Ikebana: flower arrangement

I learned the basic aesthetics of Ikebana flower design from my kind neighbor, Mariam, whose garden I worked in. Basic flower design is based off of high, medium, and low flower approach, as well as various angles and containers. Like all art, the real aesthetic appeal comes from what the Japanese call Myo. Myo is an appearance devoid of form, which is impossible to identify with in which the audience reacts without even really knowing. This is a term often used to describe the aesthetic term of `wabi` which is a sensuous awareness of `the void` a manifestation of Buddhaland, simplicity that is found in the natural world, often incorporating inherent moral principles through means of a purity that is free of defilement. A closely related term which applies to flower design is`Sabi`. Sabi is an immediate aesthetic apprehension of real as opposed to `Yugen` which is an aesthetic experience characterized as a vehicle to point beyond itself into a numinal dimension, or a hidden reality bridging the real with the phenomenal. Sabi is unique in it`s valoration of nature, a loneliness, a feeling of separation that is detached of civilization, from self as ego, a pure direct experience of solitariness.


Ikebana flower design has its roots in Buddhism and were initially made as offerings to the Buddha as flowers were not only seeing as aesthetically pleasing, but were in themselves symbols of Kami, the gods, and places wherein they would take residence. Ikebana flower design gradually expanded from the secondary role of alter pieces and became solitary masterpieces used for festivals, home decor, for chado (tea ceremonies), and even to social parties that were based around the art form.

Ikebana flower design moved from the humble alters of the people to the grand decoration of ceremonial halls to the mansions of the aristocrats and even the homes of the warrior class. Although Ikebana was considered to be a valuable trade to all young men who had come of age, there were schools dedicated to flower arrangement to create professional advisers in the art-form.


I designed my flower arrangement beginning with the container, which is almost, if not equally as important as the actual arrangement. Before the art form of Ikebana developed the flowers were used to accentuate the container, although now the combination of flowers and vase is considered equally complimentary, especially in regard to the form of Ikebana design such as the complex form of rikka, to the simpler arrangements of nageirebana, the free-arrangement of jiyu-bana, or cha-bana which is flowers used in decoration for tea ceremonies. The ceramic mug pictured here was made by my colleague Jacob Olsen. Within the mug sits a shot-glass, this cup within a cup is used as a support structure. I arranged my flowers to appear as if they were cascading out of the containers, a thrust of life which possess a wild nature that can not be contained. I used the leaves to counterbalance the composition, create strong diagonals and to hide the stems. I chose to conceal the stems to suggest hidden supports.

That`s a Wrap

The Japanese are very generous when it comes to helping one another and a traditional custom for the Japanese is to give small gifts as a token of thanks for such hospitality. Wanting to fully partake in the culture and express my gratitude to the people whom helped me along the way I decided to make studies on the butterfly effect called Dominos, as a little gift from America. In need of way to transport my　Dominos safely, I was also in search for an appropriate way to `gift` wrap my presents for the hospitable people of Japan who would be aiding me on my travels. I came to the realization that my ichibana bandana prints would be perfect for the job. I rather unfortunately only had two days to print the bandanas and the process for completing the prints in my jerry-rigged print lab in my grandmama`s basement would have taken over twice that amount of time. I just did not have the time to tackle the project in my studio considering that I had not yet started to packfor my trip. I had made the executive decision to head to my college and see if I would be able to use their facilities.
I had further business to conduct in my college town in hiring a yoga instructor for the student run mindfulness organization which I founded Zen Living. Upon arriving I found the Yoga Teacher to be a perfect fit for the club, in fact Tim needed the structure of our organization just as much as we needed him to lead class. Tim was very experienced in the spiritual realm and had developed a practice for over 12 years. Coincidently enough Tim was currently living inside of Knacks screen printing studio.


The gift wrap for Dominos turned out better than I could of possibly hoped, and done on my own thanks to the wonderful people of Knacks Advertising and all the correct energy lining up. This was a positive reminder that we are merely empty vessels that exist in our energetic interactions which are connections to the greater whole.

Don`t you know who I am?

My friend Chawrles got his name from the rather hysterical parody ` I`m the Juggernaut Bitch` which is a dubbing of the popular comic X-Men. The parody has an overtly confident rather self indulged character called the Juggernaut whom is based off the Hindu deity Jagannath whom is a form of Vishnu. The story of Jagganath goes on that a group of sexy cow herding girls,had told subharda to keep a look out for Jagganath so that they could talk about past times with the deity. Subharda became engrossed in listening in and did not see Jagganath roll up and over hear the conversation. As Jagganath listened in, his hair stood on end, a smile plastered his face and his eyes permanently grew enormous which is why Jagganath looks the way he does today.

Chawrles got his nick name, because like Charles Xavier, he has the psychic ability to get into persons heads (unless they`re wearing a helmet) When Chawrles had asked me to tag up his helmet I immediately obliged, despite all the studying I had to due for my trip.

I had told Chawrles to read `What the Buddha Taught` by Walpola Rahula, while I was drawing and give me the synopsis as I was supposed to have read the book for my travels. Very coincidently he had read on the back of the book that the book was distributed for free. I had actually received my free copy from Andrew, the vice president of the student run mindfulness organization which I founded Zen Living. Andrew worked at the writing center where the books were being recycled. Without realizing this I had checked out the very same novel from the Zen Center of Minneapolis and decided to give Chawrles my extra copy.

