2015 Artisan's Cup

[Bonsai Nut]

September 25-27, 2105. Portland Art Museum (and general area)

The Artisans Cup exists to showcase Bonsai as a true art form. We’re starting a movement to reveal the beauty of the ongoing collaboration between humans and nature that occurs during the process of training a tree. This process, currently experiencing surging growth in North America, is symbolic of the struggle for life in which all living things take part, and highlights the similarities and differences between people and trees. It is a poignant representation of life itself, with all of its challenges and successes, its hardship and joy.

Artisans Cup Exhibition Information

 

[JoeR]

Why must it be in Oregon!

Can't wait for pictures.

 

[qwade]

September 25-27, 2105

Might not still be kicking then

 

[M. Frary]

September 25-27, 2105.

That gives me plenty of time to save up to go. I may even be retired by then.

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

I'm going!

 

[Smoke]

Why must it be in Oregon!

Can't wait for pictures.

I wouldn't hold my breath...

 

[sorce]

September 25-27, 2105.

Hell, I might could enter something by then!

Sorce

 

[Lee Brindley]

So its not 2105 like it says on the bonsainut home page? lol

 

[Potawatomi13]

Why must it be in Oregon!

Can't wait for pictures.

Ah, grasshopper because our new growing PNW Omaya(?)Village has the organizer of the Cup in residence at this location.
So blessed we are to be the first to see this presentation and for his dedication.

 

[bonsaiBlake]

Proud to say I will not only be attending but also volunteering next weekend. I will be an exhibition attendant on Sunday from 1230-4pm and I expect a couple "hellos" from my fellow nutters.

Words can't even describe how excited I am for this opportunity. I'm also volunteering for tear down following my shift on the floor. . . . Meaning not only do I get to see amazing trees in person, I'm getting the chance to help move and actually touch trees of a status I could only dream of attaining. Those of you that have been on this crazy journey over the last couple years know how much this means to me. (i haven't even begun to process the fact that I'm going to shake hands with some of the greatest artist alive today)

You can believe I'll be posting some vids and pics. . .

 

[Potawatomi13]

Proud to say I will not only be attending but also volunteering next weekend. I will be an exhibition attendant on Sunday from 1230-4pm and I expect a couple "hellos" from my fellow nutters.

Words can't even describe how excited I am for this opportunity. I'm also volunteering for tear down following my shift on the floor. . . . Meaning not only do I get to see amazing trees in person, I'm getting the chance to help move and actually touch trees of a status I could only dream of attaining. Those of you that have been on this crazy journey over the last couple years know how much this means to me. (i haven't even begun to process the fact that I'm going to shake hands with some of the greatest artist alive today)

You can believe I'll be posting some vids and pics. . .

So OK Bonsai Blake it's been a week so where's all those pics?

 

[sorce]

So OK Bonsai Blake it's been a week so where's all those pics?

He forgot his camo hat to hide amongst the trees and sneak snap.

Either that, or it stood out tooo much against the suits, martinis, and BS!

Sorce

 

[crust]

It was a ground breaking show filled with monster trees. The display modality was completely different than any I have seen or heard of. The energy among the people was electric--filled with a fresh spirit.

My camera and pic skills lack plus I just did not take the time for it, knowing others would be shooting and blogging (pics are all over the web) and that pro-pics would come in time-- so I did not photograph much. There was a bunch of panel discussion which were very interesting filled with talk of art--the future and the further definition of the assimilate of bonsai into our lives and culture.

I took a few of the offered tours--the ones to the Hagedorn and Neil gardens were done by the bus-load--they were amazing, intimidating and inspiring. I saved the Northern sector tours (Robinson and Pacific) for some other day and instead did some volunteering and strolled with my wife.

My entry, an advant garde composition I made years ago, looked good, and at one point it came up in a panel discussion as to why it was included and where it was placed in the exhibit--Ryan interrupted and said (paraphrase) that the there were many entry's and that as he and Mike sorted through them, that one swiftly went in the folder of "trees for sure to go in" and that it belonged in the exhibit. I couldn't help being proud and affirmed.

It was fun lurking in the dark by my exhibit and listening to the comments. Young people stopping at my tree lingered the longest and talked the most-- many very cool people congratulated me. I met scads bonsai people and rubbed elbows with a few icons. I am still recovering.

 

[MACH5]

Congrats again Crust! What an amazing opportunity to be able to show at the Cup. Thanks for sharing your experience. Your display reminded me of Duchamp.

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

Crust, I enjoyed your display and thought it showed artistic merit in the context of the show. At dinner on Sunday one of the judges agreed, comparing it to Marcel Duchamp's "Fountain" from 1917. Because it is such a conceptualized piece, will you give some insight to the composition and it's meaning? Thank you for sharing and for having the guts to enter it in the show, pushing boundaries of our art.

 

[crust]

Here is what I wrote, with some minor inserted elaboration, when a description was requested in the A-Cup application process, "This tree, kindly called President Hoover, was conceived by accident and adventure. While Nick Lenz and I were poking around in a field-side dump we found the old vacuum cleaner carcass and somehow I managed to drag it away with me (despite us being accosted by a very large red bull which I was convinced was secured behind an adjoining fence-line but was not. It had us trapped on the top of a field-stone rock heap for some time while striding round and round the pile eye-balling us). Back at my garden we carefully planted an old skinny larch in its bowels. Years past, deadwood was embedded and angles were tweaked. The tall trees thin trunk iterates the hoovers handle, its decrepity pairing with that of the device, foreshadowing our future doom." Actually I think Lenz and I may have just blabbed about planting the vac, which really is a Kirby, but I think it was out of larch transplant season. Anyway, the appliance has very nice lines and that following spring the deed was done in my frozen green house using a larch that seemed perfect for it. The composition was an impulse--but over time I have reflected and trusted my hands that the intent was an expression not only of the times and an eroding future-but also of my personal chronological place in time--and the complete folly of it all. Thanks for acknowledging the guts part--it took some guts for the pre-judges for sure.

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

Artistic merit indeed. I thought the tree was a nod to Nick Lenz, now I see it's connection is deeper that that. Thanks for taking the time to share the details. Cheers and congrats for being part of this great show.

 

[crust]

I have been friends with Nick for some thirty years so no doubt I am demented from this (wife vigorously nodding in background). Also I have a few Lenzian oddities I have adopted from him over the years--The hoover-tree however grew up in my garden all these years.

 

[bonsaiBlake]

Yeah I only took like 6 pics. 3 of Dave's tree and a gentleman was kind enough to snap 3 of me with Walter. Still need to transfer them from the phone.

Dave I am so jealous you get to work so closely with Nick what a friend to have and collaborate with. I do have a couple questions about the piece. What was the decision process on the dangling angel? And did the vac ever have the brush head or was it found in shown condition? and what was the process on finding the "front"?

 

[bonsaiBlake]

Oh and Dave if u were there Sunday I was the docent that was covering your tree's area from 12-1 I was pretty much hovering around it. Your "neighbor" did absolutely nothing for me artistically or emotionally.