2022 Collaboration Installation

My initial interest in the traditional Japanese arts, probably going back to my grandfather’s influence, was in gardens and plants. This turned into an interest in the art of Ikebana (flower arranging) and then later to Chanoyu (tea ceremony). The more I’ve learned about tea ceremony, the more I have realized how central the tea aesthetic is to most of Japanese art including Ikebana. I have been pursuing the Ikebana vessels for quite a few years now. The forms inspired by Nature have evolved over the years, but the intent and materials and methods of construction have remained the same. Anyone who has followed this work will recognize the “Stone” Basins and Vessels. This is the foundation of this line of inquiry. To these pieces I try to add new ideas. The gourd vases here evolved from a more conventional gourd shaped vase. In Ikebana, the container is not viewed as a separate entity, but rather as an integral part of the whole. It must not detract from or overwhelm that which it contains.