Spring: New Beginnings
Announcement April 21, 2023
San Francisco Bay Area Chapter #31
Swati Bhargava (Ichiyo) grew up fully entrenched in ikebana, watching her mother teach and facilitate workshops and helping her set up for countless demos and exhibitions. Swati attended the 2017 World Convention in Okinawa. Her background is in education, policy, and the arts. She has taught in Sri Lanka, Spain, and on two reservations in New Mexico. She is currently finishing up her 4th book in Ichiyo.
Sharon Suimei Doi (Sogetsu) started ikebana alongside her mother from a young age and is a student of Joan Yusui Suzuki. She currently holds the Sogetsu teaching certificate of 3rd Grade Level. Sharon has exhibited at the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, ArtScapes in the Garden at the Ruth Branch Garden and the Moraga Pear Festival. She has demonstrated at the Sogetsu Bay Area Branch’s ArtScape and at the Marin County Fair.
Leona “Kasen” Fung (Wafu) was born in Hong Kong and came to the U.S. in 1977. She is now a retired computer engineer and ikebana practitioner. She currently holds a Somu degree in Wafu ikebana and studies under the direction of Fusako Hoyrop. Leona is the Vice President and Social Secretary of the Wafu school of Ikebana, California Chapter, and is also the Membership Chair for the Ikebana Teacher’s Federation. She has demonstrated for Ikebana Teacher’s Federation, Monterey I.I. Chapter and the Wafu 50th Anniversary Flower Show.
Juri Kinoshita (Ikenobo) began studying while in Japan in 1998. After moving to San Francisco in 2002, she continued her ikebana studies with Kinko Saiki and after moving to East Bay with Shuji Ikeda. Juri currently holds the certificate Professor of Ikebana 2nd grade. She has exhibited at the de Young Museum’s Bouquets to Art exhibit since 2021, at the Northern California chapter of Ikenobo Ikebana Flower Show and has displayed a side arrangement for our chapter. She is a member of the San Francisco Chapter of Ikebana International and the Northern California Chapter of Ikenobo Ikebana.
