Carolina Expo 2007

Dale Cochoy

John,
As a 'first-timer" who has been to LOTTSSSS of shows over 29 years I'll make a few comments.
First, It was nice to meet you and others I'd talked to online and never met. I enjoyed talking "guns" with you

The outside bonsai garden/display was absolutely stunning. I was so impressed with the layot and "neatness" and loved the multi-layered stroll type bonsai garden with walkways. REALLY NICE! It was refreshing to see the Arboretum seriously spent some time and bucks on it!

The club displays were nice and I liked the individual look with a difference in all displays. I kind of appreciated that. As with all shows, club or otherwise, there were stunning trees and not-so-stunning trees. This is normal and to be fully expected. My feelings have always been that if you are an active club member that you have the right to display a tree in your LOCAL shows. I do realize however that this was a group-type of show so some "preselection" was required by each club. All in all, I thought it was good. It is NOT Kokufu and I'd not expect the trees to be as such. They were not selected from an entire country.

Politics....I dunno, I'm not local so I dunno

The vending area was very nice. A tad cramped with little or no space between booths on the lower floor but it was ok. Vendors stayed within their marked spots and this was very helpful ( and unusual ). I would be happy with the exact same spot again. The vending fees were not the oft-seen rip-off charges with absolutely nothing in return. It was modestly priced and I am grateful for that. The builing and climate inside it was very nice. Not having been there before( when vending was adjacent to display) I don't know about sales, but, I heard no complaints about it, and certainly had none of my own! It was very nice to be supported by most of the folks who had told me they were anxious to see my "stuff". I have a lot of pots, and a few trees, now living in north and south Carolina's

The only change I'd like to see is that on show weekend the Arboretum would open display/vending area at 9AM Sunday as on Saturday. The noon-4pm opening seems a bit wastful of time during a very short show especially for vendors who are counting on sales and have to find something to do until noon. It is unpleasant for a vendor to see people hanging around outside a vendor area waiting for doors to open at noon.
BTW, I heard all the "Bible Belt" excuses, so I don't need those anymore!

All in all,
I liked it!
Dale

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If you want to be Different....
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Some people NEVER take the time to do a job right the first time....
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Dale Cochoy
Wild Things Bonsai Studio
Yakimono no Kokoro Bonsai Pottery
Hartville, Ohio

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John Dixon

And it was great to speak with all of you, however brief the conversation was!!!

BWayne- I enjoyed our discussion very much. The discipline to keep from crowding the display with too many trees is indeed difficult to maintain, especially when it is normal to want to include as many member's bonsai as possible. Still, I think it is VERY important to do.

John Quinn - I think we waved at each other more than anything. I'll try harder in the future.

Dale- It is great to hear from someone with many years of experience in these type of events. I think the NC Arboretum has a very good thing going there. They are completely againist extending the show - which most everyone else wants - but other than that I think it is the bonsai "center" of the Southeast.

The show itself has improved greatly. Ten years ago most trees were sticks. Now the "sticks" are less numerous.

__________________
John Dixon

Si vis pacem parabellum

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

JohnnyL

Here are some more pictures from the show. The arboretum is a very nice place to visit and to vend. It was also nice to feel temperatures under 75 degrees for a change. It seems like in Florida we've had 80+ since June.
All the organizers and volunteers did a great job and it looked like all the vendors had a good time too.

Johnny Liseth

CBI, Inc.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lisethp... ey=pktzw_Kt6FE

Ashbarns9999

High standard of trees shown here. Well done you Carolinans. It would seem that this weekend in October is popular in Australia as well with Western Australia, Canberra and Melbourne, we in Spring and you in Fall.

Ash

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JohnG

Hey John... As one of the few folks that can say that have been to all 12 of these expos and presented at all but one, I think this one was the most successful yet. I tend to be a little frank about things when I am presented with direct questions so here is my take on some of the politics.

I think that some rules need to be added that clarify when someone can display trees as their own. I attended the Shohin Bonsai Symposium in early Sept. and noticed that most of the trees in the winning club display were purchased from Suthin(who had displayed them in Rochester)less than a month before. When this display was critiqued nothing was mentioned of this fact. Anyone with enough money could certainly buy enough trees to win a best of show but that seems to against the spirit of the event. Perhaps it is not rules we need here but guidelines that suggest some basic display morals.

