by Kirby Lindsay Laney
originally posted 20 December 2013
This column originally appeared in 2013, and is being re-posted here as Ikebana classes gear up for a month of making beautiful arrangements. Find out more about classes at HanaDesignIkebana.com
In January, a new semester of Ikebana art classes begins. Interested students have two opportunities, every other week, to learn, hands on, how to create this beautiful, and peace-filled, Japanese floral art, taught by Charles Coughlan at Nalanda West.
Coughlan has studied Ikebana for 33 years, and teaches the modern approach to this ancient art form, following the Sogetsu School. As a professional florist, Coughlan sells his own natural sculptures through Hana Design, but in class, he encourages everyone to learn, appreciate and create their own Ikebana art. While mistakenly dismissed as classes in flower arranging, the study of Ikebana requires artists to honor, reveal and place natural materials to share their message.
Once, Or Many Times
For those looking to start the New Year with learning, this six week series will provide theory and practical application in an uncommon form of art. However, Coughlan also welcomes those unable, or unwilling, to commit to all six classes. “Each class is its own separate unit of study,” he explained, with enough basic information – and time – to allow out-and-out beginners as well as experienced students opportunities to explore and create.
Coughlan has been teaching since 1996. He studied Ikebana in Japan, but in attempting to make the art form accessible here, and he adapted his teaching to suit our culture. “That is not the way we learn the best,” he said about American students. He doesn’t teach from form one to twelve as he shares the wisdom of modern or traditional Ikebana.
“Over the past six months, there has been a real spike in interest,” Coughlan reported, “there are a lot of new people. I find that the mix can be beneficial.” His final class of the Fall semester had students from across the spectrum – those attending their first session to those with years of practice, and well-versed in Ikebana. Returning students, including another teacher, sang praise of Coughlan, and his quiet, personalized style that contributes to the comfortable learning environment.
Learn How To
For the last class before Christmas, students were given an opportunity to create a winter holiday arrangement for their home or office. Coughlan begins each class with reflections on Ikebana, and a few quiet moments that allow everyone to calm and focus. Then, he introduces the materials he provides – this week he had brought along cypress branches, snowflake mums and carnations.
The cypress provided the first challenge with its profound depth. Coughlan explained that Ikebana sculpture explores the “mystery of less,” and “the balance of density and scarcity.” Cypress branches are naturally dense, and as even an experienced artist like Coughlan contemplated one, he acknowledged that, “I’m already falling in love with it.” However, it is necessary, for Ikebana, to strip away any excess.
Ikebana is not ‘flower arranging,’ and this form of art does not transfer nature to a vase. “If you are just going to use it the way it grows in nature,” Coughlan observed, “why cut it?”
Instead, Coughlan showed students how to shape, twist and ruthlessly cut, cut, cut the branch until it showed its basic essence, and beauty. Warming the branch he’d selected in his hands, he delicately bent it, and explained that Ikebana practitioners have “a responsibility to give [the branch] some character.”
As he placed his first branch in the needle point holder, and container (many were available to loan to students – although students often bring their own,) he gave it directionality. Coughlan explained how the first branch must grab the viewer’s attention. When creating their own sculptures, most students spent the majority of their time selecting and setting the first branch.
The second branch sets up a relationship, and/or tension, with the first. The first draws the eye, but with the second the artist tells the story. The second can balance the first, create tension and set a tone.
The final elements – the flowers and even another branch – bring the piece to fruition, completion, and release. In this case, most students placed flowers, clipped short, as color and a textural contrast to the cypress branches. According to Coughlan, Ikebana creates a triangle – sometimes compared to the one of God, man, and earth – with the final element conveying the point of piece, the point of the story.
Create And Convey
“You can be very different in Ikebana,” Coughlan said, “it’s all about the space.” Ikebana arrangements are visually very spare, and very sparse. As Coughlan observed, “my life is really busy. I don’t want my art to be busy.” He encouraged Ikebana students to add elements to their sculptures, but only those that they felt, as an artist, helped the piece, “not just because you like it.”
The hour and a half long class gives students plenty of time, and a serene atmosphere, in which to create. Still, Coughlan has time for the students to showcase their creations, and share their inspirations, experiences and results.
Students can then leave with their art, taking them for permanent display at home or in the office.
Coughlan welcomes students to attend one class, or the whole six week series. He also doesn’t require a financial commitment until classes take place. Each class costs $20, for materials, and students can RSVP 2 – 3 days in advance. For those interested, Coughlan sends out e-mail reminders about upcoming classes.
“Don’t miss a class that you know you can attend,” he asked, “Anybody can do Ikebana.” Upcoming classes take place at 7:15p on January 8th & 22nd, February 5th & 19th, and March 5th & 19th, and at Noon on January 9th & 23rd, February 6th & 20th, and March 6th & 20th. For more information, or to register, contact charles@hanadesignikebana.com or 206/789-4226
Happy creating!
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©2013 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.