2016 US National Bonsai Exhibition

[Vin]

Dan's tree is a Mountain Hemlock. The stand worked fine because Daniel knows its limits... I was dubious myself at first, but that man could balance an elephant on a pin. Which is about what that must have felt like for you. I'll post a photo of it when I can get my phone to cooperate.

Great to hear from you again Vic!

 

[coh]

Dan's tree is a Mountain Hemlock. The stand worked fine because Daniel knows its limits... I was dubious myself at first, but that man could balance an elephant on a pin. Which is about what that must have felt like for you. I'll post a photo of it when I can get my phone to cooperate.

Hi Vic, thanks for posting. It would be great if you could share a photo of the tree and stand as it was displayed, I don't know if I've seen any on-line. It was an interesting display and fortunately it held up through the show. I may have made it sound worse (more unstable) than it really was, but that's how it seemed to us when we were moving it for the photos...the thing definitely sagged and that front leg appeared to be very precariously attached!

Chris

 

[Victrinia Ridgeway]

Oh no.... It's a bad as you say. Horrific even.... But beautiful in its own way and very very Daniel. Lol

Hi Vic, thanks for posting. It would be great if you could share a photo of the tree and stand as it was displayed, I don't know if I've seen any on-line. It was an interesting display and fortunately it held up through the show. I may have made it sound worse (more unstable) than it really was, but that's how it seemed to us when we were moving it for the photos...the thing definitely sagged and that front leg appeared to be very precariously attached!

Chris

 

[rockm]

This article is a good read about how East Asians and Westerners don't "see" the same way. I have heard Westerners who have lived in China and Japan say the same thing. Bonsai is definitely included in what they're talking about
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/08/0822_050822_chinese.html

 

[Paradox]

I just downloaded the pics from my phone and remembered I had taken this picture of @Vance Wood and Tony Tickle.
Vance if you want a copy of this PM me your email

 

[coh]

Jonas has posted some additional photos of the show on his blog: https://bonsaitonight.com/2016/09/20/highlights-5th-us-national-bonsai-exhibition/

 

[petegreg]

Very nice trees you had there and great people. I was looking at winning trees yesterday and then found at least two of them come from here.
http://www.bonsaimirai.com/bonsai/mountain-hemlock?width=1060&height=700
http://www.bonsaimirai.com/bonsai/colorado-spruce-no-2?width=1060&height=700
...all roads lead to Rome?

 

[coh]

Blog post about the event from Bnut's own Hoe Chuah: https://bonsaipenjing.wordpress.com/2016/09/21/the-5th-us-national-bonsai-exhibition/

 

[A Random User]

Very nice trees you had there and great people. I was looking at winning trees yesterday and then found at least two of them come from here.
http://www.bonsaimirai.com/bonsai/mountain-hemlock?width=1060&height=700
http://www.bonsaimirai.com/bonsai/colorado-spruce-no-2?width=1060&height=700
...all roads lead to Rome?

If you live in Italy they do!

 

[petegreg]

If you live in Italy they do!

I ment nothing wrong with it.

Today...
http://bonsaibark.com/2016/09/22/a-prize-winning-classically-styled-japanese-red-pine/

http://www.bonsaimirai.com/bonsai/japanese-red-pine-no-1

 

[ghues]

So at least 3 of the winning trees were initially styled by folks who have studied in Japan.

 

[DougB]

So at least 3 of the winning trees were initially styled by folks who have studied in Japan.

Just a question ---- Were the judges trained in Japan? Because there is no commonly accepted national or international standards for judging each judge has his or her own standard which is based primarily on their training.

Not good or bad or being judgemental just a thought.

 

[Adair M]

So at least 3 of the winning trees were initially styled by folks who have studied in Japan.

At least 4:

2 by Ryan Neil,
1 by Boon,
1 by Hagedorn.

Suthin also won an award. I don't know if he studied in Japan, but certainly he did in Asia.

 

[Adair M]

Just a question ---- Were the judges trained in Japan? Because there is no commonly accepted national or international standards for judging each judge has his or her own standard which is based primarily on their training.

Not good or bad or being judgemental just a thought.

One was Japanese, one was Mexican, one was from the UK.

 

[Adair M]

This show doesn't have a "first place", "second place" style of awards. And I don't know if the judging will ever be disclosed like was done at the Artisans Cup.

