Ephemeral Beauty

Sunrises, sunsets, shooting stars, snowflakes...other than starting with s's, what do they have in common? Ephemeral Beauty. That's what gives them the power to stop us dead, to take notice, to admire and to value them all the more, I think, because we are acutely aware of how fleeting their existence is.
Flowers share that quality. Undoubtedly, the very reason that fresh flowers are gifted as an archetypal gesture of ardor, appreciation, admiration and affection, and not artificial flowers. Even more fleeting than flowers are ice sculptures.

Recently on a hot summer day, I was invited to the studio of Okamoto Ice Sculpture in Long Island City for a special workshop on Ice and Ikebana. Here is what I created.
How about that for an exercise in extreme ephemeralism?!!!

Trash to Treasure

"One man's trash is another man's treasure"

Umbrella pine

This arrangement was made from umbrella pine branches that were rescued from the garbage at class. Hidden amidst the dead, brown needles were tiny green shoots! Immediately, I felt compelled to make an arrangement to celebrate this life-affirming discovery.
Looks like a a bonsai of sorts, doesn't it?

Brooklyn Botanic Garden Exhibit

Japanese paper tree branches, dyed eucalyptus, anthurium, euphorbia, carnations, in a matte white ceramic container.

For this year's exhibit at Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Cherry Blossom Festival, I chose not to use cherry. Unlike last year, the cherry blossoms at the Garden grounds are now in their magnificent prime, lusciously abundant and full. Why try to compete with nature when it's that perfect?

So, as a counterpoint to all that voluptuousness outside, I went for a minimal composition. The muted white branches and container created an elegant vertical column, punctuated by the contrasting colors of the flowers. I just love this acid spring green against the purple, don't you? The eucalyptus, a gift from my boss Mel, added some rhythm and whimsy.
Overall effect is, I think, a bit like a ballerina in a strikingly unexpected tutu.

Isn't this red-hot ceramic container cool? Its unusual shape and color inspired this arrangement. From my sensei's collection of mid-century containers, this one stands out as my favorite. Doesn't it look like something you'd find in the space-age tv show, The Jetsons?
Lately, I've been combing flea markets and vintage shops, seeing a lot of furniture, fashions and accessories from the 50's and 60's. Kinda weird, since I grew up with these things. Does that make ME vintage as well?

For over 3 years running, I've been making flower arrangements for my building lobby, the Eagle Warehouse.

The best part of this job is having this audience of over 100
people that have stayed with me. Their criticisms and compliments have helped me grow and improve. They are a very diverse and opinionated group, many of whom are artists, architects and designers. Some like my minimal, classic ikebana designs and others prefer lusher, more western arrangements with lots of flowers. So I get to experiment and
challenge myself to come up with different designs every week

This arrangement got me a handwritten note from Apt 4G:
"This is the most exquisite and artistic flower arrangement
I have ever seen!!!!"

I feel so happy and lucky.

calla lilies, hydrangea, ruskus, mini crabapple branches

I picked up these vine balls at a yard sale, found this funky container made of water hyacinth bark at the Brooklyn Flea. My friend Mary gave me a bunch of water hyacinth seeds and reeds from Thailand.
The bamboo rods I'd saved from an old tropical arrangement.
Wa la: Instant arrangement!
Not your mother's ikebana arrangement, but i think my sensei would be ok with it---i kinda recall her saying that her sensei, the Sogetsu School founder, used to say that anyone can make ikebana with anything, anywhere, anyhow. How do you like my Anywho piece?

Driftwood

Driftwood can add so much pizazzzz to ikebana!

Aren't these
amazing?
I saw these
on my cross-
country road
trip this summer. Oh
I wanted sooo badly to bring them home with me, but I
would've gotten arrested because a) they were in a national forest, and b) they were HUGE. I would've needed a semi to lug these babies home to my tiny bkln apt, and then c) my husband and dog would have to move out....[sigh]. So, over to you...next time you're in Yellowstone and you have more guts and a bigger truck, be my guest---just promise me you'll let me borrow one of them now and then, ok?