This workshop is part of the Garden Museum's Branch Out programme, a series of free events and activities exploring gardening, art, floristry, plant science, history, design, and more!
‘(Almost) Ikebana’ is a workshop series conceptualised by artist Johanna Tagada Hoffbeck for The Gardening Drawing Club and based loosely on the Japanese art form of arranging flowers known as ‘Ikebana’. In this workshop, participants are invited to observe, paint, and arrange flowers with a set of prompts, breathing exercises, discussion, and shared cups of organic herbal tea to instil a calming, creative environment. Participants will discuss the concept and technique after viewing images from various Ikebana Schools and be encouraged to describe the practice verbally. Each participant will decorate a paper cup to hold the plants and create an arrangement following (or almost) a set of Ikebana rules shared by Johanna. This workshop is suitable for adults and children. All materials will be provided. The plants used in these workshops will originate from the Garden Museum’s gardens. Johanna Tagada Hoffbeck has been an Ohara Ikebana student since 2018 and is currently on the Assistant Teacher’s course. She grows flowers and vegetables on two allotment plots following veganic permaculture and natural farming principles.
More about The Gardening Drawing Club
Founded in 2021, The Gardening Drawing Club is a series of unique events with a holistic approach offering free access to arts and horticulture in Britain. With monthly happenings, The Gardening Drawing is hosted in a broad range of locations, from art centres to community gardens and temples; the events range from workshops to talks and experiences. Veganic gardening methods are employed through The Gardening Drawing Club, advocating for gentleness and compassion while supporting seed sovereignty, racial, climate and land justice and reparation, biodiversity, and animal liberation. The Gardening Drawing Club has a shared mission to integrate the joys of gardening and drawing into others’ lives for individual and community well-being. The Gardening Drawing Club was founded by artist Johanna Tagada Hoffbeck.
Our Branch Out programme has been made possible thanks to funding from Arts Council England.