Spring Tea 2021 is part of the Nature Tea 2021 series. Our Nature Tea 2021 is sponsored, in part, by the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC).

About Paula Tam

Paula has been studying Ikenobo ikebana for over 20 years, starting with her Introductory Ikenobo diploma in 1991 and was awarded the rank of “Fukusokatoku” – Saiko-shoku, the second highest Ikenobo Diploma, in Ikenobo Floral Art. Her arrangements have been exhibited in New York, Shanghai, and Malaysia, including in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New Museum, Tenri Gallery, Japanese Stroll Garden, Japanese Ambassadors’ residences, among others. She has given ikebana demonstrations at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and for Ikebana International New York Chapter.

Her passion in ikebana propels her to pursue higher levels of studies continuously. She has graduated from the Ikenobo Central Training Institute. She is specializing in Koten-Rikka (classical Meiji Rikka). In her ikebana she likes to explore how life, nature, and ikebana interact.

About Janelle Galvez

Janelle “Jin” Galvez, is a wife and mother from Brooklyn, NY. By day she is a Media Teaching Artist, working with youth as a mentor in New Media, nurturing their idealism and commitment to social change. By night she indulges in her MASSIVE passion around the art of Gong Fu Cha & Tea Meditation. Jin is currently a student of Mindfulness Meditation, Sound Healing and Reiki. Follow Jin on Instagram and her work as Co-Founder of Activist-Teahouse.