Who Are We?
Our chapter was chartered in 1969 as Ikebana International Chapter #121 of Minneapolis-St. Paul.
We are a group of Ikebanists whose mission is to promote the art of Japanese flower arranging and Japanese arts and culture. Our motto, shared throughout the Ikebana International world, is “Friendship Through Flowers.” Our chapter consists of members, students, and teachers (senseis).
Many of our teachers have studied Ikebana in Japan. While there are thousands of schools of Ikebana, our chapter represents three different schools: Sogetsu, Ohara, and Ichiyo.
As a nonprofit organization, we are volunteers who share our time and talents to enrich the community through our art.
Our chapter includes members from many cultural backgrounds, all of whom share the love of Ikebana and the Japanese culture. Several of our members practice other Japanese art forms such as sumi-e (Japanese ink wash painting) and Chanoyu (Japanese tea ceremony).
Our chapter is part of Ikebana International which is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Ikebana International was founded in 1956 with the mission of cultivating the art of Ikebana internationally. In major cities worldwide, local chapters provide the structure and opportunities for students to study and develop their technical and artistic skills through exhibitions and workshops with teachers who are certified in various schools of Ikebana.
Community Presence
We have been an integral member of the Twin Cities art experience for more than five decades. Over the years, our chapter has participated in countless events throughout our local community and beyond including the Home and Garden show at the Minneapolis Convention Center, the Japanese Tea Ceremony at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the North Star Lily Society Exhibitions at Bachman’s, and the Ibaraki Sister City 50th Anniversary Event at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA), to name a few. Our members participate annually in events such as Art in Bloom at MIA, The Fall Flower Show (Mum Show) at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, and the Normandale Japanese Garden Fundraiser.
Other Ikebana websites of note:
Ikebana North & Central American Region