Meet Heidi Almosara | Multidisciplinary Artist & Sogetsu Ikebana Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Heidi Almosara and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Heidi, what role has risk played in your life or career?
The biggest risk that changed my life and career was getting married to my husband. He swooped in like a magic carpet and I immediately fell in love. Within three weeks of meeting, we were engaged. At that time, I was a University fine arts professor putting together my packet for tenure promotion. My fiancé was in the military and being stationed overseas, so marrying him meant resigning and not getting tenure. Since I am a goal-oriented person, this seemed like an incredible sacrifice. On the surface, it felt like too big of a risk, but I was very much in love, and I had an innate sense that this was the right decision.

We moved abroad to South Korea and then Japan. Living overseas allowed me to experience some unimaginable adventures, which ignited a new path for artmaking. To highlight a couple of experiences, I participated in an artist in residency program with MI-LAB (Mokuhanga Innovation Laboratory) located at Fujikawaguchiko in Japan. This was situated next to the iconic Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi. MI-LAB is a program designed to provide extensive knowledge of mokuhanga (water-based woodblock printmaking) and its techniques to international artists, printmakers and teachers of printmaking, as well as to enable them to make use of traditional tools and materials.

Another opportunity that I had was to learn the art form ikebana at the Sogetsu Foundation in Tokyo. The Sogetsu School was founded by Sofu Teshigahara who believed that Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging, could be more contemporary and more of a creative art. He advocated that Sogetsu ikebana could be done by anyone, anywhere, and with any material. I was able to study this special art form for a few years and eventually become a certified teacher. I attended an international class where they spoke English and then I attended a Japanese class. It was wonderful being apart of such a global cultural exchange of ikebana enthusiasts.

Having the opportunity to learn ikebana created a turning point in my art. I started to have a desire to preserve the ephemerality of my arrangements through drawings, paintings, and screen prints. An arrangement might last one day or two weeks based on the materials, so translating it’s beauty to a two-dimensional surface was intriguing. I also became interested in experimenting with dried plant material to make artwork. Living in Japan, has been the biggest influence to my art and continues to be to this day.

Falling in love, taking the leap, & marrying my husband changed my life, changed my art, and changed my career. At the time it seemed risky to have so much change all at once. But, being afforded so many experiences was worth it. My advice to others would be to trust your instincts and follow your gut.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work is heavily influenced by the immersive cultural experience that I have received from living in Japan. I have branched out to the art form of ikebana to further expand my artistic sensibilities. Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement in which nature and humanity are brought together in harmony; both the artist and nature work in a partnership to generate a beautiful moment sparked by the arranger’s innate sensibility towards natural materials. There is a meditative mindset as the artist transfers the creative energy to ikebana; one becomes quiet. This time allows the artist to live in the moment and to have an appreciation for nature; a simple and sublime moment.

I first became interested in ikebana after I attended a performance by Shuho (shoe-ho). At that time, she was the first female Head Master of Ikebana at the Ginkaku Jisho-ji Temple (The Silver Pavilion) in Kyoto. The performance was like nothing I had ever experienced. The whole room was dark, silent, and with one spotlight just on her. She first bowed to her container and then began chopping branches while in a seated position. For thirty minutes, an entire room was fixated on her as she arranged branches, flowers, and leaves together in perfect harmony. It was thrilling to see that she had capture the attention of the entire audience including myself. I was infatuated by this artform, the act of creation, and the overall performance.

Due to this experience, I sought out ways to study ikebana in Japan. My research revealed different schools, and the Sogetsu Foundation was the one that I selected. Studying at the Sogetsu Foundation in Tokyo, I discovered a truly meditative mindset that was a catalyst for spontaneous creativity. I was enamored by the technical prowess required to create from the organic and the intrinsic connection that I could have with the natural materials. Sofu Teshigahara states that “flowers become human in ikebana.” He believed that the artist would become closer to their work if they connected nature to humanity. Even though Sofu has passed away, he has become a posthumous mentor for me.

Since living in Japan, my current artwork is all inspired by ikebana. Using the philosophy of ikebana, I have conditioned myself to seek a meditative mindset in an effort to transfer the creative energy to the paper’s surface through drawings and serigraphs and even beyond into botanical sculpture and photography. My drawings and serigraphs represent past arrangements that are captured in time and haven’t allowed to wither. My botanical sculptures are created with dried plant materials and sometimes, inverted cast concrete. For my art-making process, I’m reverent and appreciative of being able to collaborate with natural materials.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
So, my bestie decided to visit……. Well, if anyone knows me then they should suspect that I would create an itinerary for their visit for I love creating itineraries! Here is a week-long itinerary in Colorado Springs and the surrounding areas:

Day1: Take in some of the beautiful outdoor scenery and weather by going for a hike along the Seven Bridges Trail. This hike is a little over 5 miles long with moderate terrain. What is most fun about the hike is crossing the 7 bridges! Each bridge you cross makes you excited for the next.

Day2: Drive out to Green Mountain Falls and visit the Skyspace exhibit by James Turrell. Make sure to purchase online tickets in advance. You have two choices sunrise or sunset……. Sunrise for the early birds and sunset for the night owls. Remember to bring a pillow and blanket for extra comfort as you view the changing colors within the Skyspace.

Day3: Enjoy a nice day at the iconic Garden of the Gods; a Colorado Springs “must see”. The rocks will not disappoint. Afterwards, head over to the Garden of the Gods Resort & Club. The Grand View is a restaurant that is open to the public and the dishes are mouthwatering. Just make sure to book a reservation.

Day4: Have a fun ART day in Colorado Springs. Travel around to all the premiere local galleries such as Auric Gallery, Surface Gallery, the Look Up Gallery, and True North Art Gallery. These galleries are known for highlighting local artists and allow you to a get a real vibe for the artists in town.

Day5: Journey through the Paint Mines Interpretative Park and experience an array of hoodoos and natural wonders. The paint mines are named for their colorful clays that were collected by the American Indians to make paint. Make sure to bring your water so that you can stay hydrated along the journey.

Day6: Come out to the farm this day and see what three sisters have done with a lot of energy and passion. Gather Mountain Blooms is a beautiful flower farm in Colorado Springs that has fresh blooms from April – September. You can walk through the flower fields and see what kinds of seasonal flowers are in bloom. Then, walk away with a freshly cut bouquet hand-selected by you and placed in a mason jar.

Day7: Relax this day by soaking in a personal cedar tub with mineral-rich water at Sun Water Spa in Manitou Springs. Afterwards, continue your relaxation by attending a sound bath at Echo Studio Sound Sanctuary by Steffany Butts-Boucher. Enjoy this time by reflecting on the moments from the past week and grounding yourself in those lasting memories.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The person that deserves the most credit in my story is my husband. Meeting him changed my life. Living abroad, traveling the world, and having countless adventures has been a glorious ride. And through all of this, he has always supported his overly ambitious wife who sometimes has extreme ideas when making art. If I wanted to create an ikebana arrangement near a river with kayakers, then he was there to help. If I wanted to hike up some rocks to create an ikebana arrangement, then he was there to photograph me. If I wanted to drive out to the Salt Flats to create an ikebana arrangement at sunset, then he was there to video the installation. If I wanted to hike through a slot canyon to create an ikebana arrangement, then he was there to help carry my gear. We have driven artwork across the country, we have painted a gallery full of pedestals, and we have built countless frames. My husband is amazing and I 100% dedicate my Shoutout to him!

Website: www.heidialmosara.com

Instagram: @heidialmosara

Image Credits
profile picture – credit John Rees