About
About Zoom Ikebana Dojo
Join an online learning community using Zoom. Roughly based on the cooperative learning method, this project is to support your ikebana study, in particular, if you are studying alone. This is ideal for many people who are working in isolation. Meet ikebana friends around the world.Two Major Programs
Ikebana Dojo offers one of the most unusual online ikebana courses today. We believe that much of modern ikebana developed with the influence of the Western Modern Art Movement while denying its cultural and spiritual tradition - the way of flowers.
Ikebana courses such as “Easy Ikebana”, “Fun Ikebana” , or “Impressive Ikebana” seem to be popular today, particularly outside Japan. Those courses may teach ikebana as art but not as the way of flowers. They can never produce true ikebana masters because they do not teach the essence of ikebana - meditation & dedication.
Zoom Ikebana Dojo aims to teach meditation through its Ikebana Aesthetic Program, and dedication through its 1000 Ikebana Challenge. Our mission is to teach ikebana as the way of flowers, making links with Japanese traditional culture, and to help more people master ikebana online.
Ikebana Aesthetics Program is ideal for;
- Beginners - Learn the essence of ikebana in 1 year,
- Ikebana Teachers - Learn how to teach ikebana more effectively, and
- Art Therapists - Learn the essence of ikebana online and apply ikebana for your own practice: Work as an Ikebana/Flower Therapist if you are qualified as an art therapist.
Goal
Zoom Ikebana Dojo & Dr Shoso Shimbo
Zoom Ikebana Dojo is another project initiated by Dr Shoso Shimbo who helped establish Ikebana Gallery Award (since 2012) and Wa Melbourne Ikebana Festival (since 2019).
Rationale:
1. To provide ikebana teachers, including early career teachers, opportunities to practice teaching ikebana in a relaxed environment.
2. To provide many ikebana students with the opportunity to learn from international ikebana artists. In particular, there are many students who don't have access to quality ikebana tuition due to where they live. We are planning to invite the world class masters to take part in this project as facilitators.
3. To supplement the traditional teaching of ikebana, in which design theories are not to be discussed. Shoso developed a new curriculum to help beginners as well as those who need extra help in learning the essence of ikebana.
The Ikebana Gallery Award is the first online ikebana competition that is open to all ikebana students for free. It has been supported by a number of volunteers including international ikebana artists, artists, art specialists, Japan's top ikebana academics, and one of Japan's top museum directors. The project has provided many ikebana students with opportunities to develop their skills and gain recognition they can mention in their CVs.
Shoso's initiatives to support the study of ikebana were featured in Kobayashi (2018) "Ikebana: A history, Modern period to present", International Journal of Ikebana Studies, 6.
Shoso and his team helped make "Wa Melbourne Ikebana Festival" a successful international art festival in Melbourne. The success was largely due to his team who were extremely creative and hard working. They came up with the following mission statement that reflects our attitude to contemporary ikebana.
Wa Melbourne Ikebana Festival
Vision
Harmony (wa) through flowers - for society and the environment.
People around the world experiencing, enjoying, understanding and appreciating ikebana individually and together.
Mission
To increase community understanding, enjoyment and participation in ikebana by promoting the benefits of ikebana as
- a creative and enjoyable art form for anyone to practice or view
- a meditative and therapeutic activity
- a way to change attitudes - to live harmoniously with nature rather than regard it just as a resource
- a way to have a positive influence on others and on the earth.
Goals
1.The number of people viewing, learning and practicing ikebana will increase
2. Ikebana teachers and students (local, interstate and overseas) will have increased, affordable and easily accessed opportunities to exhibit, demonstrate, discuss and teach their art
3. the wider community will have regular and increasing opportunities to engage with ikebana in a range of ways
Values and behaviours
Wa committee members, staff and volunteers are from a range of ikebana schools, experience and backgrounds. We value the following behaviours and strive to act in accordance with them.
1. Kindness and consideration for each other, respecting our personal qualities, similarities and differences
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