Nature of an art

Transcending time, Yoshi Erickson connects Mill Creek with sixth century Japan through the distinctive art form of ikebana. More than simply flower arranging, this disciplined art form brings nature and humanity together through shape, line and form.

Ikebana is part of the fabric of Japanese culture. The art is shown on television, taught in schools and admired daily. It was in school that Erickson became enamored with the practice as a young woman in Okinawa. She brought her passion and expertise in the Japanese art when she relocated to the Seattle area in the mid 1970s.

Bringing ikebana to life, Erickson and the local masters and advanced students of the Mill Creek Ikenobo group will present the 11th Annual Exhibition of Japanese Flower Arrangements, Sunday, June 14 at City Hall Annex Building in the Large Community Room. Thirty fresh flower arrangements, presented in the traditional Japanese fashion, will be on display between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. During the exhibition, Erickson will present a complimentary lesson and demonstration at 2 p.m. The events are sponsored by the Mill Creek Ikenobo and Mill Creek Parks &Recreation.

“This exhibit shows how beautiful a flower can be,” says Erickson. “It is wonderful to have this special exhibit for Mill Creek.”

The disciplined art form is more than putting flowers in a container, explains Erickson. It is a creative expression with time-honored rules governing the final form woven out of organic branches, leaves, grasses and flowers. The artist’s intention for the arrangement is shown through color combinations, natural shapes and graceful lines, she explains.

While there are several styles of the art and ikebana is always in evolution, the practice is very “spiritual and personal,” says Erickson. “It is bringing the art of nature into your home, linking inside with outside and reflecting the mood and atmosphere of the season.”

Studying ikebana is a spiritual journey, she says. Students appreciate things in nature that are generally overlooked in busy lives.

Teaching in her Mill Creek home since 1979, Erickson came to the area in awe of all the available organic materials. Mill Creek has a wealth of knowledge in Erickson, according to Mary Love, one of her students. “She is well known for the Mill Creek Ikenobo group. Learning from her is refreshing. She is relaxed and lets us make mistakes so we learn by doing not by being lectured to.” Over the years Erickson has taught men, women, seniors and children the ancient art form.

Ikebana teachers qualify through the Ikenobo School in Kyoto. Sixty countries have 165 chapters with 8,500 members, according to the Ikenobo in Kyoto. In Washington state, there are three chapters plus several study groups.