This is great! Where else would you be able to fine a more diverse group of people, talking so intelligently about all facets from design and basic principals of their art form all the way down to the religious interpretations? I love this stuff and am glad to be a part of this forum!


Adam

Well, again, I'm not talking about arguing. It is possible to talk about religion without shouting. I do it for a living, and most people who know me know that I have an open-minded, tolerant approach. I realize that not all do. It is a matter of temperment. Look at how this forum erupts at times over issues that have no relation to religion or politics. Divisiveness is a part of human nature, and is not caused by religious diversity.

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37

Hello, Andy -- after more than a year, I don't know if this thread is still active. I am a 2-year beginner and member of 2 clubs, who has been hacking on dozens of trees and seedlings to get comfortable with the process of modifying Nature's slow pathways to mature appearances. At over 70, I feel I lack the time -- and wouldn't consider it a personal success - to take 5 years learning to replicate Japanese methods and aesthetics.

But I still want the results of my developing inventiveness and craftsmanship to be able to move people who are able to respond and evaluate beyond "left-right-left branching" and "a forward-leaning apex centered above the roots" -- though I have no need to baby-bathwater these prinicples.

As I look at Bonsai exhibit books from 20-30 years ago, I am struck with how ponderous, how studied, the trees appear, and how unappealing many of them are to me. (I was a professional photographer for years, and have looked with pleasure at lots of paintings, and thus credit myself with having some sort of aesthetic eye) They certainly exemplify the qualities of "trunkiness" and "foliage masses", and "dynamic balance", but I find them unsatisfying and somehow wearying -- rather like ballet dancers' applause-garnering leaps and pirouettes.

No solutions -- not even intelligent questions. Thanks for your interest,

Rich