In this arrangement, we wanted to highlight the lightness of the material. Fresh palm buds were stripped to make very thin threads. Some were used to show graceful lines; while some were rolled up into seemingly weightless balls.
I hope you like it. —Miyako
After 2 years of not being able to really go out and about, we were very happy to be able to present a live ikebana exhibition once again! For sure, many ikebana artists continued to publish their floral arrangements online during the pandemic (including our own virtual exhibition last year!) but there is always that extra dimension when the arrangements are in front of us. We can feel the depth, switch angles, and even smell the subtle scents! And so we were ecstatic when the Halifax Central Library approached us for a collaboration. This exhibition was held on May 13th-15th, 2022, as part of the Asian Heritage Month celebrations,
Our special thanks to Kassondra Torraville, Regional Programming Lead for the Halifax Central Library for her wonderful support. The planning had gone very smoothly!
Our thanks to our students who gave their time, effort and talents to this exhibition: Leo A, Media C, Michelle C, Odessa G, Lyla H, Robert L, Susan R, and Val S. We hope the experience has been as rewarding for you as it has been for us.!
Arrangement by Leo Artalejo
Variation No. 1 Upright Style Nageire
Arrangement by Media Chalabi 美虹 (“Miko”)
Free-style: “Hope”
Arrangement by Michelle Ciach
Variation No. 4 Slanting Style Nageire
Arrangement by Odessa Godbold
Free-style
Arrangement by Lyla Hage
Variation No. 1 Slanting Style Moribana
Arrangement by Robert Lee
Variation No. 5 Upright Style Moribana
Arrangement by Susan Roberson
Free-style
The vase was made by Lunenburg-based NS pottery artist Jason Remai.
Arrangement by Val Spencer
Free-style: “One Flower, One Branch”
Arrangements by Miyako Ballesteros
“Red and Black”
“Welcome Flower”
Joint Arrangement by Val Spencer & Miyako Ballesteros
This work sat atop 2 tall shelves and was designed to be viewed from a low angle.
Photo credit: Susan Robertson
Some of the people behind this exhibition. Sorry we did not get a chance to get everyone together!
Photo credit: Susan Robertson
Two basket containers put one on top of the other are held together by pussy willow branches. The unorthodox use of the containers, placed in a seemingly precarious position, becomes like an objet d’art that displays imbalance.
Here is the whole arrangement.
I hope you like it. —Miyako
Our dear friend, Susan, brought us some lovely juniper branches from her backyard.
Photo courtesy of Susan R.
I remembered that I had this vase whose colour and texture were very similar to the juniper. The arrangement seeks to merge the container and material into one unity.
Here is the whole arrangement.
I hope you like it. —Miyako
In this arrangement, I wanted to show both the young pine cones that were just coming out as well as the big pine branch where they were attached to. By disassembling and re-assembling the big pine branch, both could be shown in an arrangement.
By the way, we used very old hida konro (a tabletop charcoal grill traditionally from the city of Hida in Gifu Prefecture) to hold the arrangement.
Here is the whole arrangement.
I hope you like it. —Miyako
The 24th Annual Atlantic Canada Japanese Language Speech Contest (ACJLSC) was held on Saturday, Mar 12th, 2022. This year, the contest was held at two locations—St. Mary’s University in Halifax NS and Mount Allison University in Sackville NB—connected via Zoom link! We congratulate the winners and applaud all the participants who gave it their best!
We were honoured to provide an ikebana arrangement at the entrance of the SMU venue to welcome the participants from Halifax.
Entwined alder branches arranged to rise up, as if coming to a boil!
Here is the whole arrangement.
I hope you like it. —Miyako
With the spate of winter storms that blew past Halifax, many fallen branches were there for the picking…like this big pine branch!
This branch was majestic enough as it was to be the backbone of an arrangement. But purposely, smaller branches were trimmed and entwined in order to give a more unique expression.
Here is the whole arrangement.
I hope you like it. —Miyako
Through the tangle and thicket of dried branches emerges a bowl of carnation petals. It’s as if we are offered a glimpse into the arrangement’s bright red soul!
Here is the whole arrangement.
I hope you like it. —Miyako
For this year’s Christmas arrangement, we used red and gold colours on a white background. A clear glass container is used.
We also used gold-silver mizuhiki to add a more festive air.
Here is the whole arrangement.
I hope you like it. Merry Christmas! —Miyako
