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Greybeard
Join Date: Aug-2001
Location: Fresno, CA
Country: USA
Posts: 5,247
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Special Announcement - Spring 2005
Bonsai-al Spring Artistry Contest
What I plan to propose is an artistry contest. This contest will focus on display, and all the artistic concepts that make it work. All materials will be furnished by the entrant and be assembled by the entrant. There will be no rules governing what can be included, and the display can be as intricate as the entrant wants.
The display will be at least of the “three – point” design, and can include all aspects of bonsai artistry including but not limited to; bonsai, accent plants, Suiseki, scrolls, mud men, iron or bronze figurines and stands. The focus of the display is harmony. How well does the display look and does it tell a story. Does it depict a season, harsh growth location, or tranquil meadow? Does the story depict water, stream or lake?
Suitable backdrops will be of importance here. Stands will become ultra important. The size of the stand becomes important in the display as well as the health and overall grooming of the plants.
This contest may be held twice a year to help show the plant in winter form, mirroring the shows in Japan. Entrants will also be allowed to enter multiple entries. As long as each display meets the minimum requirements, multiple entries are encouraged. The displays are being judged not the entrant. The focus is on the display and not the artist, though the artist will win the prize.
I have several ideas for a judge on this contest, and will reserve names till notification. The contest will run for about two months to give everyone time to assemble displays according to the springtime in your location. Probably starting around March first and ending around the end of May. Judging to follow soon after. Judging will take place from all entries and will not be narrowed down by popular vote. I feel someone qualified to see and recognize significant details in the display should judge artistry. Popular vote is too skewed.
There will be only one winner. There will be a prize of value to make this contest worth entering. I will see to that. Honorable mentions will be given to fifth place.
I have posted this message at this time of year to let everyone know what is coming down the road at bonsaiTALK and to give everyone time to assemble all the necessary items to build such displays. Trees should be picked now and groomed for spring. Suitable branches should be pruned in fall to give maximum budding in the spring for the plant to look it’s best. Suitable accent material should be gathered to assemble in the spring for suitable effect. Pots should be cleaned and kept in top condition, or bought for future repotting of the plants intended for use in your displays. In other words…you should be putting the displays together in your heads now and working towards that end to be ready for the contest. If you wait till the day before the deadline, you have no chance of really making the display look unified. It has been said by many Japanese masters “ they wouldn’t even think of displaying a tree in an exhibit without working on it for two years.”
Photo's to follow to show what kind of contest this will be, and what to be shooting for. This years contest tree may be in this display, who knows?
Is everybody ready to rummmbbble?
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III Bonsai-al
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Real men don't wear coats with "happi" in the title.
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