them. In this area, one can look over the Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53 website "Schools" page to get a sense of what the different school's styles are. Once a school is selected, then one just needs to contact a teacher and arrange lessons.
Ichiyo School of Ikebana Lessons in the Buffalo Area
If one is interested in taking Ichiyo School of Ikebana lessons in the Buffalo area, all he or she needs to do is submit their information in the form below and click the submit button.
Teaching styles
In any school of ikebana, the curriculum may be the same, but each teacher has their own style of teaching. It is important to find a teacher with which one is comfortable. How one teaches ikebana can be affected by many different factors.
My practice and teaching of ikebana
My practice and teaching of ikebana has been greatly affected by what brought me to learn ikebana in the first place. Being a formal student in the Mountains and Rivers Order of Zen Buddhism centered at Zen Mountain Monastery in Mt. Tremper, NY, one is asked to take up an art practice as part of their training. This art practice has been conventionally done through one of the traditional Zen arts such as ikebana. So, when I moved to Rochester in 2012, joining Ikebana International and taking lessons just made sense. And I've continued to this day. My practice of ikebana has been and continues to be influenced by my practice of Zen Buddhism. In this light, ikebana is not just about making pretty flower arrangements, but the main goal is to reveal the plant material's true nature, which is our true nature and the true nature of the universe--perfect and complete, lacking nothing. So, when an ikebana arrangement is done well, the viewers have the opportunity to see beyond themselves and experience life in all its intimacy.
Lessons
Presently, lessons cost $10 per lesson plus the cost of materials which the student keeps. Payment is at the time of the lesson. In the beginning floral material is supplied by the teacher, but as one continues to grow in their ikebana skills, the student will take on more responsibility in provider their own. How often one takes a lesson depends on the student and teacher's schedules. Lessons are typically given in the teacher's home.