Message from Our President
I agree. I just cannot imagine
the world without flowers, can you?
Dear Members,
Time flies! We are
now into the third Month of 2017.
We had a pre Chinese New Year Ohara
workshop in January which was very well received. For those who did not sign
up, it was quite a loss. The program was subsidized by the Chapter so
participants needed just to pay a nominal sum and in return they brought back a
ceramic container, an ikebana arrangement with beautifully chosen materials
plus a sumptuous nyonya lunch. I would like to remind all members to read the
newsletter carefully each time so as not to miss out on any interesting
program.
In February, I accepted an
invitation to give a workshop and an ikebana demonstration to the II Karachi
Chapter 204 in Karachi, Pakistan. It was a very rewarding trip. The members
there were extremely hospitable, warm, receptive and passionate about
Ikebana. Kamisah travelled with me and
recorded our 9-day stay in Karachi in an article “The Karachi Experience”
produced in this issue of the newsletter. Do have a read.
Our next program will be our
Annual Excursion to a Muar nursery. I am sure it will be a very interesting and
educational outing. Please read the
details and put your name down to avoid disappointment as we are only taking 20
pax for the trip.
April 10th to 16th, I shall be
off to Okinawa, Japan attending the 11th Ikebana World
Convention representing our Chapter.
Our Annual General Meeting will
be held in on 27th May. Please mark it in your calendar.
Friendship through Flowers
Datin Ong Kid Ching
President
The Karachi Experience
It was almost midnight on
February 6 when we landed at Karachi International Airport. Outside the airport
despite the cool crisp Karachi air of 16 degrees centigrade I felt a surge of
warmth. My nostrils filled with the faint fragrance of jasmine and rose coming
from the garland on my wrist. Smiling unfamiliar faces, firm handshakes and
hugs welcomed Datin Kid Ching and me. At that moment, I concluded that Datin
had made the right decision to come and demonstrate for the II Karachi Chapter
204. Mrs Safiah Nusrat, the president of Karachi Chapter and Mrs Nayyer Arshad,
the vice president together with their family members came to receive us. For
the next 7 nights and 8 days. Nayyer hosted us in her lovely, comfortable, spacious
residence.
We started work the very next
morning to prepare for the workshop to be held on 8th February at
the Japanese Cultural Centre. The organizing committee came in full force to
help us sort out the workshop materials we brought from home. In between coffee
breaks, chats and laughter, we did not realize it took us almost the whole day
to organize the materials.
8th Feb – When we arrived at the
Japanese Cultural Centre at about 9.30 am, 32 ladies were already seated behind
their work tables, eagerly waiting for us. I was awed by their punctuality!
Three workshops were held one after another in record time (according to them).
For the first workshop, Datin Kid Ching demonstrated an instructed patiently
step by step on how to fold the origami box. Everybody was so excited, full of
appreciation the see the final product. For the second workshop, she showed
them how to make use of the box by doing a basic Ohara Arrangement. The simple
Hiraku was elegance personified. The third workshop was a freestyle Soegetsu
arrangement. The participants were divided into three groups. Everyone brought
their own containers and natural materials to be incorporated with man made
materials which we brought from Johor Bahru. Everyone was given 2 metres of
aluminium wire. In addition, the first group was given 5 ping pong sized
polystyrene balls. The second group was given 3 pieces of odd shapes and sizes
of coloured acrylic sheets, while the third group was given 3 transparent
acrylic sheets which had been torched by Datin into glass-like sculpture. The
members were so receptive and creative that the end result was stunning pieces
of art with minimum correction from Datin. After a short break of pot luck
lunch, the ladies requested a repeat of the origami box workshop. They wanted
to make sure they got everything right, some even took a video of the whole
process. Everyone enjoyed the day tremendously. Although all of them are
qualified Ikebana exponents, judging from their expressions, positive attitude
and enthusiasm, it was another learning curve for them.
9th Feb – This was
another day of preparation, this time for the ikebana demonstration. Again, the
organizing committee together with more ladies gathered at Nayyer’s residence
to assist us. The 30 kg of materials we brought had to be unpacked – the vases
sorted out, the flowers and foliage to be reconditioned, although we had
conditioned them on the sixth Feb. More materials were sourced from the gardens
of the members. Their generosity in opening their gardens to be ransacked by
Datin was so amazing. It was a tiring full day but the spirit was still strong.
10th Feb – Due to
jetlag and also the anxiety that the flowers and foliage will not survive after
5 days in the pails, at about 5am we sneaked downstairs to check and
reconditioned the flowers again. We sorted them out in 8 pails, according the
needs of each arrangement ready for the demonstrations later in the day. After
breakfast, the ladies transferred all materials to Pearl Continental Hotel – a
heritage hotel similar to the Raffles of Singapore, the venue of the
demonstration. Popularly known as PC, it is truly a befitting venue for a
foreign demonstrator of Calibre. I personally feel the choice of venue makes a
lot of difference, it motivates and sets the mood. Besides the usual preparation
for the demonstration, 30 ladies were also busy doing their arrangement as side
displays. After a quick bite, we rushed home to change and by 2.30, we were
back at PC ready for the “show”. The master of ceremony, Mrs. Iram started the
programme by inviting Mrs Safiah Nusrat to address the crowded room, followed
by the opening speech in fluent Urdu by the guest of honour, Mr Toshikazu
Isomura, the Japanese Consul General. He was so grateful that we had come all
the way to spread the Japanese culture.
