Visitors to the Sackville Public Library this weekend are being treated to a landscape of unique flower arrangements placed among the bookshelves.
The exhibit showcased the Japanese art of flower arrangement called ikebana.
Miyako Ballesteros is a Halifax teacher of the Sogetsu school of the art form who put on the exhibit alongside her students. She said ikebana differs from most western styles of flower arrangement.
“We appreciate the negative spaces, asymmetrical or unbalanced beauty,” Ballesteros said, adding that the art helps develop one’s appreciation of branches in addition to flowers.
Ikebana is a way of life, Ballesteros said. “Once you start learning, there’s nothing to stop you, just motivation.”
Nova Scotia is a perfect place to practice the art, she said.
“When you go outside you will find interesting shape of plants. Doesn’t matter if it’s in your backyard or … just dropping on the street after windy days.”
Ikebana has changed how Media Chalabi looks at the world. She’s one of Ballesteros’s students and has been practicing the art form for 10 years now.
“It is something special … not just putting flowers in the vase,” Chalabi said.
For Chalabi, practising ikebana is a form of meditation.
“When I feel stress, I’m doing ikebana … [then] I become happy.”
Sunday is the final day of the exhibit, with a live demonstration at 1 p.m.
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