2016 US National Bonsai Exhibition

[Adair M]

The creativity award went to both of Creighton's bonsai. The "floating" juniper forest was not as massive as the "wave " and much more refined. But the wave was larger and more impressive to those who only took a quick look

True. The wave was impressive. But totally overpowered the tree. I mean, my thoughts were "how is the tree not falling out of there?"

To be frank, I never even really looked at the tree. For all I know it could have come straight from the Garden Center without the first bit of styling! (It didn't, of course, but really the tree was an afterthought.). I personally don't want the "display" to be more important than the tree. It appears that the "American Bonsai" trend is moving that way. The Artisan's Cup had them in the dark with dramatic lighting. Again, emphasis on the creativity of the "Display" of bonsai rather than the bonsai itself. (To be fair, the lights did focus on the trees - but sometimes only a part of the tree!).

 

[A Random User]

I would like to say that I am glad Bill accepted and allowed my tree and its Display to be a part of the Exhibition.
For a couple of reasons, least of all because it was my tree...
I will explain...

I personally love Penjing... which as we all know is where Bonsai actually originates from.
I think what the Chinese are doing and have been doing for centuries is Better... Hands down!
No where in Penjing, again where Bonsai originates... are there any rules regarding that the Tree is foremost,
or should it be the most important feature, and that everything else should come secondary.
Nor are their any rules regarding how subtle something should be, or rules regarding how much or little, items
within the display can be adorned...

In fact what one often finds in Penjing is that just the complete opposite is true! Trees are only part of the overall display,
where they are often put into scenes depicting the environments in which the trees reside. Often times these environments
are anything but subtle. Sometimes they are put into pots that are very elaborate... and on stands that are anything but plain.

This is what I like... Yes... I understand that a tree and the work must be good. But, I also understand that a tree does not exist
in a vacuum. It does not exist in a Pot, in front of a White Curtain. As an Artist who is trying to create a piece of Art.... It is my
job to try and show my audience my view... my story of the Tree I am trying to tell. Now, perhaps I need nothing to tell the story
of a particular tree, perhaps the tree really does not have much of a story to tell? It just is a tree... Perhaps I don't want to have
anything, I just want the story to be of the work I have done to the tree, and let that be my story? Perhaps, I really want to paint a picture,
and have lots of stuff to tell the story of my tree... I really want to bring the viewer to my story, to the picture I am trying to show.
To not leave this up to interpretation. Regardless... of what I as the Artist choose to do... this should be allowed. And as long as this
is done in good taste, and done professionally... to the highest level of craftsmanship possible... It should not be a problem!

Bill gets this... and I thank him for It!
In fact... I will do better than that, and say that at another recent big American show... If my tree would have been accepted, I would not
of been able to show the vision I wanted to show for my tree, due to the host being more interested in showing their vision for my work...
And telling me what I can and cannot use in my own display...
At the US Nationals all ideas that are the actual artists... seem to be allowed.
This should be commemorated and praised, regardless of whether or not someone likes the work.

 

[coh]

But, I also understand that a tree does not exist in a vacuum.

I bet Mr. Crust would beg to differ!

Regarding the tree being discussed here, it was actually a pretty nice specimen. But I agree, the display called more attention to "the wave". If I hadn't actually picked up and carried the tree out to it's spot in the exhibit, I'm not sure I would have really noticed it compared to all that wood around it. Maybe that was the intention?

 

[A Random User]

I bet Mr. Crust would beg to differ!

Regarding the tree being discussed here, it was actually a pretty nice specimen. But I agree, the display called more attention to "the wave". If I hadn't actually picked up and carried the tree out to it's spot in the exhibit, I'm not sure I would have really noticed it compared to all that wood around it. Maybe that was the intention?

I understand, I was not addressing whether or not the piece worked, or even what my views were towards the piece with what I said... Because in the end my view does not really matter...

 

[coh]

I understand, I was not addressing whether or not the piece worked, or even what my views were towards the piece with what I said... Because in the end my view does not really matter...