I loved that several of the clubs, including yours John, made a real effort to break the traditional Japanese molds concerning display. After making some of these efforts in the past the club I belong to, Bonsai club of South Carolina, opted for a more traditional display this year. Fact of the matter is that our club is on the brink of demise and nothing was even planned or picked until two weeks before the show. We were lucky to even have a presence this year.

This show has always suffered from the too many trees displayed syndrome and this was overcome by several clubs this year.

I found the Triangle club's display to bear a lot of resemblance to a display created by Danny Use at the Ginko awards this year, but just not done as well. But, this was still a very eye catching display with 4 very nice trees.

The Bonsai Society of South Carolina display only lacked a flat screen tv and it would have made a beautiful entertainment center. I am not taking anything away from the craftsmanship but to my eye the trees were lost in the square yards of highly finished wood. The quality of the trees chosen for display were not conducive to the display unit. The space for the trees was inadequate in two cases and little thought was given to keeping the focus on the trees.

Its only my opinion but I found the Hinoki club's display to very distracting and did not showcase the trees at all. It had a very Chinese feeling to me which is not a bad thing but in this case I found the display to border on tacky. I also noticed that the preponderance of trees belonged to only one member. I will readily admit that it must have taken a many hours to prepare and execute this display...but its just not my taste.

The Charlotte's clubs display was my pick as the best. I thought it was well planned and executed...a definite step away from traditional displays. The quality and number of trees worked well in the space. The sound of the trickling water did tend to trigger a natural urge each time I passed it though

As to the best in show, people's choice, and member's choice tree I am not sure what to say. It had an impressively large canopy but the trunks were not in scale with the canopy. The canopy was also styled in a way that the individual trees were impossible to discern from the group. The health and presentation were impeccable. I didn't not care for the placement of the trees but this was disguised enough by the over-sized canopy that I don't think many people even noticed. If it was me making the decisions I am not sure that I would have chosen anything different. As others have pointed out, there really was a lack of extraordinary trees this year, many, many very nice ones but almost none that made my jaw drop.

I have noticed that no one has broached the subject of the guest artist in this discussion. In my opinion, Brussell was the weakest of the featured artists that have been a part of this event in years past and the weakest link in the Expo this year. Don't get me wrong, I am sure he is very, very good at what he does, but he lacked the personality to really deliver an outstanding demonstration or critique. I also think he lacks the artistic eye to really ever be a great bonsai artist. However, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase stock trees or semi-styled trees from his nursery. I believe his strengths lie in horticulture and marketing. What other bonsai vendor can boast of selling 15 thousand trees for Mother's day? You can probably also tell that I didn't care much for his award choices either.

As for the arboretum itself, the show, the venue, the collection, were all outstanding...as usual...many kudos need to go to Arthur Joura. He is the sole driving force behind what has become one of the best permanent displays in the country and the Expo which provides so many of us a great opportunity to gather for fellowship, learning and friendly competition. I hope to always be a part of this outstanding event in the future.

I have heard and find it tragic that the All American Bonsai show that Bill Valavanis is promoting will be on the same weekend next year I think this will only diminish both efforts.

Ok...I have put myself out there for criticism. And, before someone yells sour grapes please note that I have clearly stated what my choices would have been and none of which were part of the club display to which I belong. These are only my honest reflections and I believe strongly that in order to grow and improve in our endeavours we must critically reflect on our experiences.

Thanks,
John Geanangel

I.B.

Hi John,

Glad you could join us in early September for the Shohin Bonsai Symposium in Rochester, New York, and I hope you enjoyed the event. Your bonsai was well received and added to the event.

I'm not too sure where you got the information you talked about for our exhibit. First, there were no club displays, only invited artists. Second, the bonsai were not judged. BCI and the Rosade Bonsai Studio each presented an award to their selection of a quality bonsai or display. Suthin was not in Rochester one month before the symposium. In fact, I think it's been about one year since he was in this area.

As far as purchasing bonsai and displaying them as your own goes, I'm not too sure what the policy or purpose of display of the Carolina Bonsai Expo is. I "think" the displays are by invited clubs to show what bonsai each club has.

