A new Future...Ron Martin Crtique II

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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

__________________
I been kidding the last seven years.
no.... really!

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bonsaial1

I found that as I was writing this editorial, Ron was writing his follow up to the original thread. After I posted I read the followup. I was shocked.

I suspect Ron has made up his mind that all the trees are OK and in no need of further work. OK with me...( another good critique shot to Hell)

Thanks, Al

__________________
I been kidding the last seven years.
no.... really!

breefe

I got your point Al, made me re-think about my own approach to bonsai. Thanks...

RonMartin(deceased)

Al
Actually this is not the first time he has critiqued my trees. And the trees in question are not my best. They are however the ones that mean the most to me.That is why there were there. Silly point but one that I needed to make.
But to the crux of Al's question. As I see it any way.
There are many standards to judge a tree. All the way from a back yard junkie to the "artist" ( the quotes are there for those that think they are artist)
Another thing to consider is the school of the tree. By this I mean the country of origin. Japanese, Chinese, Korean, US, European, Taiwanese's and many etc's after that. In order to do a GOOD critique one must understand the particular school of thought. And critique in that school . Last I counted China had at least 37 different schools of thought on this. All loosely related and all valid. My personal opinion is that there are 7 major schools of bonsai in the US. (not counting the back yard bonsaiest).
Some of us learn one standard others can not comprehend the broader spectrum.
A critique should also have no personal agenda. Personalities should not be a factor.
As to what I will say about the comments made here about my trees. I'll leave the answer to that to those that came to this particular show. I expressed my opinions to them "face to face" They know exactly where I stand. No guess work and no chance for me to tap dance my way out of the comments I made.
All I ask is that people critique my trees and not me. There is a difference. One is constructive and the other is a vendetta. I just wished I knew where you are coming from

bonsaial1

I have no idea why this statement was even written. I feel that I published my opinions about these trees from a very professional point of view. I listed the positives and the negatives. They are consise and to the point. "You" were never even a part of my diliberation. In fact I had a seperate window open with the image of the tree while I wrote the critique in MS word.

I have never ever made a staement about any tree you have ever posted. I felt that an invitation to critique trees from someone that thinks that art and bonsai are in two different worlds would be fun. I was not wrong. It was fun.

What you disagree with is that some agree with my thoughts and that leaves a bad taste in your mouth. I can't help that.

Once again I challange you to list my critique and Agree or Disagree with the statements. Anything else is just spin and we have had alot of that lately on TV. I am no master and I am not the artist capable to make anything resembling a masterpiece. But.. I have followed very simple rules of bonsai artistry in my assessment. I feel they are worthy of discussion.

Al

__________________
I been kidding the last seven years.
no.... really!

bonsaial1

I reread this post several times to make sure I understood it. As I understand it, this is ignorant. This is the most abserd statement I have ever read.

No one has to be schooled in any school of thought to appreciate the fine points of artistry in bonsai. Are you telling me that I have to be schooled in the 27th school of Chinese bonsai to critique whether a penjing resembles a penjing. I use that statement because some of the trees you posted come dangerously close to deciding whether they meet the goals of what bonsai is.

Can you list these 7 schools in the US and what they stand for? I would be very interested in this because I feel that this could be a thread that may break records for years. If you are trying to tell me that these trees fit one of the 7 catagories for US bonsai, let me know who the teachers are that are advocating this as a style. ( I want to make sure they never come to Cal.).

Once again you have made statements that in my opinion are dangerous on a bonsai forum, and go little ways to proving your point. In fact this is just shooting from the hip and hoping one of the bullets hits something..

Al

__________________
I been kidding the last seven years.
no.... really!

RonMartin(deceased)

Al

You seem hell bent on starting an argument. I'm not interested in having one. Guess there isn't really much more for me to say on this subject.
Have a nice day

John Dixon

Al,

Ron doesn't drink beer. For the rest, I posted it on Ron's thread as a reply.


Brook's critique in Asheville was one in which I sensed no ambiguity, just constructive criticism. His review of my white pine was sort of a shock to me. I once asked in "Ask the Master" for Walter Pall to critique the same tree. Walter recommended several "considerable" changes to the tree and a pot (the pot was a given). Although I respected his opinion and still thank him for it, I did not agree. Bill Valavanis saw the same tree, in person, with the new pot from Sara Raynor (not potted though) and was okay with it, but thought the pot was oversized somewhat. Once again, I respect the opinion of this highly-skilled professional bonsaist, but I went ahead with the pot swap.

Now Brook was viewing somewhere around ninety trees, I think. I fully expected him to go by my tree without comment because of time restraints, but he didn't. He stopped, looked, knelt (sp?) down, looked some more, and gave the crowd (through interpreter) a critique that made me feel very good. He did not seize on one single flaw in the tree (although we all know it has some), but did comment on several attributes (massive trunk, strong movement, and good choice of container were some). He only recommended that the tree be moved closer to the front of the pot. He is exactly right in this point, and that he did not find anything else to change either reflects that he likes the tree, or doesn't consider it worth further comment. Each person must decide how they see that.

I personally was not happy with my tree because I could not display it on a stand (my fault). The stand I was planning to use was not sufficiently wide enough, so I proceeded without it. Brook did not say anything about that, although I could ascertain from other critiques that he does like to see stands being used.

Of the critiques I have had, this was one of the most encouraging I have received. Several were very harsh, which I can accept, but with a condescending attitude that was neither helpful nor appreciated. Brook is definitely not in that category. He has no idea who I am (not that it matters), and I did not give him any clue that it was my tree. To have such great artists like Brook at a venue really helps to motivate others to improve in their bonsai pursuits. It was a very enjoyable weekend.

My advice to others in "bonsai" is to consider those who specialize in penjing as worthy of consideration every bit as much as those who tout the Japanese style.

Best regards,

John

__________________
John Dixon

Si vis pacem parabellum

Stay off the trails of others, that's where the booby-traps are.

Gary Marchal

I would also like to know Ron's opinion of what the 7 major schools of bonsai in the US are.

Best Always

Gary Marchal