Carl_Bergstrom

Andy,

Brilliant! One of things that I like about it is that it caught me in the web of my own hypocracy! I started that whole participation and appreciation thread in the sincere wish that there were more connesuers of bonsai in this country, irrespective of whether they chose to actively style trees. But I'm also one of those folks who has looked down, overtly or not so overtly, on folks who buy trees rather than create them. I see that we'll all be better off the sooner we lose this attitude about owning versus styling. From here on I'll do my best to stop trying to have my cake and eat it too. And when someone says "Oh, she just buys her trees and has ___ style them," I'll respond "Cool! It's great to see that sort of enthusiasm..." instead of with my usual raised eyebrow.

I also agree that, unless the conest is explictly about judging the artist instead of the art, as might be the case in a "new talent" competition or something, it is completely stupid to have this rules about owning a tree for some period of time before showing it. What if other art contests worked this way - the artist could only enter the object if she had not yet sold it on the market? What would be the point?

Finally, a remark about words. Bonsai Today commonly uses the word "enthusiast" to describe the non-professional bonsai artist. Presumably this is a translation of a Japanese word that does not carry the negative connotations associated with "hobbyist?"

Thanks for writing and sharing this piece!
Carl

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In love with trees