The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) will host a special K-Culture Talk featuring a mugunghwa pressed flower craft workshop on Friday, September 12, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. The event, held in partnership with Director Jae Eun Byun of JUB Cultural Center, will focus on creating artwork using Korea's national flower, the mugunghwa, also known as the rose of sharon.
Pressed flower art represents a timeless craft that captures and preserves the natural beauty of real blossoms. Fresh flowers are carefully pressed and dried to maintain their delicate shapes and vibrant colors, transforming them into artistic materials for creative expression. This technique allows the fleeting beauty of nature to last far beyond its natural lifespan, creating meaningful keepsakes and decorative pieces.
The mugunghwa holds special significance as an important symbol of Korean national identity and culture. During the workshop, participants will learn to create pressed mugunghwa flower framed artwork, exploring various forms of flower crafts including framed art, cards, bookmarks, and decorations. The hands-on experience will teach attendees the proper techniques for pressing and preserving fresh flowers while creating their own unique, personal designs.
Director Jae Eun Byun, a certified pressed flower instructor, will lead the workshop. Byun serves as the director of JUB Korean Cultural Arts Center and has previously conducted pressed flower workshops as a guest instructor at Fairfax High School. Her artwork has been exhibited at both the Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. and the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art.
The workshop will cover the complete pressed flower making process, beginning with material selection of fresh flowers or leaves in good condition while avoiding flowers that are too thick or contain excessive moisture. Participants will learn to prepare flowers by trimming unnecessary parts of petals or stems and cutting thicker flowers in half to prevent discoloration. The pressing technique involves placing flowers evenly between blotting paper or special pressed-flower paper and applying steady pressure using a flower press or heavy board.
The drying process requires leaving flowers in a cool, dry place for approximately two weeks, with occasional paper replacement to prevent mold and preserve colors. After careful inspection of the dried flowers to check their shape and color, participants will learn to handle the delicate materials gently to avoid breakage. The final step involves creating artwork by arranging pressed flowers into frames, cards, bookmarks, or decorative pieces, enhanced with background paper or other design elements.
Registration operates on a first-come, first-served basis and requires a non-refundable materials fee of $10 paid directly to JUB Cultural Center. Interested participants must first register for the event via Eventbrite, after which staff will email instructions on how to submit the required materials fee through Zelle or Venmo. The workshop provides an opportunity to learn meaningful craft techniques for creating keepsakes or gifts while exploring Korean cultural traditions through the symbolic mugunghwa flower.
