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Quote:

Originally Posted by hansvanmeer

"Thanks Al. I always thought Bonsai was about the trees."

Yes it took a wile, but there is that Mister Miagi line again.

"Just in case anyone is curious, this is what I found for sale at the California Bonsai Societies 50th anniversary vendor area."

Yes nice, so what is your point Al? That you can buy half finest bonsai in the U.S. as well, if you can afford it! So that , even if you maybe don't know how to make one of these your self, you can at least own and even show one? Because it is all about the tree. Making bonsai like making a hot rot, you buy a muscle car from a artist, stick on it a new spoiler you made during a workshop with a other artist. And presto it is your car. You can even show it and win prices with it. And because everybody is telling you(mostly the people that do this themselves), that it is all about the car and not if you can even do this your self or not.
Ones again: offcorse this is don all over the world and that is just fine by me. There are a million way to look or do bonsai! No problem there! But what I do have a problem with is the fact that this approach to bonsai is very counter productive and it leads people who do this beautiful hobby or the interested viewer into the wrong direction. You give of the impression that bonsai art is about the ability to find the best and easiest way to a presentable bonsai and the ability to maintain it. Well then, why would I bother any more, I will just buy a van Gogh, re frame it with a frame I made and enter it into this years show. Nice painting Hans! ....yours? It is all about the painting.... so Yes! It is now a van Meer! I will never go for this! Nor will I ever teach this to any body! You can only decide to go this direction in bonsai, if you are really able to go all directions in bonsai. Not any sooner, no matter how hard they try to convince you that it is all about the tree. It is all about your ability to learn to make the tree. Only than you can use phrases or decide what is bonsai art or not! And If that is called "having a ego" OK! At least I made it myself!
Hans.

Hans: Thank you for writting this, it is right on point and exactly what I believe. I find that for me bonsai is like sex. Sometimes the process of getting there is more fun than the big finish at the end.