Nobuko Relnick’s Ikebana Background

Nobuko Relnick

Nobuko Relnick recieved the first teacher's certificate from the Sogetsu Ikebana Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan in 1966, continuing on to receive the highest teacher's certificate, "Riji rank," from Stogestu Headquarters in Japan thirty years later in 1996. She was a member of the Ikebana International Tokyo Founding Chapter from 1988 to 1998, when she moved to Woodinville, WA from Tokyo, Japan. She was president of Ikebana International's Seattle Chapter from 2001 to 2003. Shortly after moving to Washington state in 1998, she opened her Woodinville Sogetsu Studio in the Seattle area in order to continue her art and offer Sogetsu Ikebana classes to others. Nobuko's credits include teaching Ikebana to the faculty and parents of the American School in Japan from 1977 to 1998, as well as at the YWCA in Jackson, Michigan, and the Woodinville Library. She is presently teaching Sogetsu Ikebana at her Woodinville Sogetsu Studio, the Kirkland Arts Center, and Uwajimaya in Seattle. She is also teaching Sogetsu Ikebana as a healing art at Cancer Lifeline and will begin teaching at Pottery Northwest beginning in March 2005.

Nobuko has given many demonstrations of the art of Sogetsu Ikebana. The places where she has demonstrated include: Various Garden Clubs around the U.S.A. Various Retirement Homes in Seattle Various Schools in Seattle Woodinville City Celebration Seattle Asian Art Museum Ikebana International Seattle Chapter Annual Exhibition Eastside Japan Festival Cherry Blossom Festival Sogetsu Seattle Branch Exhibition Kirkland Arts Center Bellevue Art Museum Bellevue Art Fair YMCA in Downtown Seattle Pottery Northwest Northwest Flower & Garden Show Nobuko's various works have also been displayed numerous places. For photos of some of these works, please visit her Sogetsu Ikebana Gallery. Venues that have exhibited her Sogetsu Ikebana are: American School in Japan Sogetsu Headquarters’ Annual Exhibition in Japan Seattle Art Museum Seattle Asian Art Museum Garden of Arts in Seattle Bellevue Art Museum Kirkland Arts Center Northwest Flower and Garden Show Ikebana International Seattle Chapter’s Annual Exhibition Eastside Japan Festival Cherry Blossom Festival Sogetsu Seattle Branch Exhibition Pottery Northwest