Yumiko and Reiko Blackwell at an ikebana demonstration at the Arlington Arts Center.
–Greta Kuriger Suiter
On Thursday September 12th, I attended a Night of Ikebana at the Arlington Arts Center with fellow art history students Leslie Mounaime and Laura Harvey. Ikebana (“living flowers”) is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. (More on what is Ikebana at the Ikebana International website.)
Reiko Blackwell presented examples of free style ikebana while her daughter Yumiko Blackwell told the audience a little about the different styles and history of ikebana, stories of arranging flowers with her mother, and how ikebana is a big inspiration in her own artwork. The demonstration took place on the second floor of the Arlington Arts Center in a gallery filled with art created by Radio Sebastian, an art collaborative consisting of Yumiko Blackwell and Corwin Levi. The flower arrangements were inspired by the art on display, creating an interesting intersection of culture, tradition, family, collaboration, and contemporary art.
Laura got to take home some left over flowers!
AHGA 