Exhibition honors the memory of former Glen Arden resident Toshiko Shindo Alden

GOSHEN, N.Y. (June 29, 2017) – The Glen Arden Continuing Care Retirement Community will host members of the New York Tachibana chapter of the Ikenobo Ikebana Society in a free, one day exhibit of their Japanese floral art on Saturday, July 22.

The floral exhibition honors the memory of former Glen Arden resident Toshiko Shindo Alden, who moved to Glen Arden in 1997 but passed away earlier this year. She would have celebrated her 100th birthday in July.

Alden, who was the founder of the Ikenobo Ikebana Society of New York, was an accomplished flower arranger and instructor, and taught classes in the region and throughout the Northeast for decades. She served as president of the society’s Eastern Seaboard as well as president of its New York chapter.

She studied at the highest floral institute in Japan and received a special certification from the New York Botanical Gardens. Her pieces were on exhibit at the New York Botanical Gardens and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

At Glen Arden, she continued to teach classes and conduct workshops.

Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. It is more than simply putting flowers in a container. It is a disciplined art form in which the arrangement is a living thing where nature and humanity are brought together. It is steeped in the philosophy of developing a closeness with nature.

Ikebana’s history spans 500 years in Japan, with many practitioners worldwide. Traditional styles of Ikebana were developed in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, with new styles introduced to reflect the 20th and 21st centuries.

The public exhibit will be held from 12 to 4 p.m. in Glen Arden’s Rhinebeck Room. Chapter members will be in attendance to answer all questions about this style of floral arranging.

To learn more, call 360-1469.