Sure it does! The artist who created the "wave" display (have you seen photos of it? it's in the background of the 4th photo here: http://www.bonsaiempire.com/blog/5th-usnational) was obviously trying to convey something, even if it was just "look at my woodworking skills" (only kidding ) If no one "got it", then did he succeed? As an artist, aren't you interested in conveying something to the viewer? If not, why bother with the elaborate set ups, just show the tree and let it be admired/enjoyed for what it is.

 

[A Random User]

Sure it does! The artist who created the "wave" display (have you seen photos of it? it's in the background of the 4th photo here: http://www.bonsaiempire.com/blog/5th-usnational) was obviously trying to convey something, even if it was just "look at my woodworking skills" (only kidding ) If no one "got it", then did he succeed? As an artist, aren't you interested in conveying something to the viewer? If not, why bother with the elaborate set ups, just show the tree and let it be admired/enjoyed for what it is.

Sure, I have seen the photos... and if you want to know my honest opinion, I got what he was trying to go for, but in my own opinion... Do, I think that he succeeded? Yes and No.

If I was to analyze the composition, I would say that first off the tree was styled in a cascading style... Understanding this, is pretty much understanding the whole story of the piece. So, normally where one finds conifers styled in such a manner is going to be on crevices of a cliff or steep incline... where growth because of the mountain being on one side is going to be out and in one direction, away from the face. Because there is nothing to stop gravity from pulling the tree down as it grows, the tree is naturally going to take the shape of a cascade.

So, the artist that created the piece was obviously trying to tell this story with their composition. This is apparent not only in the tree, but also the tree's stand, the wood wave as some put it... and the distinctive angle that the Artist chose to display the tree at.

So, if one understands this story... the wood wave is obviously symbolic of the cliff side. If one does not understand this story, or does not bother to take the time to understand the story, because they feel that a tree should be just displayed as they feel it should... in a normal pot and on a normal stand, with none of the characteristics that they themselves deem fru-fru... Then Yeah, I can see where one is not going to get it! Either through the choice of not wanting to come to terms with what the Artist is trying to portray, or just not understanding how a cascading style is achieved in Nature.

Right off the bat, there are going to be folks who get it, and those who don't for no other reason then it is something that is new that they have never seen before... for some, something new invites interest, and they are going to want to know more, so they will step up to the art and examine it, for they will want to come to terms with what it is that they are seeing. For others, something new is just the opposite, it invites feelings of uncertainty of chaos... this is not how things are supposed to be done, and hence they will just walk right by.

When doing a composition such as this, you have to know your audience, and know what I have just said... You have to understand that it is not the one's that are intrigued by new things that you are trying to appeal too... These type of people you already have... it is the people that are not intrigued by something new that you have to try and reach out too, in order for the work to be a success.

This is where I think the piece fails... now perhaps the Artist knew all this and figured they would do as they wanted? But, if not... where I think the piece fails is with the type of material choosen to represent the cliff face.

Had the Artist used a material that represented what most understand as that of what a cliff face is made of... in this case being stone. I think that perhaps without a doubt it would of been understood by all, what it was they were looking at.

By choosing Wood instead... this left the door more slightly ajar to the audiences interpretation to the piece, rather than easily spelling it out, so everyone got the same message.

But, this is the new West Coast thing, isn't it?
Using wood to represent things... whether they are skateboard decks instead of scrolls, or what ever that thing was behind the recent images of Ryan Neil's tree, that kinda looked like someone's deck or awning was falling down.

To answer your question... Yes, I care about what type of message my audience gets when viewing my tree. This is why I went to great detail with my display to try and show items that everyone is familiar with. My scroll was a scroll... my rocks were not rocks, but they representd rocks and my stand was a stand.

I put a lot of effort into not only the creation, but also the understanding of how people might view the piece, and their thought process behind doing so... I wanted to show a composition in a different way, but not so different that folks could not come to terms with what it was that they were seeing. I wanted to make it easy for the people who don't often appreciate new things, to be able to get it. Yet, I can still guarantee, that some... if not alot of people probably just walked right by...

So, no... as I said before in my previous post, my views don't really matter.

 

[DougB]

I also would like to give a standing ovation to Joe Noga. Joe is mostly unheralded for his magnificent photos. He is hidden away in a room for hours and hours at a time fusing over every little detail of each photo. And most don't know that after the show he spends hours adjusting each photo so that it is an exceptional depiction of each tree. There are few if any who can match the dedication and skill of this bonsai photo expert.

