• Tacoma-Olympia Chapter 147

    Ikebana International

    Ikebana is primarily about the Japanese art of flower arranging. Our activities also promote the study of related Japanese cultural arts.

    Ikebana International is a non-profit organization founded in the mid fifties by the late Ellen Gordon Allen. Her dream was to create an organization uniting the people of the world through their mutual love of nature and enjoyment of Ikebana. That dream has now spread to over 50 countries/areas with at least 143 chapters worldwide and a membership of about 7,000.

    The Tacoma-Olympia Chapter 147, located in western Washington State, was chartered in 1970. Dedicated to “Friendship through Flowers”, chapter meetings are usually held once a month alternating between the cities of Olympia and Tacoma.

    In addition to workshops on flower arranging and Japanese cultural arts, yearly we enjoy a field trip.

    We offer "friendship through flowers" by providing arrangements and demonstrations to our local communities in locations such as libraries, educational institutions, museums and art stores.

    • To learn more about our Chapter email us at ii147tacomaolympia@gmail.com
    • Click on the Membership Information to the left to explore the benefits of membership.
    • To learn more about Ikebana International (Tokyo website) use the Affiliations tab.
    • Use the Affiliations tab to your left to visit the NCAR website . It is a great resource for all things Ikebana in North and Central America.

  • Schools Represented

    Under the umbrella of Ikebana International, there are over 300 different schools of Ikebana each following a particular set of rules and techniques. Three of the several schools represented in our Chapter are Ikenobo, Sogetsu and Ichiyo. Others include Asakusa Enshu, Enshu-ryu Mori Isshin Kai, Kofu, Koryu Shohtoh Kai, and Migu Ki Ryu,

    Ikenobo

    With each new IKEBANA arrangement, IKENOBO continues a tradition of creativity that began over 550 years ago. IKENOBO is based in Kyoto, Japan, at Choho-ji (Rokkaku-do) Temple, a temple said to have been founded by Prince Shotoku.

    The Japanese word IKE means“pond,” while the word BO means “a priest’s hut.” Suggesting a priest’s hut next to a pond, the two words combine in the name of the family that has headed this school of IKEBANA, IKE-NO-BO. Succeeding generations of priests were famous for their skill in arranging flowers, and IKENOBO thus became “the origin of IKEBANA.”

     

     

    Sogetsu
    The Sogetsu School of Ikebana was started in 1927 by the founder Sofu Teshigahara who questioned the traditions of ikebana and preferred to respect the freedom of individual expressions. “Anytime, anywhere, by anyone,” — and with any materials — is the creed of the Sogetsu School. Today, under the 4th Iemoto Akane Teshigahara, the Sogetsu Ikebana is popular around the world as a school of Ikebana that draws out the freedom of expression in each individual, always new, always beautiful, and never constrained by preconceptions.

     

     

    Ichiyo 

    Arrangements in the manner of Ichiyo School are intended to arouse our senses in a different way from traditional ikebana, giving the viewer an experience with nature that is unexpected, stimulating, and profound.

    Ichiyo School encourages personal interpretation. Imagination is considered as essential to creative designs as materials and containers. “If flower arranging is to be truly fulfilling, it should be a reflection of oneself.”

     

  • Membership

     

    Single Membership (annual fee): $80

    International and Local Membership Benefits:​

     

    • Ikebana International Magazine: A premier publication, issued three times a year, richly illustrated with color plates of ikebana arrangements, articles on ikebana and related arts and cultural topics.

    • Chapter Activities Newsletter and Sakura News: Two lively newsletters that keep members informed of what is happening at chapters and regions around the world and at I.I. Headquarters.

    • Access to all past issues of I.I. newsletters viewable online through the I.I. website.

    • Eligibility to join Ikebana International's 163 chapters worldwide, to participate in chapters' monthly meetings enjoy ikebana demonstrations, exhibitions, workshops, fairs and activities. Associate member fees may be charged by individual chapters.

    • Opportunities to share ideas about ikebana, and most of all to enjoy our motto “Friendship Through Flowers”, by making new friends around the world.

