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A new Future…Ron Martin Critique, part II

Disclaimer: This editorial is in no way meant to criticize the way Ron Martin wishes to practice bonsai. For the most part Ron has shown trees here and there when necessary or when someone asks. I have never commented on one of Ron’s trees. During the invitational critique at Ron’s request, I felt it necessary to use the critique as a learning tool for others in their pursuits of bonsai. This is meant to be used for learning purposes and is not written with mean spirit.

An Editorial with Al Keppler

When one practices bonsai in the comfort of their backyard, there are no rules that govern us. There is just the tree, the artist, and the beer. Not much else matters except when the wife calls for supper.

When the backyard bonsai artist decides to exhibit trees in a public showing, there are many rules to follow and they should be followed to the letter. A public exhibit is there for the viewers. It is not intended to be a showing for bonsai enthusiasts; it is there for public scrutiny or enlightenment. The viewers expect the cream of the crop, the best of the best. The exhibit can only be as good as the exhibitors exhibiting in the exhibit, but the best nonetheless.

There have been many threads about art and bonsai during the past 6 months. Ron has taken part in many of those threads. Ron has also vowed to never enter into discussion about them again. I feel that this is too bad. Discussion about something you know little about is the only way to learn more about it. The word “art” within the realm of bonsai has many applications. There is the art of potting, and the art of display. The art of composition, and the art of expression. All of these come together to form the foundation of “the art of bonsai”.

While Ron may disagree with comparing bonsai to many other forms of art, such as the canvas or sculpture, he has gone ahead and exhibited his art in inexpensive plastic frames. Can you imagine a Renoir in a frame from the dollar store!
This is bonsai 101. There is no exception to this rule. All Bonsai when exhibited should be in correct display pots. These pots do not need to be antique Chinese pots, but they should be correct for the form and style and they should be clean and dressed.

Like many before him, Ron has reached a crossroads in the world of bonsai. The future of bonsai for Ron will take many twists and turns in the coming days after this encounter with Zhao. I feel the best encounter will have happened right here on the forum. Being very active in the world of bonsai display I can be pretty sure that the critique Ron received here on the forum will be much sharper and more intensive that the one he gets with Zhao. Unless I miss my mark, I feel Zhao will be less strict and will probably not say much that is that negative out of respect of the participants. Most Master’s, unless there services have been purchased and the brutal truth is needed for the sake of the tree, the critique will be very gentle.

Now the crossroads.
What if… Zhao gives a brutally honest critique?
What if… Zhao touches on everything mentioned on the forum and more?

What will Ron do? Will he take the necessary steps to correct the trees, or will he continue on the road to mediocrity?

This is the hard part about bonsai. Exhibiting bonsai with a critique, and finding out that your bonsai is less than perfect is hard to swallow. This falls into the same category as taking trees to paid workshops, receiving information about how to improve the tree, and not taking the advice and continuing on with your own agenda. If you have no intention of working the tree the way the teacher says, then why go to the workshop? Same as a critique.

Bonsai are always judged to more traditional viewpoints. There are some basic rules about bonsai that have to be met just to call them bonsai, and not just shrubs in pots. The most basic rules of bonsai dictate that the tree has some sort of style and form. It should come relatively close to one of the basic Japanese forms. It should be displayed in the appropriate pot. It should be accompanied with suitable accent, although this may be dictated by the type and space of the exhibit. Great care must be paid to the stand and the treatments of accent pieces. The composition of the display should be telling a story just as the tree does. The trees story must be taken into account when setting the display.

For me personally, there is no wiggle room when the art of display is undertaken. There are basic rules and these should be followed at the very least. It will be interesting to see the display if the pictures get posted as a display. I will be curios to see how some of those trees were exhibited.

In the “You vs. The Master” thread, it was stated many times that these were some of Ron’s best trees. I have never seen the whole collection up close or in person. I have only seen some very poorly shot photo’s for a critique that was disclaimered by, “ your critique means nothing I only want Zhao’s.”

Will Ron engage in dialog about the critiques he received here? They were in agreement more then in disagreement. I feel that speaks volumes for the consistency of the forum. Will Ron attack the critiques and post a snotty remark that these are the trees that were presented and that’s the way I like them?

Yes moving forward in bonsai in a predicament that Ron is in is a hard thing to do. I have been there too! I have had to go home and rethink the way I do bonsai. I have had to sit and contemplate if the way I do things was wrong, or I just didn’t have a clue. I had a clue; I was just doing it wrong.

Anxiously awaiting Ron’s return, Bonsai-al

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