Visit Portland Japanese Garden to learn a method of ikebana that takes the beauty of this Japanese artform and puts it into a tiny form! Nana Goto Bellerud, Branch Director of Sogetsu Portland, will teach a basic introduction to ikebana, a Japanese and unique approach to flower arrangement that translates to “living flowers” or “giving life to flowers.” She will be focusing on miniature arrangements. No previous experience is needed.
The Sogetsu School of Ikebana believes ikebana can be practiced anytime, anywhere, by anyone. The three main elements designers use are line, color, and mass, with an emphasis on the designer’s individual artistic expression and creativity. Miniature ikebana adds an additional layer of nuance.
“When making the miniature ikebana of Sogetsu, we first look for small, used items such as shot glasses or seashells,” Bellerud shares. “Original vessels can be made of soft metals or clay. After the container has been chosen, we consider the plant materials. We carefully observe the different parts–petals, pistils, stamens, fruits, leaves, branches, and stems—to make new discoveries of their distinctive appearance. Then we combine the containers with plant parts to create a unique micro-world.”
Participants will first attend a public ikebana demonstration at 1:15pm in the Cathy Rudd Cultural Corner alongside visitors to the Garden. The demonstration will cover the basic concepts, techniques, and tools of ikebana.
Following the demonstration, workshop participants will be taken into their exclusive workshop in the Yanai Family Classroom. Beyond simply producing a beautiful work of art with flowers and natural objects, Bellerud will show you how ikebana explores artistic concepts such as balance, contrast, and negative space. During the workshop, participants will create three basic miniature arrangements in very small vessels, which will be provided by the instructor.
About Nana Goto Bellerud
Nana Goto Bellerud has been studying the Sogetsu School of ikebana since 2005 and continues to be inspired and have new insights from its teachings. Bellerud demonstrates, exhibits, and teaches ikebana at a wide range of venues including the Portland Art Museum, Portland Japanese Garden, Gresham Japanese Garden, various garden clubs, and schools. Through her demonstrations and workshops, she seeks to introduce others to the art of ikebana and to intrigue and inspire them. Beyond simply producing a beautiful work of art with flowers and natural objects, she shows her audience how ikebana explores artistic concepts such as balance, contrast, and negative space. Bellerud has been creating and posting daily ikebana on Instagram (@nana_bellerud) and actively teaching via live interactive video.
Bellerud holds Master of Arts degrees in Political Science and Agribusiness Management from Mississippi State University and has taught Japanese Culture at Mt. Hood Community College. She is currently serving as President of Ikebana International Portland Chapter #47 and Branch Director of Sogetsu Portland. Bellerud is also a member of the Ikebana Iwaya Fund Board of Directors.
About The Sogestu School Ikebana
The Sogetsu School is known for its willingness to explore new ideas and materials. The founder, Sofu Teshigahara, broke away from tradition in 1927 to establish his new school based on the belief that anyone can create ikebana anywhere, and with almost anything. The Sogetsu philosophy advocates that ikebana should be part of a lifestyle, appreciated by many people from all over the world, rather than being considered an exclusive aspect of Japanese culture to be enjoyed by a limited number of people.
Portland Japanese Garden would like to thank The Miller Foundation and Toshiba International Foundation for their support of arts and culture programming.