    • Regional Conferences and World Conventions: Regional Conferences are held periodically in various regions throughout the world for the purpose of offering educational and cultural exchange opportunities to our members close to home. Every five years an I.I. World Convention is held in Japan.

    • Monthly Chapter Meetings: Members usually get together at monthly or bimonthly meetings (Tacoma or Olympia) to see ikebana demonstrations, hear lectures on related topics, or participate in flower arranging or other related activities. Our Chapter also participates in ikebana exhibitions. By reciprocal arrangement, members are welcome to visit other chapters while on their travels.

    • Transfer of Membership: A member may transfer from one chapter to another upon presentation of a current, valid membership card.

    • And of course, "Friendship through Flowers".

  • Calendar Sept 2022 - June 2023

     

    Sept 28 at 9:30 am

    Mountain Greens Mobile Home Park Clubhouse

    5280 55th Avenue SE, Lacey 

    Program: Container and Material Swap Workshop

     

    Oct 26 at 9:30 am

    St. John's Lutheran Church

    8602 Bridgeport Way SE, Lakewood

    Program: Mitsumata (white branches) and

    White Elephant Sale

     

    Dec 1 at 11:30 am

    Holiday Luncheon & Raffle

    Indian Summer Country Club

    5900 Troon Lane SE, Olympia

    Program: Special guest: Diane Elliot,

    Sogetsu Demostration

    (Members and Guests Only)

     

    Jan 25 at 9:30

    St. John's Lutheran Church

    8602 Bridgeport Way SE, Lakewood

    Program: Ikenobo Demonstration 

     

    Feb 22 at 9:30

    Mountain Greens Mobile Home Park Clubhouse

    5280 55th Avenue SE, Lacey 

    Program: Washi Paper Collage and White Elephant sale

     

    March 4th, 10 am - 6pm 

    Visit our informational Ikebana Floral Exhibit at the:

    Lacey Cultural Celebration

    St. Martin's University, Lacey

     

    March 22 at 9:30 am

    St. John's Lutheran Church

    8602 Bridgeport Way SE, Lakewood

    Program: Single Color Arrangements

     

    April 26 - April 27

    April 26th: 10am to 5pm

    April 27th: 10am to 4:30

    Tacoma Community College Art Gallery Bldg #4

    6501 S 19th Street, Tacoma

    Program:  II 147 Spring Flower Exhibit

     

    May 10, 2023

     

    Program: Our Annual Bus Tour:

    Visiting the Hulda Klager Lilac Garden, enjoying a Bento Lunch,

    touring the Japanese Garden at Sacajawea Park, and then

    stopping to shop the Tsugawa Nursery. A very full-filling day for all!!

     

     

    June 3rd and 4th, 2023

    Point Defiance Park Pagoda

    11 am to 4pm Saturday

    10 am to 3pm Sunday

    Arrangements on display and there will be a demostration

     

     

    June 28, 11:00 am

    University Place, Wa.

    Program: Annual Meeting, Potluck and Auction

    (Members and Guest Only)

     

     
     

  • Picture Gallery

    IMPORTANT:

    Please double click on the first Image to enlarge it to its' original size and then Swipe to see the next picture.

    Thank you

    (Titles forthcoming)

  • Activities

    These are some of our past events

    Holiday Luncheon 2021

    Tacoma Country and Golf Club

    Saga Goryu Workshop
    Portland

    Indigo Dyeing at Feast Art Center
    Tacoma

     

    Japanese Garden Tour
    Portland

     

     

    Kubota Garden Tour
    Seattle

    Chigirie (washi paper art)
    APC Center in Tacoma

    May Fest at Lakewold Gardens

    Lakewood

    Art as Inpiration
    Olympia

    Art of Chabana at Heritage Park
    Tumwater

    Circular Design

    Tacoma

    The Bloedel Reserve 
    Bainbridge Island

  • Affiliations

    You may click on a logo below to be directed to the corresponding website.

  • Links

    Click on a logo to find out more

  • Contact Us

    Please feel free to contact us with any questions about our group.

  • Thank you for visiting our website!

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