My policy and purpose of bonsai displayed at my 27 annual symposia is to feature the bonsai, NOT the artists. There is nothing wrong with having an artists show, but that's was not, nor is, my intention. Only to dispaly beautiful bonsai. So the origin of the individual bonsai is not of importance to me because we are not highlighting their creators.

Yes, I'm sponsoring the National Bonsai Exhibition in Rochester, New York next October 11-12, 2008. I have already discussed this with Arthur Joura. It's too bad they might be both on the same weekend, but with weather and other numerous bonsai activities around the country it's difficult not to conflict sometimes. This certainly was not my intention.

In the National Bonsai Exhibition we will be exhibiting the beauty of bonsai, regardless of who created them, or where they came from. Simply the beauty of high quality bonsai, some of the best in the United States. More information on this historic event will be released soon.

Bill

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William N. Valavanis

JohnG

Hey Bill... I am sorry for the confusion. I did very much enjoy your symposium. I fully realize that your display was by invitation and was not a juried event. The reply I made had to do with someone purchasing several of Suthin's trees (which Suthin had on display at your symposium) and then the new owner displayed them at the Carolina Bonsai Expo as his own. In fact they made up at least half of his club's display. If this fact would have been brought forward during the critique I would have had no problems, but it was not. The trees were raved over by the guest artist and the owner just smiled as if he was responsible for creating and caring for those trees. I personally find this to be underhanded and deceitful for a juried event.

It has never been stated but it has always been implied, at least for me, when you enter trees in a juried show (any juried show) those trees should represent your own work, not finished trees that you just purchased from a professional, unless that fact is clearly stated. Especially if you have only had the trees for less than a month. I know this is an area of controversy with many shows and has been discussed on several occassions.

With respect to the National Bonsai Exhibit I think this is a long overdue effort and I applaude you for undertaking such an effort. I just find it unfortunate that it will occur on the same weekend that the Carolina Bonsai Expo has been on for the past 12 years. This is going to cause many hobbyists and vendors to make a choice and, at least I believe, it will diminish the overall quality of both events. I know, I for one would love to attend your National Bonsai Exhibit, but I also have a long term committment to Arthur and the CBE.

Once again I am sorry for the confusion, I did not mean to infer any wrong doing on your part or the part of Suthin. I enjoyed your symposium very much and completely realize the difference between it and the CBE. Thank you for your reply and the information about the National Bonsai Exhibit.
John

JohnG

Just for the sake of clarification in the above pargraph, I was refering to the trees displayed in the winning club display at the Carolina Bonsai Expo and not the Shohin Bonsai Symposium. All I was trying to say was that Suthin displayed the trees at Bill's...a hobbyist then purchased those trees from Suthin and then displayed them as his own and as part of his club's display at CBE.

Sorry for the confusion,
John

John Dixon

John,

As usual, we find much to agree on. I've shared some of those same thoughts with some specific people and found 100% concurrence, so far.

Your SC club is a mainstay in this event. I sincerely hope that you can find a way to keep a cohesive structure. We weathered that particular storm ourselves a couple of years ago, so it can be done! The Expo would not be the same without your club. I spoke briefly with Ken and told him that while we may rib each a little about your "winning streak", and how we all want to beat you, the truth of the matter is the efforts of the SC club have caused all of us to improve. That is a complement to your club, and a fact you can be proud of. I for one sincerely appreciate the efforts of you, Ken, and your club as a whole. We are all the better for it.

I've also pointed out to Arthur a personal "want" of mine. I would love to see a competition between club representatives (the same who chairs the display) where each one draws a number from a hat to a corresponding piece of material. Then each sole rep must style the material into the best bonsai they can do in a short time frame. A "before" photo is compared to the worked material and then either a judge or group picks the best. I think this would be a fun contest with some great benefits to the public who really seem to show interest in actual styling of material as opposed to just seeing finished material. This has a rather sly and covert by-product as well. While I am not opposed to those who have the money to buy expensive finished bonsai, if they don't have any styling skill, it will be apparent. Sort of checks and balances, know?

Anyway, this isn't to speak badly about the Expo. Quite the contrary. I absolutely LOVE to attend it every year, and every year it gets better. For that to continue, so must the SC club!!!

John

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John Dixon

Si vis pacem parabellum

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