Royal Botanic Gardens, Palm House Exhibition
- Posted: 12 July 2009 (Permalink)
Written by Margaret Hall
On the 15th June we began to set up an exhibition at the Royal Botanic Gardens (Sydney) in the Palm House – an old white-washed glass house which gave ever-changing bright light – a great venue for our Sogetsu display.
The previous week we had made sculptures from 5 medake bamboo poles, two metres long and split 7 ways but stopped 50cm from the ends and wired. The individual split poles were bent and wired together till they resembled giant whisks. Our intention was to hang them from the high-pitched ceiling beams, however once the individual displays were in place we decided the space was not large enough. We stood them together interlocking on the grass near the main entrance and anchored them down with tent pegs. They made a great introduction to our display.
Twenty-five arrangements were on show, three of them large floor instillations making strong statements. A great variety of material and containers were used – banksias, scribbly bark, orchids, iris, pomegranates, agave, heliconias, palm flower spikes, strelitzia and kale all made a great display.
We had many visitors and three workshops were held giving people on introduction to the art, they all participated with great enthusiasm.
The show was on display for 6 days, after it was over several pieces were “borrowed” by the RBG shop to enhance their showroom.
Congratulations to the winners of the Ikebana containers, Mrs P Walters, Ms K Wilson and Ms L Wong.
