Make-up Homework Assignment: "Living Flowers" Exhibit

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

To make up for one of the classes I missed, I visited the "Living Flowers" exhibit at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo. This exhibit, at the museum from June 15 through September 7, is a collection of both actual live flower arrangements from three California-based Ikebana (traditional Japanese flower arranging) schools and other types of contemporary art that serves to complement the ikebana. I was amazed at the variety of art forms represented in this exhibit. Masters from the three schools come to create new fresh flower arrangements each week, and the other works of art include everything from paintings to photos to sculptures to handmade paper, and all of them show different ways that plants and flowers are used in art.
There were many striking pieces in the collection. "Blown Up Untitled 5" by Ori Gersht was an enormous jet-print on aluminum which depicted a colorful arrangement of flowers which had seemingly exploded into pieces around the edges. "In a Moment" by Anna Gallaccio was a collection of 365 dried yellow and burgundy gerbera daisies strung together and carefully hung and arranged from three poles on the ceiling. It created a sense of peace and tranquility....as though they really had frozen for a moment there. The title is perfect, and I am sure the number of daisies was chosen carefully, too.

This modern display of flowers connected well with the history and tradition of the art of ikebana, as I learned int he short film about this Japanese art form and its transition and evolution to western society. The video, also a part of the exhibit, explained the beginning of ikebana in 15th century Japan and how although the arrangements may look different now, especially at the schools here in Caliornia, the meaning and pupose behind the pieces stays true; ikebana is a "spirituality of peace and beauty". As one woman in the video explained, "based on the plants, we learn about the wonder of life".

The artwork and video both stressed the way that traditional Japanese art and the western influences and flowers used in ikebana here truly show the mixing of cultures, a snapshot of the art of Japanese-Americans.

I could go on for so much longer about this exhibit and what I learned, but I am already WAY over 15--200 words, so I will end this post with one ending thought and some information if anyone wishes to explore this topic in more detail. I hope to use this exhibit as an inspiration in my seventh grade history class this year when i teach about Japan, and to include a hands-on experience with ikebana for them.

If you want more information on ikebana, including terminology and history, visit http://www.ikebanahq.org

The Japanese American Museum is located at 369 East First Street in LA 90012. The telephone number is 213-625-0414. Their website: http://www.janm.org

They are open Tuesdays-Sundays 11-5 and Thursdays until 8pm. Admission is only $8 for adults AND there is free admission from 5-8pm on Thursdays and FREE ALL DAY the third Thursday of EACH month!

[Author]

Posts