Getting excited about the USNBE!!!

[Victrinia Ridgeway]

Al...

It's being judged in the same context as everyone else's trees... for the trees... the extra bits we send are not judged, they are just there to improve the appreciation of the whole thing. To my knowledge it is not by any means being judged as a total display. However that doesn't diminish that I am trying to make progress in learning how to do that right... and as I don't have a lot of people expert in display around here like you do down there... (I have not the advantage of getting Kathy's perspective)... I thought you could share some thoughts based on what you have learned from her and others you have worked with. For the sake of this exercise, just do it based on this image. The tree is only going to get minor changes that won't be noticed much from this view.

People might think me a masochist to be opening myself up for what could be a total rake down... but hey... we're a step above Gaga... I'll take that and run no matter what the outcome, because I won't let you take that consession back.... lol

I've done the best I know how... that's all I can do.


Warmly,

Victrinia

 

[Ron Dennis]

After a very busy week last week and Rendezvous this past weekend, I am busy trying to catch up on all the treads. I cannot believe I missed seeing this one previously.

Absolutely stunning! Nothing else needs to be said!

 

[Smoke]

Al...

It's being judged in the same context as everyone else's trees... for the trees... the extra bits we send are not judged, they are just there to improve the appreciation of the whole thing. To my knowledge it is not by any means being judged as a total display. However that doesn't diminish that I am trying to make progress in learning how to do that right... and as I don't have a lot of people expert in display around here like you do down there... (I have not the advantage of getting Kathy's perspective)... I thought you could share some thoughts based on what you have learned from her and others you have worked with. For the sake of this exercise, just do it based on this image. The tree is only going to get minor changes that won't be noticed much from this view.

People might think me a masochist to be opening myself up for what could be a total rake down... but hey... we're a step above Gaga... I'll take that and run no matter what the outcome, because I won't let you take that consession back.... lol

I've done the best I know how... that's all I can do.


Warmly,

Victrinia

Just so you know... I really have a problem when I do this. We have known each other not only on the board but on a personel level as well. You would not ask if you didn't think something good were to come of it. I remeber the first time I entered the Kazari down here and I finished in the middle of the pack. Pretty good pack too. Kenji Miyata, Jim Gremel, John Wang, Hideko Metaxis, Katsume Kinoshita (my teacher, won the second year), Ted Matson. Some names known around the country so I felt pretty good about where I was. I aksed everyone I could that I felt could give me any kernal of knowledge about what I was trying to do.

What was it I was trying to do?

Put together a tree, a stand an accent and a scroll the best way possible. I can tell you what I've learned based on that context.

Based on the context you have shown here, I wouldn't change a thing. Why? Cause it all looks great. Its a great tree, its a great stand and you have shown it with an accent appropriate for the season.

Bravo! Thats all anyone should ask for.

 

[Smoke]

I had reserved comments previously. Why?

Cause everyone already think I'm a pompous arrogant SOB (not from Boon) The reason I will even do his, is because I know you wish to get better and I know that you know I do this for you. What anyone else thinks I do not care. I know you wish it because you want to learn. I am reminded recently of Peter Macasieb showing the beautiful rack of Shohin for Sanata Anita and asking which tree for the top. Many people oohed and ahhed over the trees and I did too. They looked very nice together. Except for the two bottom trees. They turned out of the box stand. No one but Eric made a comment about what I had said, well except Peter, the owner, because it hadn't been noticed by anyone else.

Subtlty is the key in any display. It is so very hard to pull back when everything seems to be flowing so good.

I think, ( and many of my comments are of my opinion) that displays should be rather static, not so much dynamic. I think it is Ok to have a dynamic tree, but the display should be a GOOD snapshot in time. Much to your chagrin I will relate with some photo's to get my point across. No Gaga I promise, but Gaga was appropriate before, not so much today. Today we go to the beach and a wedding!

Lets talk about each component of the diaply and what works and what might not. There is little that doesn't work so thats good. There are some areas that could be improved.

First the tree.

The tree is wonderful. For the record, I wouldn't remove any branches on this puppy. God made it, it is what it is and it works. Why try to mess it up by taking away percieved faults. Sometimes all the charecter is removed trying to slick it up.

The pot.

Many have said they like this pot with the tree. Many in their mind are skeptable because we have used a glazed pot on a conifer. I too like the pot. I think it blends well with this image.

