Activities || Our Schools || Visiting Masters || Bibliography

From the beginning in 1960, to the early-1980’s, our Chapter activities reflect the ‘Lifestyles’ and ‘Society’ sections of Portland area newspapers. The scope of activities and appeal were similar to the prominent Portland Garden Club’s monthly programs of speakers, demonstrations on flower arranging and related gardening interests. The II Chapter activities, however, focused on ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arranging, and other Japanese cultural arts. In more recent decades, these activities have adapted to the community’s evolving interests and needs.

Initially, membership to the Chapter was much sought after, and limited to 160 members. In 1982, the Chapter’s policy was changed to open membership, accepting all interested persons, and to do away with the “fashionable” waiting lists. In the 21st century, approximately 60 members sustain the Chapter.

Fund raising was a significant Chapter activity in the early years. The Hana Bus Tours of private Lake Oswego homes decorated with ikebana arrangements successfully raised funds and promoted ikebana. Joint exhibitions of art and arrangements were gala events at the Portland Art Museum to benefit the Oriental art acquisitions fund.

Among the Chapter’s main beneficiaries was the Portland Japanese Garden Society, from its inception in 1963. Contributions to the Garden, noted in correspondence, minutes or news articles, were often specified: funds toward a stonewall near the entrance, a cedar gate at the service entrance, a stone lantern to be placed by the tea house, portable shoji screens, etc.

The Chapter’s first Iris Exhibition was held in the Garden’s new Tea House in 1975. The Chapter’s first Chrysanthemum Exhibit was held at the Garden Pavilion in 1983 and gradually expanded to include exhibitions by each of the ikebana schools. Some 30 years later, these annual ikebana exhibitions at the Garden continue.

In 1998, when the Museum’s new Gallery of Japanese Art opened, the Chapter was invited to provide an arrangement for the Gallery’s authentic tokonoma. The Chapter provided a new arrangement, each week, until December 2013, when the Museum announced a change in policy that no longer tolerated the potential risks of spilled water, infestation of insects, etc.,.

Chapter members have actively engaged with the community to introduce ikebana to people of all ages at Japanese cultural events and festivals. From 1992, Chapter Board Meeting minutes include regular reports from the Standing Committee on Schools. At its peak, in the mid-90’s, this popular Chapter activity introduced ikebana, and other hands-on cultural activities, to approximately 400 students in a year. Fifteen years later, changing classroom and school district priorities effectively brought an end to this outreach to schools.  Among the elder chapter members, school visits remain a fond memory. [Below: Thank you note to Mae Ninomiya from the Montclair School, May 1997]