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Ron, you are not compareing apples and apples here. Maybe apples and crab apples. Close, but not so far away that they are oranges.

The thing that differs bonsai from wall art or sculpture, is that the latter have tremendous value, while the former(bonsai) have value, just not seen as an investment here in the West.

People that buy art as an investment depend on the critic immensely. Critics make or break an artist just as DJ's did in the sixties. If you couldn't get a DJ to play your stuff what did you have to do, ( can you say Payola!).

Now if we had a person that was so infectious in our bonsai world, and that person was so contagious that everyone wanted to be praised by him, then that person could rock your bonsai world. Let's say that that person was Andy Rutledge. Andy is going to Boon's this weekend. Lets say that the whole world had never heard of Boon. I am sure that there will be many pictures in the BTOJ next month for the whole world to see. I am sure that Andy in his own way 'is' already that critic, and gaining speed expotentialy. I'll bet there would be those that will hear of Boon soon, if the haven't already.

On the other hand, if you are talking the general bonsai masses that go to an occasional show and pick apart every tree, that just boils down to taste, plain and simple. I have went to plenty of shows and have seen great masterpiece trees that if given the chance I would make some pretty big changes to suit my taste. But who am I? Nobody!

As far as I'm concerned, if you dabble in bonsai, you will be a critic! If you are no one, no one will care. If you are someone, someone may be listening!

Bonsai-al

9-Jan-2004	#15
bonsaial1 Greybeard Join Date: Aug-2001 Location: Fresno, CA Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: 13SH Posts: 5,247	Ron, you are not compareing apples and apples here. Maybe apples and crab apples. Close, but not so far away that they are oranges. The thing that differs bonsai from wall art or sculpture, is that the latter have tremendous value, while the former(bonsai) have value, just not seen as an investment here in the West. People that buy art as an investment depend on the critic immensely. Critics make or break an artist just as DJ's did in the sixties. If you couldn't get a DJ to play your stuff what did you have to do, ( can you say Payola!). Now if we had a person that was so infectious in our bonsai world, and that person was so contagious that everyone wanted to be praised by him, then that person could rock your bonsai world. Let's say that that person was Andy Rutledge. Andy is going to Boon's this weekend. Lets say that the whole world had never heard of Boon. I am sure that there will be many pictures in the BTOJ next month for the whole world to see. I am sure that Andy in his own way 'is' already that critic, and gaining speed expotentialy. I'll bet there would be those that will hear of Boon soon, if the haven't already. On the other hand, if you are talking the general bonsai masses that go to an occasional show and pick apart every tree, that just boils down to taste, plain and simple. I have went to plenty of shows and have seen great masterpiece trees that if given the chance I would make some pretty big changes to suit my taste. But who am I? Nobody! As far as I'm concerned, if you dabble in bonsai, you will be a critic! If you are no one, no one will care. If you are someone, someone may be listening! Bonsai-al __________________ Real men don't wear coats with "happi" in the title.