And two steps back. I hesitate to write this essay since I am a publisher of a "competing" publication, but I'll do it anyway - as an unhappy member of an organization. I received my copy of the Winter 2003 Journal of the American Bonsai Society a couple of days ago. I am more and more pleased with the appearance of the Journal, as they add more color and improve the quality of the photographs. I know that this adds expense to the production of the magazine, but it is a vast improvement over the previous incarnation of this publication. Bravo!
Even so, I read in this issue of the publication, produced by my country's national organization (supposedly
the national organization), an article about grafting. This article, supposedly aimed at beginners, illustrates grafting techniques that are all virtually irrelevant to bonsai! What the hell is going on at ABS?
Yes, the grafting techniques that are illustrated
are useful grafting techniques -
if you are a fruit farmer or work in a landscape nursery production operation. But bonsai is an aesthetic, artistic endeavor and almost none of the illustrated techniques can be useful in bonsai because they produce ugly results. Of the 7 methods illustrated, only one should even be considered for bonsai - and only if extrapolated for a different situation than illustrated.
The real problem with all of this is that here we have ABS
teaching members, in this case beginners,
bad bonsai technique. Our national organization can't go doing that. I have pointed out before that ABS is seemingly uninterested in addressing the fullness of bonsai - as a hobby, a profession and as a fine art, yet they are supposed to be the national organization for bonsai in North America (?). Here we have yet another example of their completely hobby-oriented approach to supporting the endeavor. True, hobbyists don't necessarily need to be concerned with excellent aesthetics, but to obviate aesthetics in an instructional article for beginners is irresponsible.
Failing to adequately represent the fullness of the endeavor they hope to lead is one thing. However, the American Bonsai Society is harming the bonsai endeavor with their wholly casual approach to disseminating information here. I am a member of ABS and rather an unhappy one today.
Andy Rutledge
www.andyrutledge.com/palaver/main.htm
zone 8, Texas