Datin Kid Ching demonstrated 8
spectacular arrangements. She started with 2 beautiful garden-like arrangements
from the Ohara School – the Mawaru and Hana-Isho. The third arrangement was a
Sogetsu Nageire using a cluster of PVC pipes, sprayed to resemble bamboo. The
delicate mass of babies breath and dancing lady with twirling asparagus ferns
and a touch of blue hydrangea made an elegant presence. The fourth arrangement
was a Moribana Sogetsu arrangement using a big solid curly root lying down
lazily in a huge oval dish. Datin combined the root with a mass of acrylic
glass-like sculpture. The materials used were monotone using various shades of
green foliage and green anturiums, peeping in and out of the glass-like structure
– very stylish indeed!
The fifth arrangement was a
Hiraku in a tall vase. The combination of pine branches and Ann Black orchids
together with green spider chrysanthemum made a stunning picture. This was
followed by another Sogetsu freestyle using an elongated acrylic container with
ceramic pieces immersed in water inside the container. The whimsical bamboo
sprayed with gold and Ann Black orchids, criss-crossing each other swayed as
though they were blown by the wind. The seventh arrangement was a cascading
Ohara. The slender weeping willow branches devoid of leaves cascaded down
softly with red roses and Chinese pine making a strong statement in between the
soft branches. The finale is Datin’s forte – she used a big wooden screen with
three ceramic vases suspended on the wooden panels. The blue hydrangea, oncydium
orchid, white dendrobium, pink and green anturium and monstera leaves coming
out of the vases were linked by the soft curly asparagus ferns just like
linking friends from JB and Karachi. Throughout the demonstration, there was
absolute silence except for the applause after each arrangement. At the end of
the day, Datin received a standing ovation. Well done Kid Ching, you did our
chapter proud. I am lucky to be a part of your moment of glory.
All work and no play makes Jack a
dull boy, the ladies made sure Kid Ching and me had some time to relax in
between working sessions. Incredibly, every day we meet the 30 odd ladies
either for lunch or dinner parties at various venue, carefully planned and
executed. Their hospitality, generosity, and their passion appreciation and
receptiveness for Ikebana knows no boundaries, living up to the motto
“Friendship through Flowers”.
To match their hospitality and
generosity, Datin donated all her vases except 2 to be sold as fund raising to
the Chapter. They were snapped within minutes. The Karachi experience was also
a learning curve for me, it taught me the true meaning of togetherness,
comradeship above self in all situations, work or play. Thank you, Kid Ching
for persuading me to go with you, thank you Nayyer, for being such a wonderful
host. Thank you Safiah, Iram, Dr Nousat, Anjou, Taranum, Saman, Shanaz,
Shahina, Nafisah, Neelofa…….. The bond and memories through flowers will never
fade.
Past Events
Gong Xi Fa Cai with Ohara
Time flies!
Once again our ladies of II JB Chapter came together to usher in the Rooster
Year with an Ohara Workshop. The workshop was conducted by President, Datin Ong
Kid Ching, an Ohara teacher with many years of experience.
The materials used were gold plated ceramic containers, green spider chrysanthemum, pussy willows, Kalthum red orchids, Taiwanese pines and monstera leaves.
Datin Ong deftly guided our members step by step to 2 arrangements, namely, Hiraku and the Rising form. Tips and tricks of bending stalks and branches were also imparted to the attentive audience. The crowd was treated to a generous spread of Nyonya food . There was also a lucky draw to 3 beautiful arrangements donated by President. Thank you Datin Ong for your generosity.
Our special thanks to Programme Chairman, Datin Lynda Loh for opening up her beautiful residence to host the event.
For those who missed the workshop, it was a great loss for it was heavily subsidized by the chapter. It was truly a fun-filled afternoon for members.
Upcoming Events
“Small and Miniature
Ikebana” – a demonstration by Bernard Tay
Date :
21st March 2017 (Tuesday)
Venue :
The Gallery, Jln Tunku Puteri, Kawasan
Straits View (Near Straits View Hotel)
Time :
11 AM to 2.30 PM
Cost : RM30 for members (subsidized), RM 50 for guests
Cost : RM30 for members (subsidized), RM 50 for guests
Dress Code : Smart casual
Cuisine :
Western. There is a salad bar and
dessert bar.
There will be 10 small and miniature side displays and these
will be left at The Gallery for 3 days. Those interested in putting up display,
please contact Datin Lynda at 0127891010 for details.
We shall watch an extraordinary demonstration by Bernard Tay
on small and miniature Ikebana which is very pretty and useful for our everyday
display in our homes. There will be a raffles draw too.
''Bernard Tay holds a Riji master in Sogetsu School of Ikebana
and has an extensive portfolio in exhibitions, demonstrations and workshops in
and around the region in his almost 40 years of Ikebana practice.
Bernard had been handpicked to accompany the late lemoto of
Sogetsu School – Hiroshi Teshigahara on his European tour of demonstration in
the 80s, which is a feather in his cap.
Ikebana practitioners in the region have all heard of
Bernard or know him personally. He is easy going and generous in sharing his
skills. His beautiful works are loved by all.''