Why does it blend well with this image?

First, it is a very masculine pot, very sharp straight sides with indented corners. Very dull and I think, no I am sure it is a Youzan pot and he has very dull glazes. This pot shape works well with this form in a tree. Why is it that a white pot works in this image?

After a few days study of this image it finally hit me like a ton of bricks. This pot works because of the stand and the bark and the dark green of the needles. Big deal, we all knew that Al.

Yes, but why does it work?

Because white dissapears to the senses when seen in the presence of dark colors. Lets go to the beach. What is the number one selling bikini color? White! Why? Cause there is no better color on a bronzed body than white. It dissapears and makes you focus on the trees trunk or stand and keeps you focused right in the middle of the display, or in this girl's case, her tanned body!

In this case I can see the pot on a shohin sized tree. I think this is rather shohin sized??? Kifu???

If the tree were larger I might be more inclined to see the tree in some other color pots and unglazed. I think there might be a better pot out there. But this is nice as it is.

 

[Victrinia Ridgeway]

Al...

I'm sorry to have put you in any kind of a problem by asking for your thoughts. It's precisely because I respect them that I would ask. I think you'll have to concede that there have been times when your lessons have been big pills to swallow, but I come back for more.... why? Because you know more than I, and I have no trouble saying so. So if I prefaced this too much, I'm sorry... but I was expecting to be picked apart based on the comment you made the other day.

After all these years, I think you know I have always held you in the highest respect, and enjoy you even more in person. If you do not know that in all confidence, then I truly have something I'll need to work on fixing. Because I would never want you to doubt it.

So while I may have girded my loins... remember that I was willing to do so because it would be worth the knowing.

For the record, I'm glad to know it was acceptable, and if I was within arms length of you I'd accost you right now while wailing... "Good lord man!!!!!!!! Why didn't you just say so!!!!!!!!!" lol

With all respect/amusement/friendship,

Victrinia

 

[Smoke]

The stand.

I can't say much I don't like about the stand. It is very nice. Very Japanese. Out turned legs and a very unique stretcher.

A Traditional Japanese motif of the rising sun. Japan, known as "The Land of the Rising Sun" because it being as far east as you can get. The size is perfect for the tree, just the right amount of space on the center board for showing off the tree. I like the fact that the table is rather high, and elevates the tree. (talk about that later)

Jerry Braswell has another winner here. Nice choice.

 

[Victrinia Ridgeway]

Now that's what I'm talking about!!!


*Smiling from ear to ear...*

TOTALLY getting it... feeling totally wiser.... and totally grateful!

My own thought about the pot is that I would never have loved it so much without that beautiful reddish brown nature of the cleaned bark and the saturated greens of the foliage and the moss... But I didn't consider the lines as much as you did... and you're right. It's also a pivotal part to why it works.

And you aren't an SOB... you are Fabio... which is fabulous in my book.

Much love brother,

V

 

[Smoke]

The accent.

This is always the hardest part of any display. First of all I could show a hundred pictures from half a dozen Kokufu books that would show the same thing that I can show easier from five displays at Boon's exhibit.

Lets look at those for a moment.

 

[Victrinia Ridgeway]

Pssst.... People... if you haven't noticed, we are being taken to skool! So pay attention!

*feeling stupidly happy at the moment, even if my accent bites* lol

V

 

[Smoke]

There are three things a person should be seeing in this exercise.

1. They are diminutive compared to the display as a whole.

2. They contain only one plant

3. They are closely cropped.

Go ahead and refer to your Kokufu books and make sure I am correct. I think most will find that accents are small and diminutive and kept simple and to one plant.

Ok what would we do different and what the hell do you think is wrong with this Keppler!
Ha! I thought you'd never ask.....

 

[Victrinia Ridgeway]

I feel like I'm getting a three course meal... I'll try not to burp to loud when it's over.... though in some countries that's considered good manners.

 

[Smoke]

OK, lets look at the accent as a whole. It is beautiful as a kusamono. End of story.

As a Shitakusa not so much.

We don't display trees with kusamono we display trees with shitakusa. Whats the difference? Plenty.

In kusamono, an art in Japan and practised as intensly as Ikabana, it is the art of assembling pretty plants in a small pot. Sometimes even small trees and dead branches as in Ikabana.

