The Ohara School of Ikebana was founded by Unshin Ohara (1861-1916). Unshin explored the fields and mountains and tried to develop a style of ikebana to express the beauty of natural scenery. He also searched for ways to arrange Western flowers that had just begun to be imported into Japan and created a new style called Moribana. It is considered to be the first brilliant step in modern ikebana. Unshin’s sensational introduction of Moribana brought nearly all Ikebana schools have their own Moribana style today.
Yuko Inoue Darcy
Since 2005, Ms. Inoue-Darcy has been teaching Ikebana throughout Chicagoland. She is a member of and an instructor in the Ohara School of Ikebana, both in
Japan and in the U.S. Originally from Japan, Ms. Inoue-Darcy practiced Ikebana,
Tea Ceremony and Incense Ceremony from a young age. Ms. Inoue-Darcy moved
to the U.S. where she received a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature from
Washington University in St. Louis, where she was also an instructor of the
Japanese Language. In 1994, she accepted a teaching position at West Side High
School, a public high school in Gary, Indiana, striving to inspire and nurture
students with Japanese art, culture and language. While teaching in Gary, she
was voted to be listed for Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Ms. Inoue-
Darcy has traveled to more than 20 countries, exploring her curiosity about each
country’s indigenous plants, flowers and arrangement styles.
Currently, Ms. Inoue-Darcy is an active Ikebana lecturer, exhibitor, and
demonstrator who travels nationally and internationally. She teaches regularly at
the Japanese American Service Committee, the Evanston Art Center, the Japanese
Culture Center, as well as at her own studio in Lincoln Park. Her principal
teachers are the late Hougyoku Hirai, the late Senyo Kato, the late Kazuko Ernst,
the late Houhatsu Takeuchi, and Kousui Kawakami. Ms. Inoue-Darcy is the
President of the Ohara School of Ikebana Chicago Chapter as well as the President
of the Ikebana International Chicago Chapter. Ms. Inoue-Darcy holds the First
Term Master’s degree, the highest instructor’s certificate.
Class Schedule
Tuesdays & Wednesdays (Virtual Class)
7:00-8:00 PM (Intermediate Class – Invitation Only)
Wednesdays (Virtual Class)
6:00-7:00 PM (Introductory Class)
Saturdays (In-Person Class)
10:00-11:30 AM (Introductory Class)
*After taking 2 sessions of Introductory Ikebana, a student may take Intermediate Ikebana.
Costs
Class prices vary depending on certain factors such as amount of sessions, and wether in-person or virtual.
*virtual classes do not include an estimated $23 flower fee every week*
Beginner Supplies + Estimated Prices
Kenzan+stopper $25
Scissors $32
Beginners’ container $42 (optional)
*Inoue Sensei can assist you in acquiring supplies. Price does not include shipping outside of Chicago.*