Hip Hip Hooray for Joe Noga!!

 

[Adair M]

Sawgrass,

No one "walked right by" your composition. It was different enough, everyone stopped to take a look. It was promenantly placed so that it was easily seen as people went down the aisle looking at the other trees.

The thing that stood out to me was a lot of it appeared "artificial". The accent plants, and the moss stuff looked to be the dyed stuff used to make model railroad scenery. It was obvious that you spent a great deal to time and effort creating it, and it was skillfully done. Again, to me, there was so much going on that the "display" upstaged the tree.

There was nothing else remotely like it.

Call me an old fuddy-duddy, but I still think the primary focus should be the tree. The pot, stand, and accents and scrolls are there to enhance, not detract from the tree.

@MACH5 had his forest on a clear acrylic stand. It elevated it, and "lightened" it, and the effect was very nice. Unusual, certainly. But it wasn't distracting.

Anyway, I was glad to see your display, and I'm sorry you weren't able to make the trip. It was great to meet so many friends face to face!

 

[M. Frary]

Call me an old fuddy-duddy

You're an old fuddy duddy Adair.

 

[crust]

I bet Mr. Crust would beg to differ!

Regarding the tree being discussed here, it was actually a pretty nice specimen. But I agree, the display called more attention to "the wave". If I hadn't actually picked up and carried the tree out to it's spot in the exhibit, I'm not sure I would have really noticed it compared to all that wood around it. Maybe that was the intention?

Ha ha!

 

[Chuah]

I also would like to give a standing ovation to Joe Noga. Joe is mostly unheralded for his magnificent photos. Hip Hip Hooray for Joe Noga!!

Fully agreed. This is the first time I met Joe. He is a very patient, kind and likable person working tirelessly in the studio. Kudos to all the volunteers helping him moving and arranging bonsai for photography.

 

[A Random User]

Sawgrass,

No one "walked right by" your composition. It was different enough, everyone stopped to take a look. It was promenantly placed so that it was easily seen as people went down the aisle looking at the other trees.

The thing that stood out to me was a lot of it appeared "artificial". The accent plants, and the moss stuff looked to be the dyed stuff used to make model railroad scenery. It was obvious that you spent a great deal to time and effort creating it, and it was skillfully done. Again, to me, there was so much going on that the "display" upstaged the tree.

There was nothing else remotely like it.

Call me an old fuddy-duddy, but I still think the primary focus should be the tree. The pot, stand, and accents and scrolls are there to enhance, not detract from the tree.

@MACH5 had his forest on a clear acrylic stand. It elevated it, and "lightened" it, and the effect was very nice. Unusual, certainly. But it wasn't distracting.

Anyway, I was glad to see your display, and I'm sorry you weren't able to make the trip. It was great to meet so many friends face to face!

I have not called you an old fuddy-duddy, nor would I do so... and I am glad you took the time to look at my work...

All I have done is voiced my objection to the belief that you feel shows and displays should only be a certain way. And for the record... I never said that your views were wrong.

Which would be the whole point, right? And the position I was putting forward. That people all appreciate and like different things and that they should be able to show their art as they so choose... without someone trying to regulate what they can and cannot do.

I would not want an artist bring told they cannot have a very minimalistic approach to their display, any more than I would want someone saying just the opposite. Which is what I said.

There is plenty of room for both, Bill's show allows both... and there are no actual rules in Bonsai that define what can and cannot be done in a display. Just personal preferences.

What you see as distracting from the tree, others see as adding to the tree. Are you right and they are wrong?

The problem here is that again this is one more issue like the soil debate and the heads of broccoli debate... and it's just beyond rediculous! Where camps are built to argue over nothing and people go around judging and putting down people's work, just because someone does not appreciate something someone else is doing.

Not to certain why people cannot just appreciate things for what they are?