A shitakusa is a small pot containing only one seasonal plant used to mark a season in the display of a Bonsai.

In many respects the accent can play as important role as the scroll or even the tree and can actually ruin an otherwise great display. That is nothappening here because Vic has already said this is an accompanying piece and not part of the judged tree so it is a display in itself for me.

Now lets go to a wedding. when I look at the accent I am reminded of a wedding dress. Why? cause the sedum spill from the pot and Vic has arranged it like a wedding portrait of a beautiful wedding drees with a nice train.

 

[Smoke]

Lets think like a wedding planner for a moment.

If you want to focus all the attention on the bride and make sure every eye in the church is there and focused on her what would you do. I would make sure every brides maid had an ugly dress and in a putrid color and I would dress the bride in white and have a beautiful train all spread out. Who in the hell would not focus all their attention on that? I would unless that chick with the tan and the white bikini walked in!

OK so now we understand that the accent should be small in size, in relation to the display, should be kept to only one plant, an should be closely cropped and kept subtle.

 

[Victrinia Ridgeway]

We don't display trees with kusamono we display trees with shitakusa.

Seriously.... never knew that. That's just fascinating. I've never known that there was a distinction, or what said distinction would be called. The word kusamono is used to describe everything around here that gets accompanied with a tree. *doh*

V

 

[tmmason10]

OK so now we understand that the accent should be small in size, in relation to the display, should be kept to only one plant, an should be closely cropped and kept subtle.

I love how long it took to get to this point. Thanks for the schooling and insight Al.

 

[Smoke]

How do you choose the plant to put in the accent pot?

First we have to understand what the trees message is and what the displayer is trying to evoke for the viewer.

There are only two times a person would use a tall stand to display a tree.

1. To depict a mountain type tree setting or a cascade.
2. To evoke religious reverence in the display

 

[Victrinia Ridgeway]

I love how long it took to get to this point. Thanks for the schooling and insight Al.

lol Skool's not out yet.

 

[Smoke]

Both of those displays evoke religious reverence. A temple shrine by Hideko Metaxis and the meditateing monk in my display. Both second place finishers in display.

In this display by Vic, we have the cypress on a tall stand. In this case it is used a a display vehicle for a tree and does not carry much weight as anything else. If this was a display contest this stand height would mean this display is of a tree on a mountain. The tree can come from a mountain so thats not a stretch. How about that accent.

We have a braodleaf type plant in there that is reminiscent of a hosta, and we have some sedum from the desert. Neither are very complimentary to a display of a tree on a mountain. Further we have really confused the issue by placing two very dissimiler plants together in one pot!

Let me show what I mean by examining another display from some confused exhibitors.

The title if this display was "Morning in the Sierra's" or something like that. It had a nice tree depicting the trees one might see at tree line or in the high mountains. Jinned top and everthing. The scroll depicts a "shrike", a shrike is a bird that catches insects and small vertabrates and impales them on thistle that grow along lowland streams. Shrikes are never found above 750 feet in altitude. Further the tree leans away from the scroll, the reed and shrike lean away from the tree. The accent is a lowland fern found along lowland stream banks and to top it all off, it is placed on a bamboo matt! Bamboo and junipers go together like oil and water. And the tallest fern frond points out of the display too! YIKES!

 

[Smoke]

What would be better?

For this scene, (keeping in mind Vic is sending this 3000 miles, I understand) I might have chosen a mountain columbine. Maybe something lavender with only two flowers and a few buds. Keeping it pristine for a display 3000 miles away would be dicy.

Very subtle in a very smallish rough pot showing plenty of ji-ita. ( I can't see the slab in Vic's display). I might like to see you interchange the accent for maybe just some closely cropped sedum in the same display and present a photo for comparison. It might be cool!


OK, there you have it. Overall, Sweet. I think for what you are doing it is great and a nice display. If you wish to ever have one judged, come on down and play with us.

It would be a hoot!

 

[Victrinia Ridgeway]

For the record... God put the sedum in with the hostas... not me... lol I just never pulled it out because I liked how the colors looked together... lol

BUT I am totally getting what you are saying, and agree that you are right. I think my love of sedum sometimes gets carried away. I also think my love of mixed planting is a lack of experiance as exhibited by the fact that I didn't know I was used the wrong word to begin with.

V