I read with interest the outline of a contest posted last month on
The Bonsai Enthusiast Online Magazine_where readers were encouraged to submit methods to prevent 'unethical and inept vendors' from hijacking the hobby. _The winning entry, which you can read above, suggests designating some type of certifying body that would provide a rating of approval for various vendors.
What struck me as odd at the time I read about the contest, and even more so in seeing how it all played out is: why is it a foregone conclusion that Bonsai needs protecting?
Do Turkish rug gallery owners rise up against the purveyors of latch hook crafts? _Do professional artists (or competent amateurs for that matter) see a threat in paint-by-number, sidewalk "art" sales, or the sale of fingerpaints to toddlers? _Probably not. _
What is disturbing to many bonsai folks about the public perception of their hobby is that
many in the general public can't tell the difference in the quality of trees, because they lack the education and experience to do so. _Long-time bonsai fans are aghast at the comparisons between their collected California Juniper and the rooted cutting some guy bought at the Kmart last weekend under the electric glow of revolving blue light.
With the public perception of bonsai shaped by movies like the Karate Kid, mallsai, instant gratification and the disposable society we live in, the two questions most often heard at a typical bonsai show are the following:
- How old is it?
- How much does it cost?
What can we do to raise the awareness of quality bonsai art?
1. _Strive to develop and grow the best trees we can to enhance the distinction between the garbage that gets passed off as bonsai in many malls, garden centers and the real thing. _
2. Display that art. _Exposure is foremost to understanding. _Answer the questions and dispell the myths. _Two of the top questions we hear on this forum are pretty instructive:
- Why is my bonsai dying?
- How do you keep the moss green?
The average mallsai owner just wants to be able to maintain the plant in the condition in which it was purchased!
3. Judge the shows. _Identifying standards of excellence and rewarding achievers is critical in developing and advancing our own perception of quality.
4. Recognize that Quality is, in essence, the meeting or exceeding of expectations. _If those expectations are low, they will be easily met. _If it is high, one may be disappointed by inferior design or unhealthiness. _
5. Recognize that everyone has different expectations of quality. The majority of mallsai buyers want something pretty to adorn the coffee table. _ If a mallsai fits that requirement, then let them have a mallsai. _That's my opinion on the subject. _Most of the bonsai enthusiasts I know were introduced to the hobby through some type of mass-produced commercial tree, anyways. _Everyone starts somewhere.
Your opinions are welcome!
Matt