Ikebana (Japanese Flower Arranging)

Korean/American ceramic artist Martin Kim will speak about his interest in ceramic container forms for Ikebana. Through “The Way of Flowers,” Kim takes a philosophical approach and acknowledges mortality in a celebration of life. He will show some examples of his past work and a brief slide presentation of wide-ranging Ikebana vessels that have inspired him.

This event is free to the public (adult only) and open to attend as guest observers in person (no flower materials provided), or via Zoom meeting. Please email to austinikebanagroup@gmail.com to RSVP. This will take place in the Garden Center Auditorium.

About the Presenter

Over the past five decades, Kim has studied with some of America’s foremost ceramic artists including Don Reitz, Betty Woodman, Richard DeVore, Ken Ferguson, and Jack Troy. Kim is a principal partner along with his wife, Taffy Kim, in Common Era Art Studios in Austin, Texas. Since being featured in 1978 as one of the seventeen leading Colorado craftspeople by The Denver Art Museum, his studio work has also been exhibited at the Tacoma Art Museum, The Boulder Center for Contemporary Art, St. John’s College in Santa Fe, and the permanent collection of the Tucson Museum of Art among other venues.

Kim is the recipient of numerous regional awards including a scholarship to the Santa Fe Arts Institute to study with internationally renowned sculptor, Beverly Pepper. He also served as a studio assistant to the pre-eminent conceptual artist, Bruce Nauman. Kim is a founding member of the Brimstone Pottery co-operative in Boulder, Colorado and past Director of Arizona State Museum’s Southwest Indian Arts Fair, Southern Arizona’s largest Native American arts fair.