Red and green is a color combination we see all year long. It shows up in flowers, vegetables like beets and chard and even on the laundry soap bottle. The combination is iconic at Christmas time.
If I were thinking along lines of “the way it’s s’posed to be,” this poinsettia would fit my expectations—perfectly. Imagine my surprise then when I noticed my Ikebana arrangement used the conventions—unconventionally.
With light reflecting through it, the vase is cobalt blue. Without light, it appears green. The chrysanthemums are a hue of red and the only fresh plant material in an otherwise dried arrangement.
The pods are dried okra. The “broom-like” piece is unknown to my teacher—and to me. I liked the mass it provided.
In this week’s lesson, I was to disassemble materials and recompose them so their appearance would be changed. This was a stretch of the sort that can induce a headache. However, I had fun with it. The results made me laugh. As the week goes on, I find myself thinking about how I can extend the deconstruction—in the arrangement and beyond.
This week’s arrangement represents my aspiration. Be bold. Be playful. Stay relaxed. See what happens.
On the flower path, what we create also creates us.
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