bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Bonsai, Art, and the big picture

Walter, Most of the great advancements in bonsai has come from paradigm shifts. Great thrusts in advancements of not reinventig the wheel so to speak, just vastly improving what is being currantly done.

In another thread, Will talked about not trying to reinvent the wheel. While that saying goes along way, I can remember driving on bias ply tires. I can see the paradigm shifts in the ways the wheel has been improved as the years rolled by.

It was also said in my article about guy wires that, "well Al, thats the way they used to do it in the old days". Thankfully some bright man came along and thought of a better way to train branches. The same with Masahiko Kimura. His technique has brought a paradigm shift to the currant setting of bonsai that will be quite the norm in the future. Hamano may have givin him his education, but Masahiko's drive for wanting something different and better made him the man he is today.

I remember when you came to Fresno during the 2003 covention. You came to a club meeting and critiqued some trees there. During my internship into the realm of bonsai artistry, I was moving in ways that were not enjoyed by the group. What I wanted to do for the yearly display were poo pooed, and my talks of display and exhibit prep were thought to be something that was there to read in wanted but had no place in this club. I remember one member in particular and the conversation you had. You asked him of a branch that you felt needed to be removed. He said that he had been thinking about that too. You asked when he thought he may remove it. He said he is still thinking about it. You asked how long have you been thinking about it? he replied: 30 years!

Will, I think in light of Ron,s last post and some of the personal feeling he has written of, he brings up some valid points. All Ron wants to now is what makes a bonsai artistic. Also, what makes a bonsai artistic from anyone's point of view. I see many virtuals done to plants here all the time as do you. When I see the virtuals I think, what planet are they from. Do they actually think the improved the plant. Its all about improving. Just changing a plant with a virtual into another form does not improve it. It may even ruin it.

Artistry in bonsai is done through example not by writing. I think everyone here gets it. At least those that wish to get it. Talking about art in bonsai requires finesse. You have to know who your audiance is. They are not captive.

My use of the word amatuer in the Monterey thread was obviously the wrong choice of words for someone like HeyMikey. The size of that room was only large enough to display about 10 trees. The club had about 27 in there. I know full well how a proper display should look like. This was a club, and they owe it to its members to get everyones tree in the show. I understand that. It is not right for me to just post pictures of the exhibit and then tell everyone how poor it was and the the displays were crowded, and the use of accents was poor and the scrolls were in the wrong positions. I would rather say that this is an amatuer club event and was displayed as such, I expected no more, was delighted in the trees, and had a good time. END OF STORY.

Yet there are those that don't see it that way. We want to fixate on one word, turn it into a pissing match and bring the wrong conclusions to the front.

Your work will dictate your expertise, your artistry, and your reputation. Anything else is just fluff.

12-Jun-2005	#8
bonsaial1 Greybeard Join Date: Aug-2001 Location: Fresno, CA Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: 13SH Posts: 5,247	Walter, Most of the great advancements in bonsai has come from paradigm shifts. Great thrusts in advancements of not reinventig the wheel so to speak, just vastly improving what is being currantly done. In another thread, Will talked about not trying to reinvent the wheel. While that saying goes along way, I can remember driving on bias ply tires. I can see the paradigm shifts in the ways the wheel has been improved as the years rolled by. It was also said in my article about guy wires that, "well Al, thats the way they used to do it in the old days". Thankfully some bright man came along and thought of a better way to train branches. The same with Masahiko Kimura. His technique has brought a paradigm shift to the currant setting of bonsai that will be quite the norm in the future. Hamano may have givin him his education, but Masahiko's drive for wanting something different and better made him the man he is today. I remember when you came to Fresno during the 2003 covention. You came to a club meeting and critiqued some trees there. During my internship into the realm of bonsai artistry, I was moving in ways that were not enjoyed by the group. What I wanted to do for the yearly display were poo pooed, and my talks of display and exhibit prep were thought to be something that was there to read in wanted but had no place in this club. I remember one member in particular and the conversation you had. You asked him of a branch that you felt needed to be removed. He said that he had been thinking about that too. You asked when he thought he may remove it. He said he is still thinking about it. You asked how long have you been thinking about it? he replied: 30 years! Will, I think in light of Ron,s last post and some of the personal feeling he has written of, he brings up some valid points. All Ron wants to now is what makes a bonsai artistic. Also, what makes a bonsai artistic from anyone's point of view. I see many virtuals done to plants here all the time as do you. When I see the virtuals I think, what planet are they from. Do they actually think the improved the plant. Its all about improving. Just changing a plant with a virtual into another form does not improve it. It may even ruin it. Artistry in bonsai is done through example not by writing. I think everyone here gets it. At least those that wish to get it. Talking about art in bonsai requires finesse. You have to know who your audiance is. They are not captive. My use of the word amatuer in the Monterey thread was obviously the wrong choice of words for someone like HeyMikey. The size of that room was only large enough to display about 10 trees. The club had about 27 in there. I know full well how a proper display should look like. This was a club, and they owe it to its members to get everyones tree in the show. I understand that. It is not right for me to just post pictures of the exhibit and then tell everyone how poor it was and the the displays were crowded, and the use of accents was poor and the scrolls were in the wrong positions. I would rather say that this is an amatuer club event and was displayed as such, I expected no more, was delighted in the trees, and had a good time. END OF STORY. Yet there are those that don't see it that way. We want to fixate on one word, turn it into a pissing match and bring the wrong conclusions to the front. Your work will dictate your expertise, your artistry, and your reputation. Anything else is just fluff. __________________ Real men don't wear coats with "happi" in the title.