Contests and Exhibitions

Yandrosxx

I often read about exhibitions held around the world and I often wonder whether such exhibitions offer prizes for various categories of bonsai and what those prizes are (Honorable mention, money etc.) For instance, what are the prizes for the Noleander Trophy or the Ginko Awards? What are the typical categories judged? How is a tree entered or selected?

Does the United States have any similar contests or exhibitions? If not, why not? Could they or should they be held in the states?

If the US has such exhibitions and contests, which ones do you conisder to be the most "prestigious" in the states? What are the shortcomings of such exhibitions in the states?

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rockm

Talk about a can or worms....

Currently there is no equivalent of the Ginko Awards in the States. The idea of a national show has been kicked around for quite a while by alot of folks.

The logistics involved with such a show in the U.S. are a bit more complicated because of our country's size.

Europe is a third the size of the U.S.

http://goeurope.about.com/od/europe...parison-map.htm

Getting trees to a central location here without damage is VERY risky. Owners would have to truck their trees in or pay for air freight--both risky propositions for show quality trees. Driving to such a show could be a three-to-five day affair if you're driving across the U.S. with a trailer full of trees. If you're in Hawaii --where there are soem pretty terrific tropical bonsai--fuhgeddaboudit ...Casual attendees would all probably be local, since no one other than bonsai fanatics would drive more than six hours to see a show. Such limited public attendance would limit any admission profits that might be used to run the show. Add to that some of the state-level and country level plant import restrictions (Cal., Fla. and Canada), you have a very tall order. No one has been able to put the puzzle together efficiently and attractively.

Some very good regional shows have sprung up though. Bill Valavanis runs a Mid-Atlantic show every year out of N.Y. The D.C. region has a conglomeration of bonsai clubs that puts together a spring show every year, as do the formidable clubs in California. It's these regional shows that might form the nucleus of a more nationally oriented show, though, IMO. Just like the Westminster Kennel Club dog show has become the de-facto "national" dog show, which draws from winners in AKC regional shows...

Moleque_san

Entering a tree is based on the contest. If its a Live show then you would pick the tree that best fits the shows display and then submit an "application" unless your a member in the hosting club... like in the spring theres some awesome setzuki azalea shows here in sacramento but I dont join in because I have no azaleas.

If the contest is Net based then you would pick a tree to what they are showing and then, usually, submit 3-6 pictures of your tree to the Hosts along with some tree vitals. like age, specie, cultivar etc...

Keep this in mind: Its easier to judge a live tree then it is to judge a picture. At the same token, its easier to get away with a lot of stuff in a picture then it is in real life.

Edit: when I say based on the contest I mean by what criteria they are allowing to show. whether its a species, styles, season color etc.

Yandrosxx

Thanks Rock,

You've figured out what I'm really getting at. I have been playing with the thought of developing an exhibition or annual (or biannual) contest for bonsai in the states.

I imagine I could secure some level of sponsorship for it, but I really need to get a handle on the logistics of pulling one off. I have been involved in pulling other conferences off for other events and I do have a sense of what it takes, but not in this arena.

I suppose I am most interested in listening to a discussion of what makes an event successful and attractive, etc. What practical limitations are involved, etc.

Also, I wonder if attendance and participation would be better if it were a bi-annual event. One might make the trip if its not every year. And if the incentive to participate was large enough or important enough? In Japan Prestige fits that bill . . . in the states?

Joanie

The limitation of travel between states, the size of trees, and the need to keep them in excellent health while travelling does certainly put a wrinkle in the idea of a National exhibit here.

If you organize a good local exhibit (in other words, including the States that are around your own) it may grow. You can work out the logistics on a smaller level.

You also have to give people more incentive to come. An excellent vendor area, for one. Perhaps a major demonstrator?

Joanie

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rockm

The biggest problem in this whole thing is one of motivation, I think. The mindset in Europe is different than in the U.S. Here, alot of the truly excellent bonsai live with "Bonsai Hermits" who don't really care about shows or the prestige that goes with them. The Europeans have taken up the competitive bonsai thing avidly and enjoy the politics and prestige.

Here in the U.S., most good and even excellent bonsaiists care only about their trees and are content with doing bonsai. I have likened the situation to the old trapper "rendevous" back in the early days of the frontier. Trappers out in the Mountains lived mostly a solitary existance making their living, but did get together for big trading and drinking binges called "rendevous." But those get togethers were mostly out of necessity. Trappers NEEDED to attend to get supplies, information and sell their furs... It took alot of whisky and money to get them out of the mountains...

The other obstacle--which is also big--is simply getting good trees to a site across the country. I'd be hesitant to put my best trees in a dark airless, possibly superheated or supercooled (depending on when the show is) trailer for a day or two--or three. I would definitely not ship a good tree air freight if I didn't have to. A smashed apex that took me 10 years to grow out isn't worth a medal I won't win because of the damage

I'm surprised that no one has rethought the approach taken a while back in the 1980s. Randy Clark went about with a camera taking pictures of some of he better American bonsai. The book "Outstanding American Bonsai" is a pretty good one. Had some pretty nice trees in it. It needs to be updated...Not as good as a physical show, but I'd bet it would sell. Look at how big Nick Lenz' books were...

For what it's worth, I overheard a discussion a while back at the NBF show in D.C. about a possible try to create regional shows across the U.S. Haven't heard anything more about it.

jjeter

We had a bonsai exhibit at BCI 2004 in St. Louis. It was a juried, judged event with prize money ( I think it was $500 for 1st prize). We have many great entries and had about 15 in the exhibit. Great event, but a whole lot of work. Good luck on setting something up.

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Jeff

Student of Bonsai

Yandrosxx

Well, now both the Ginko Awards And Kokufu select the trees that are actually entered in the Exhibition. That would certainly help on the logistics of shipping multiple trees if you knew you were only bringing one or two. (Are there specialty carriers that could transport the trees better? Does anyone know what the cost would actually be? Could that be factored into the costs?)

Granted, we're not here yet, but in Japan owners pay the transport shipping costs to send the trainer and the material to the show. So, assuming the incentives right, people might actually pony up to come. (I wouldn't expect the first year's event to be a blow out).

I also think the notion of doing a really top notch regional show would be the way to start. Of course, it could be left open to persons from far away that wanted to participate.

The event could also be held on a rotating location basis as many conferences for other subject matters currently are.

What's the lure though? What would people really want in a world class show? How do you motivate the US bonsai community?

(I also know some pretty egotistical hermits who come out of the cave every so often just to show off but really don't want anyone to know).

I agree about the present state of affairs, but I believe you have to build prestige first and then the hermits will be more interested in being a part of it. Something Honorable . . . not publicity, not just recognition. That's no more attractive to me than it is to anyone else.

Nevertheless, Westminster started somewhere.

hansvanmeer

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Hans.

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