bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - OPINION: Mallsai and the Bonsai Art

I agree with everything you said but would speak to #5. The article you mentioned reminds me of professional painters that decry the amatuer artists. I used to do some painting and can still remember the same arguments--one from a person who led a class I took. He railed on and on about people who traced trees or people onto canvas and then painted them! He thought it shouldn't be allowed. But I still hang many of my paintings in my house, even though a "real" artist would shake his or her head in disbelief. The plain and simple fact is that few of us will become a great bonsai artist. But I dare say I enjoy it just as much as the great artist, maybe more because I don't think I'm as pretentious as those who want to limit or grade our work.

Mallsai is no different than those framed prints you can buy at Wal-Mart. Sure, it may not be "real" art but if it pleases somebody, let it please them. All of us will not become highly trained artists, but who cares?

I think the true bonsai enthusiast will encourage bonsai in all forms from my bumbling attempts to mallsai to truly great works of art. I certainly agree that many people will buy a tree and not take the time to learn how to care for it, but people do that with ferns and palms and philodendrens, too. If they get some enjoyment for a short time, maybe it will stimulate a few to go to the next level. Maybe not. Either way is fine with me.

One last thought. You said *"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." I have read of bonsai artists who would rather see that cutting nurtured and trained from infancy than see that collected juniper cut, drilled, chain sawed and Dremeled into something that only faintly resembles a traditional bonsai! It's all in the eye of the beholder so lets accept traditional and contemporary bonsai and mallsai and 200 year old junipers and especially, let's not see a group of "experts" begin to try to grade and number and control our hobby and art.

11-Apr-2002	#7
Earl Inactive Join Date: Jan-2002 Location: Klamath Falls, OR Country: USA USDA Zone: 5 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 523	Re: OPINION: Mallsai and the Bonsai Art I agree with everything you said but would speak to #5. The article you mentioned reminds me of professional painters that decry the amatuer artists. I used to do some painting and can still remember the same arguments--one from a person who led a class I took. He railed on and on about people who traced trees or people onto canvas and then painted them! He thought it shouldn't be allowed. But I still hang many of my paintings in my house, even though a "real" artist would shake his or her head in disbelief. The plain and simple fact is that few of us will become a great bonsai artist. But I dare say I enjoy it just as much as the great artist, maybe more because I don't think I'm as pretentious as those who want to limit or grade our work. Mallsai is no different than those framed prints you can buy at Wal-Mart. Sure, it may not be "real" art but if it pleases somebody, let it please them. All of us will not become highly trained artists, but who cares? I think the true bonsai enthusiast will encourage bonsai in all forms from my bumbling attempts to mallsai to truly great works of art. I certainly agree that many people will buy a tree and not take the time to learn how to care for it, but people do that with ferns and palms and philodendrens, too. If they get some enjoyment for a short time, maybe it will stimulate a few to go to the next level. Maybe not. Either way is fine with me. One last thought. You said *"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." I have read of bonsai artists who would rather see that cutting nurtured and trained from infancy than see that collected juniper cut, drilled, chain sawed and Dremeled into something that only faintly resembles a traditional bonsai! It's all in the eye of the beholder so lets accept traditional and contemporary bonsai and mallsai and 200 year old junipers and especially, let's not see a group of "experts" begin to try to grade and number and control our hobby and art.