October 7 @ 5:30 pm – November 18 @ 8:30 pm
Clay & Bloom: Ikebana Sogetsu & Vase Making Workshop (Intermediate)
Tuesdays October 7 to November 18, 2025
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
For ages 18+
Explore the interplay between form and nature in this 7-week intermediate workshop blending ceramic practice with Sogetsu school of Ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement. The workshops will be guided by Magdalena Tamura-Reid and Teiji Reid of IWAYA.WORKS and ceramics instructor Mohammad Tabesh. You will be asked to pick two (2) finished works for use in your flower arrangements.
This class includes a 10kg bag of stoneware clay and floral materials for your final arrangement. Additional Ikebana materials (such as Kenzan) will be available for purchase.
Class dates: October 7, 14, 21, 28, November 4, 11, 18
Class Outline:
- Week 1: Intro to Ikebana and planning (Please bring a notebook with you)
- Week 2: Forming vessels (hand building and wheel throwing)
- Week 3: Forming vessels
- Week 4: Forming vessels
- Week 5: Forming vessels
- Week 6: Glazing, final firing
- Week 7: Sogetsu Ikebana arrangement
Important Information:
- Please ensure the course you choose works with your schedule. For any withdrawals, a non-refundable fee of $50 fee per course will be charged, regardless of the reason for withdrawal. No withdrawals will be accepted within 10 business days of the class start date, regardless of the reason for withdrawal.
- Using the pottery wheel may cause serious injury to a person who has a pacemaker. Consult a physician before use.
- By signing up for this class, participants are committing to abide by the Museum’s Code of Conduct, Ticketing Policy, and Studio Policy.
Gardiner Friends, please log in to access your discount and front-of-the-line access. Gardiner Friends may only purchase adult clay classes at the discounted rate for membership card holders.
Instructors
IWAYA.WORK
Magdalena Tamura-Reid has been a dedicated practitioner of Sogetsu ikebana for over 20 years, finding endless inspiration in this elegant floral art form. Her passion extends beyond practice—she actively demonstrates, exhibits, and teaches ikebana throughout the Greater Toronto Area. For more than a decade, Magdalena has devoted her energy as Chair of the Ikebana Iwaya Fund (a non-profit providing grants to support ikebana) where she leads efforts to promote and expand the reach of ikebana. Her mission is to cultivate a growing community of practitioners and deepen public appreciation for this unique art. She is an active member of the Sogetsu Toronto Branch and an advocate for Ikebana International’s over 60 chapters in the North and Central America Region.
Teiji Reid, Magdalene’s son, is a visual artist currently focused on painting, new media, and physical language.
Ceramics Instructor
Mohammad Tabesh
Mohammad Tabesh is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist whose work delves into the complexities of the human experience, resistance, and social change. Across various mediums, including writing, printmaking, multimedia, and sculpture, Mohammad strives to convey deeply human and universal stories. His work has been recognized with several Canada Council for the Arts grants and an Access Copyright Foundation grant. Mohammad earned his BFA from OCAD University and was honoured as the recipient of the university’s Sculpture and Installation Medal in 2020. In 2022, he was accepted as an Artist-in-Residence for ceramics at Harbourfront Centre.