Really, all the trees there were worthy of something, and all who participated should be honored. It is an arduous process to prepare the trees months in advance to even to be considered, then ongoing work to assure the trees will be in top condition for the show in September. Then, there's arranging for transportation of trees, stands, accessories...

 

[0soyoung]

This show doesn't have a "first place", "second place" style of awards. And I don't know if the judging will ever be disclosed like was done at the Artisans Cup.

Really, all the trees there were worthy of something, and all who participated should be honored. It is an arduous process to prepare the trees months in advance to even to be considered, then ongoing work to assure the trees will be in top condition for the show in September. Then, there's arranging for transportation of trees, stands, accessories...

And you say nothing of your motivations for doing all this.

• Bill repays all your costs?
• The prize money is huge?
• You get a free book?
• Or just bragging rights?
  • all this and you only get to brag
  • indirect promotion of your business

 

[Adair M]

And you say nothing of your motivations for doing all this.

• Bill repays all your costs?
• The prize money is huge?
• You get a free book?
• Or just bragging rights?
  • all this and you only get to brag
  • indirect promotion of your business

????

Bill paid none of my costs. I had to pay an entry fee for two displays. And a fee to attend a banquet. I did not have to pay a fee to see the Exhibition.

The prize money was not huge. $500 maybe? Nothing even close to the prize money at the Artisan's Cup.

No free book. I ordered mine at the show. $45, I believe. I also bought a hat and a commemorative shirt.

Sure, I get bragging rights! Proud of it, too! I don't have a bonsai business, so I don't know what you're talking about Oso.

My motivation?

For me, participating in this show is the equivalent to an athlete participating in the Olympics. I've been working my tree for 4 years for the opportunity to have it displayed with "the best of the best" from throughout the country. It was a "who's who" in American Bonsai at the show.

I didn't expect to win. I have seen many of the other trees that were there before, and I knew they were more impressive than mine. But, many people came up to me to remark they enjoyed seeing my tree, it had perhaps the best needles of any JBP in the show. (John Kirby's JBP cascade had similiar needles. He and I work on our trees exactly the same, at the same time. In fact, in the past, I performed the seasonal needle work in his tree when he was unable to do it.)

It was a meeting of peers. Congratulating each other for our achievements with bonsai, and friendly discussions on how to continue to improve our trees.

Four years ago, I set myself on the journey to get to the show. Now, im planning for the next one in two years. I don't know if I will have anything ready by then! Lol!!!

 

[Vin]

????

Bill paid none of my costs. I had to pay an entry fee for two displays. And a fee to attend a banquet. I did not have to pay a fee to see the Exhibition.

The prize money was not huge. $500 maybe? Nothing even close to the prize money at the Artisan's Cup.

No free book. I ordered mine at the show. $45, I believe. I also bought a hat and a commemorative shirt.

Sure, I get bragging rights! Proud of it, too! I don't have a bonsai business, so I don't know what you're talking about Oso.

My motivation?

For me, participating in this show is the equivalent to an athlete participating in the Olympics. I've been working my tree for 4 years for the opportunity to have it displayed with "the best of the best" from throughout the country. It was a "who's who" in American Bonsai at the show.

I didn't expect to win. I have seen many of the other trees that were there before, and I knew they were more impressive than mine. But, many people came up to me to remark they enjoyed seeing my tree, it had perhaps the best needles of any JBP in the show. (John Kirby's JBP cascade had similiar needles. He and I work on our trees exactly the same, at the same time. In fact, in the past, I performed the seasonal needle work in his tree when he was unable to do it.)

It was a meeting of peers. Congratulating each other for our achievements with bonsai, and friendly discussions on how to continue to improve our trees.

Four years ago, I set myself on the journey to get to the show. Now, im planning for the next one in two years. I don't know if I will have anything ready by then! Lol!!!

I'm proud to hear your reply and was hoping you would give an answer like this. Thanks!

 

[0soyoung]

I don't know what you're talking about Oso.

No need to presume anything accusatory - just wanted you to say why you went to all the trouble and expense for all to know.

It was a meeting of peers. Congratulating each other for our achievements with bonsai

... for everything else there's MasterCard.

 

[JudyB]

If the only motivation is actually winning at this level of show, I do not think there would be the large number of trees entered. I'm sure if I ever have a tree accepted, it would be with the knowledge going in that it's more for the experience than the prize. I imagine that a lot of entrants feel this same way.