I became stuck in the drawing process and had stopped to ask Chawrles what he had learned. Chawrles read aloud `It is an undeniable fact that as long as there is doubt, perplexity, wavering, no progress is possible. It is also undeniable that there must be doubt as long as one does not see or understand clearly.` I rather quickly turned the helmet into a masterpiece except leaving a blank space for Chawrles to draw an Om

Chawrles sat in full lotus and drew Om after Om until he had fully covered his paper and truly embodied the Om

Dominos

Dominos are a continued exploration on the nature of chaos theory. I began exploring the butterfly effect through Domino in a response to an argument with a colleague of mine whom claimed that the only art relevant to the human condition was pure splattered expressionism. I could not disagree more being a practitioner of the Japanese form of Zen painting, Youfuga, which is a moving meditation performed in accord with ones breath.

Meditation is not "an escape from the world" but rather a way to prepare for re-entry. When a practitioner enters "isolation", they aren't entering by themselves, they're taking the whole world with them, the suffering they carry is the whole world's suffering. I find the butterfly effect to be an expression of oneness, a reality where everything is relevent and everything reflects everything else.

These dominos were painted utilyzing a plastic butterfly which was found among the many groundscores cleaning-up after the 10,000 Lakes Festival located in Minesota. The butterflies were then expressively thrown in a chaotic fashion at a sheet of paper followed by a controlled splatter and then chopped up to give the illusion of seperate paintings.

I intend on bringing these butterflies around the globe to give as gifts as the Japanese are very big on gifts for those whom share hospitality.

Dominos: 800yen + shipping

10,000 possibilities

With 10,000 lakes festival just around the corner I am getting ready to do work. A member of the green team, I am also planning to sell my services by slangin' didgeridoo's, bandaners, and medicinal herbs. I have recently taken an interest in Herbalism after trading "The Dharma Bums" by Jack Kerouak for a manual on Herb. I have already began healing peoples ailments and knowing that 10K will be a disaster zone, I feel that my new found abilities will be good to have on hand. I feel that the Didgeridoo ($10) will be a good way to make my services recognizably available. I'm also body painting the public as well as producing bandanas ($5) with Japanese Ichibana flower prints on them. I have began studying Ichibana flower design through my neighbor whom I am treating with herbs for a bad hip as well as working in her garden. I will be studying Ichibana flower arrangement during my stay in Japan and feel that the bandana prints will fit well with the Hippie nature of the festival circuit.

Garden View

I had heard that the U was in search of someone to lead some sessions for the mindfulness club. Having prior experience in guiding meditation I jumped on the opportunity to make my services available to the organization. After a long seated meditation and short discussion we were all very excited to be working with each other and another member led us through the Dalai Lama's favorite meditation called "The Loving Kindness Meditation" This is a meditation that begins with you picturing a family member and the love you feel for them, and move on to a close friend carrying this love, on to a distant friend and then an "enemy". I expressed to the group that I had practiced slightly differantly, beginning with your mother and feeling love but also the suffering that it took to birth you, and taking these feelings from her and giving them away. Then continue as said down the chain of people. After the sesh I was looking for a place to catch a cup of tea.

Stopping at the Tea Garden, below Corepower yoga studios in Dinky

town, I could not help but notice the art on the walls and I feel the need to "one-up" this tea art with some of my own. The current pieces were unique in that they were painted with tea but they lacked to incorporate any basic tricks such as value, shape and form.

This painting process was incredibly fun. I loved painting with the element of chaos and creative intellect. The proccess of discovery was also fun and pushed

through many mediums, such as sumi-E ink painting, pens,

conte, charcoal and pastel.

Pictured Top to Bottom:

Drip

Elefont (Stolen)

Roial

Fractically Infinitea(gifted)

Headie (Sold)

Bubble Tea (Sold)

Price: ($40-a benjamin(100USD) + Shipping), All prices/trades negotiable

Or-Gone Energy

I met alot of shanti shanti people on my journey into the woods by founding a student-recognized meditational organization called Zen Living. Having chanted at the moon on the roof of buildings with Hindu priests and meditated with Buddhist Sangha's, when I received a call from a man whom ran a Zen Group in the sister city of Eau Claire whom told me about a workshop at their spiritual headquarters in the golden temple of Chanhassen, I immediatley jumped on the opportunity and invited a crew to the event.

I had decided to look into exactly what I was getting myself into. Upon researching Eckankar I found out that they were a straight up cult. The people had some Buddhist/Hindu beliefs but mixed up the ideas a bit, getting to attached to the results of karma and such. The cult had many other strange beliefs and rituals involving drinking liquids and going on spiritual journeys, as well as a power hungry mahatma (leader) who designed their scripture to give him more power. Power truly becomes corruptable when the leader begins to hoard the power to "hold his position" rather than giving it back to the people, which would really generate more power.

Coincidently a friend of mine whom I am giving Yoga lessons in exchange for Kung fu (wing-Chun) had come over to my house and told me he had spent the entire prior day building an "Or-Gone Generator" The Or-Gone transmitters work by plastering a fiberglass resin around a crystal and metal coils. The hardened resin squeezes the crystal which releases an energy pulse that is conducted into the metal and released. The energy produced helps plants grow, increases libido and prevents mind control. Suddenly it clicked with me that I had a perfect use for the generators.

Rolling with a crew and a bag full of generators we went down to the temple and "gifted" the community. The people expressed positive thoughts in a very hollow and meek manner. The people seemed tricked into following beliefs that were fabricated by a power thirsty being. I can't be positive to as whether the plants or sexual energy of the place will be increasing, but if I free'd just one mind, the journey was well worth the trouble.

Orgone Energy Generators $5.00 + shipping