2023 01 • Sogetsu San Fernando Valley Branch Demonstration

At the Ikebana International Los Angeles, Chapter #4 New Year's Luncheon and 65th Anniversary Celebration a demonstration was held by the Sogetsu San Fernando Valley Branch. We are grateful to their organization about after participating in last year's Katen, many members from Sogetsu SFV have joined our Chapter. I'm truly honored to have them all play an active role in Ikebana International LA activities and appreciate them for sharing their floral art with us.

Ms. Patricia Ziggler did an amazing job introducing and narrating each presentation. Here's a bit about each person and their work.

Kevin Umbricht
In 2015, Kevin began taking classes in the Sogetsu school of Ikebana, where he studied under Sensei Kyoko Kassarjian. Having garnered his fourth teaching certificate, Kevin is honored to complete his first solo demonstration for Ikebana International.

Dr. Sofia Vaisman
Sofia Vaisman came to the US after studying medicine in Moldova, one of the Republics of the former Soviet Union, now a separate country.

Sofia owns a large number of fabulous vases like the one she is using today.
Sofia also has recruited others to join in the study of Sogetsu, sharing her enthusiasm.

Dr. Pilar Mina
Pilar had to take 10 years off from her studies while working but now that she is a retired physician she finally has time to enjoy her artistic interests. Her name is Keishu, which her Japanese colleagues told her means excellent student, but HUMBLE.

Gabriel Pacheco
Originally from Santiago, Chile, Gabriel earned his degree in forestry at Catholic University of Chile. He received formal training first in Western and then in Japanese Ikebana styles leading to his initial floral design certification in 2003, whereupon he inaugurated Gabriel Pacheco Flower Design. His growing fascination with Ikebana naturally led Gabriel in 2004 to the Sogetsu School of Ikebana flower arrangement at UCLA. Since then, his love and dedication to Ikebana resulted in Gabriel being awarded a high-level teaching certificate from the Sogetsu headquarters school in Japan and becoming an Ikebana instructor at UCLA.

See more photos from their demonstration below and read the full Luncheon recap here http://bit.ly/3YgtqLL >>