Carolina Bonsai Expo 2008

nclivingwaters

----- Original Message -----
From: "Arthur Joura"
Sent: Friday, September 26, 2008 4:14 PM
Subject: 2008 Carolina Bonsai Expo - message 5


To All,

When I designed this year's Expo logo, I included a black cat to play on the
fact that this is the 13th time out for our little event, and the number 13
is typically associated with bad luck, as are black cats. I meant it only in
good fun. Now when I look at the image and see that black cat peering around
the tree I feel a little nervous.

I might as well just come out and tell you what I need to tell you - Nick
Lenz will not be with us in October. Earlier this week Mr. Lenz suffered
some sort of medical crisis and had to go to the hospital for emergency
surgery. I am relieved to report that the surgery was apparently successful,
but his doctors have insisted that traveling is now out of the question. Mr.
Lenz, true to his reputation of being just a little different from most
folks, did not choose to share with me the exact nature of his medical
crisis. But if what he did tell me is true, and I have no reason to think
that it isn't, his life was at genuine risk. I'm sure you'll join me in
sending his way good thoughts and prayers for his swift recovery.

Where does this leave us, with just two weeks before the Expo?

Fortunately, I have good news too. We will have a guest artist for the 13th
Expo, and it would be doing this person a great disservice to call him a
"replacement". I am both pleased and proud to be able to announce that Peter
D. Adams will joining us for this year's event.

Peter Adams is widely known and highly regarded in bonsai circles. As a
young man he trained in fine art at the Royal Academy of Arts in England,
the country of his birth. He early on established himself as the leading
British bonsai authority, winning Gold Medals for his work at the venerable
Chelsea Flower Show. His bonsai are in the British National Collection. He
is perhaps best known as an author and his numerous books on bonsai set the
standard for intelligent, artistically insightful treatment of the subject.
Mr. Adams now resides in Washington state and travels extensively in the
U.S. as a teacher. Peter Adams was the guest artist for the 2nd Carolina
Bonsai Expo, way back in 1997, so his return this year marks the first time
anyone has been Expo guest artist more than once.

I would say we are fortunate to have Mr. Adams coming for the Expo, even
without taking into consideration the circumstances that exist. As it is, I
am ecstatic that he is available on such short notice, and I am
wholeheartedly grateful that he is willing to step in.

THE SHOW WILL GO ON. With Peter Adams on board the 2008 Carolina Bonsai Expo
is still offering a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with a
world-class bonsai teacher and one of the best artists in the field. Mr.
Adams has agreed to carry on the same programs that Nick Lenz had intended
to do. He will follow the exact same format for both the workshops and the
Saturday night Main Event program. Mr. Adams' taste in bonsai is less
controversial, but his artistic credentials are second to none.

I will be contacting those people who registered for the Nick Lenz
refinement workshops early next week to verify that they will still
participate. Certainly they will be given the opportunity to change their
minds due to the unexpected change in instructors. My hope, however, is that
they will recognize the workshop has changed in personality only; the
quality and artistic merit of the programs remains of the highest caliber.
In fact, if there were any of you who considered the workshop but decided
against it because you were concerned that you might end up with a
dismembered Barbie doll in your tree, you may want to call in now and
reserve your place. The last I looked, there were still 2 openings left in
the Sunday afternoon workshop...

I will not be calling all of you who have registered for the Saturday night
Main Event program, because we already have more than 75 people signed up
for that. Of course, anyone who wishes to cancel their registration can call
in next week and do so. I don't expect many, if any, will choose to do that.
I've seen Peter Adams do lecture and demonstration programs on several
occasions, and I personally attest to his skill as a public presenter. He is
talented, knowledgeable, articulate, and wickedly witty. The "Framing The
Bonsai To Tell A Story (as compared to sitting there like a lump)"
lecture/demonstration is still (and now maybe even more) a program you won't
want to miss.

There is still much Expo information to convey, but it will wait for now.
Please see that your club members receive this news, and thank you sincerely
for your continued support.

Arthur

p.s. The cat's name is Lucky... Lucky the 13th Expo Cat.

Arthur Joura
Bonsai Curator

The North Carolina Arboretum
100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way
Asheville, NC 28806



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