Side note... since you brought it up, which I am thankful for, because to be honest I was in such a rush, quite literally the night before taking my tree to the truck , trying to get it ready for the show, as well as building crates to ship it up... I did not even think about it... Is that yes, all of the moss was actually real. Looking at it in my yard right now, I can see how perhaps some of it might of looked fake, because of it's appearance... so note to self, I need to pick moss that does not look so nice, lol!

 

[Vance Wood]

It's as I said before in another thread when this work was discussed; art is like the old leading a horse to water metaphor, you can't make him drink. Adair is correct people were not breaking down the door to look at your offering. I did not hear any criticism or praise either way, it was looked at and people moved on.

I think they were overwhelmed by all of the world class bonsai. It was placed prominently at the middle of a table where it's location occupied the crux of a T intersection. A very favorable display location observable from three different directions.

Actually most of the avant-garde displayes were treated the same way more or less. I learned one thing from this. If you have the inspiration to do something then you have to do it to please yourself and not worry about the consequences or what others think. Did you realize the a vast amount of Bach's manuscripts were used to wrap fish in the market after his death, Mozart was burried in a pauper's grave. Sometimes greatness is defined by how far you reach into the future not by how much today honors your work.

 

[coh]

Adair is correct people were not breaking down the door to look at your offering. I did not hear any criticism or praise either way, it was looked at and people moved on.

I can't say that I sat there and studied people's reactions to Stacey's display all weekend, but as I noted in another thread (or earlier in this one) - I did see and hear people spending time looking at and discussing the display, and all the comments I heard were positive.

 

[Vance Wood]

I can't say that I sat there and studied people's reactions to Stacey's display all weekend, but as I noted in another thread (or earlier in this one) - I did see and hear people spending time looking at and discussing the display, and all the comments I heard were positive.

The only trees that seemed to bring a lot of response was the forest planting by Hagadorn and the obvious that won the awards. All in all I did not notice a good deal of excitement over any of the displays.

 

[A Random User]

Guys... this is all turning into something that it is not.

I was not asking for a step by step analysis of how much time people spent at my tree... or whether they liked it or not. Or even if they spent time at it at all...

I was merely stating the reaction that some have to things that are new. Makes no difference if it is my tree, or someone else's, or if it is something new, that has nothing to do with trees at all.

When the new Apple phone comes out like every other week... there are folks who are like Oh My God, I Gotta Have It! And there are folks who are like, ok, but the phone I have now works just fine... Until it breaks down eventually, and they finally turn in the flip top phone... for the New Apple phone, that is no longer new.

I was merely having a discussion regarding the concept of what should and should not be allowed at a Bonsai show. That's all. And I just used my tree as an example, seeing It's my work, so I know the details of what I did.

I also know the details of how when I posted it up here in the initial thread regarding it, how well it was recieved by some... so I am not making stuff up here. I just hope no one got sick from viewing it, lol!

So, no pity party here, no us against them... no need to take sides with likes...
Just reality, I understand this and get it.
Was just pointing it out to some who might not.

There are people out there in the world who feel like because they don't like something, no one should be allowed to do it. Hence, why scrolls aren't cool no more. Silly when you think about it... just don't use them if you don't like them, Right? Why try and stop those who do?

If you don't like eloborate displays... nothing wrong with that.

 

[DougB]

the old leading a horse to water metaphor, you can't make him drink.

Feed them salt and they will drink.

 

[Andrew Robson]

Beware to all: those young bucks who were apprentices in Japan can party all night! This includes the current apprentices of Boon and Hagedorn! Do not, I repeat, do not get into a cigar fest with them!

Adair, we are just keeping you youthful!

 

[Dav4]

The first cigar gives me a buzz....the second cigar makes me puke.

 

[Chuah]

Sure it does! The artist who created the "wave" display (have you seen photos of it? it's in the background of the 4th photo here: http://www.bonsaiempire.com/blog/5th-usnational) was obviously trying to convey something,

What this display reminded me of was Hokusai's woodblock print "The Great Wave Off Kanagawa". The precarious positioning of the procumben juniper is like those boats in the hand of Mother Nature. If you stretch your imagination, may be its a tribute to Isao Omachi whose bonsai were swept away by the tsunami in the last big earthquake. Artwork may resonate with your past experience, each if us see it differently. Should the artist explain or leave it to your imagination?