2015 February 20 – HANAKUBARI – THE ART OF FLOWER BALANCING

Thanh Kosen Nguyen reveals the challenging Art of Flower Balancing in February’s program. Thanh is a past president of the chapter and holds teaching degrees in both Wafukai and Sogetsu. Born in Vietnam to a family of artists, she was introduced to ikebana at an early age but began formal studies with Fusako Hoyrup after arriving in the USA. While raising two daughters, she attended night school and graduated San Jose State University with degrees in Marketing and Engineering. For 25 years she worked in the high tech industry. After retiring she directed her energies to teaching ikebana in Palo Alto and Menlo Park and directing a senior program in Palo Alto. In 2014 she spent the summer in Tokyo studying at the Mami Flower Design School. Also in 2014 she initiated the chapter’s “Ikebana for Youth” workshop program in local schools. She also led the team which updated the chapter’s website in 2014. She continues to serve on the chapter’s board of directors as our Liaison for I.I.’s North American Region.

Thanh’s ikebana has been displayed in many exhibitions, demonstration programs, flower shows and museums. She has exhibited at Bouquets to Art at the de Young Museum, the Asian Art Museum, and at Filoli Gardens. She also has exhibited internationally in Paris, Vietnam and Manila. She has many other hobbies and interests including her garden, the symphony and opera, movies, painting, the Chinese harp, biking, and caring for the family pets.

Demonstrator

Exhibitors