Ikebana Flower Arranging Workshops Offered at the Women's Art Center of the Hamptons

The Women’s Art Center of the Hamptons will host a series of hands-on workshops exploring the elegance and harmony of ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging.

Led by Julie Jensen, a practitioner of Sogetsu ikebana for more than 40 years, the workshops will take place on three consecutive Wednesdays: July 16, July 23 and July 30, from 10 a.m. to noon. Each session includes a history of ikebana, live demonstrations and hands-on instruction, allowing participants to create their own arrangements using seasonal flowers, branches, greens and containers.

The cost is $75 per class or $200 for the full three-session series. Participants may register for individual classes or attend the full sequence. Materials will be provided, but students are asked to bring a shallow container approximately 9 inches in diameter and 2 to 3 inches high. Suitable containers include Pyrex pie plates, quiche dishes or plastic trays from florists.

Jensen, who began studying ikebana at the Smithsonian Institution on her 30th birthday, has taught widely and assisted Sogetsu School headmaster Hiroshi Teshigahara at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Now a resident of the East End, she incorporates plants from her own garden into her floral work.

The workshops are designed for anyone interested in the meditative beauty of ikebana, whether beginners or seasoned gardeners, and will offer a peaceful, creative group experience.

The workshops will take place at the Women’s Art Center of the Hamptons, 2418 Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton. For more information, visit wachamptonsny.org.