I'd like to see efforts to exhibit bonsai art more often reflect the dignity and excellence one expects in fine arts. Too often "bonsai shows" are not conceived and put forth with high standards as a priority. In order for U.S. bonsai to rise to a higher standard, higher standards must be the basic expectation among both participants and the general public.

Part of that expectation of high standards, I believe, should be reflected in the typical venue for exhibition. As bonsai is art, I think we should be exhibiting our bonsai within the fine arts community - in art museums. We should not feel the need to segregate our art from other, similar fine arts. I believe our garden shows should rather be exhibits and our treatment of these exhibits should be with more dignity and expectation of quality. So long as we treat our exhibits like garden shows, so will the arts community and the general public agree.

Bonsai exhibits are part of what we do to grow our endeavor; our community, our economy and our art. This kind of growth requires that the endeavor occupy a valuable place in society. Outside of our own tiny community, our endeavor is currently viewed largely as a curiosity and perceived to be ancillary to the fine arts (or gardening) because this is the image we tend to publicly portray. I hope that in the future we begin to dispense with cheap, pseudo-artistic public “shows” and trend toward a higher example; a relevant and fitting example for such a fine art as ours.

Kind regards,
Andy Rutledge
www.andyrutledge.com/
zone 8, Texas

Another interesting and perceptive point you've raised, Andy!

I have to ask though: When was the last time you attended an art exhibition where a sculptor magician, with the help of one or two assistants, transformed an ordinary block of marble into a priceless masterpiece in front of an astonished crowd? ...one where you paid a couple bucks to enter the main tent where nothing in the gallery proper was for sale, but you could gawk at some natural curiosities before heading outside to purchase knock-offs or do-it-yourself materials from the vendors in the lobby?

"Show" doesn't quite sum it up, either, does it?

"Circus" seems a more apt term, but at a circus, one really expects to see costumes and a midway, though. Wait! Now that I think about it, most bonsai shows do involve games of chance where tickets are hawked by kimono-clad barkers to audience members, and a lottery determines the final outcome. So, I think "Bonsai Circus" is my choice for the marquee.

Everyone loves a circus. Maybe we are just missing the boat and need to have a couple clowns and a bonsai geek at our next club show - someone who will bite the berries off a pyracantha while a muscleman bends deadwood in the center ring?

Long live the Bonsai Circus!

Andy:

Very good question. We are always hit with quote "moving to the next level." But there is beauty in every tree for each individual. Much as art is a personal choice so should our trees be.

The concept of having an exhibit of "our" best work (we being the judge of that not a committee or group) would truely be great. We could talk to the artists about what they are trying to express in the work, how they feel about the outcome, and how they did it, without the pressure to be judged.

This would allow a person to say start at a local or regional exhibit and move his tree up to the national exhibit if "he" so choses.

Scary though to just pop ones tree out there for the fun of it.

Richard

Matt,

Love it!

But, you're talking about conventions, not exhibits. I'm talking about bonsai shows/exhibits. Just those events where one can view trees on display - like one views paintings or sculptures or photos on display, not the demo/lecture/raffle/shows that are popular elements of conventions.

Kind regards,
Andy Rutledge
www.andyrutledge.com
zone 8, Texas

Richard,

I don't believe you're recongizing the distinction between 1) having/growing our own trees because we love them, find them beautiful and enjoy the activity - and - 2) exhibiting works of artistry.

The two have to be approached from very specific and exclusive sets of criteria for what is good and/or appropriate. By "moving to the next level" (your quote, my basic thrust) I mean that we need to be more clear and appropriate in our aims for the exhibition part to be done right, to be done justice, to have contextual relevancy.

If there was a bonsai exhibit and 50 people contributed displays - you were one of them - AND unbeknownst fo the participants the displays were judged, would you be upset? Why? The answer to that question is what is at the heart of the issue of why we are often rather lackadasical in our approach to bonsai exhibits. ;-)

Talking to the artists about what they are trying to express in the work is a nice activity, often instructive. However, if the artists are any good, such things will be quite clear when one views their work. Artistry is about communication. Failed communication is not made better by explanation. (but this is a somewhat separate point from the theme of the thread. Sorry.).

Kind regards,
Andy Rutledge
www.andyrutledge.com/
zone 8 Texas

I did not mean to indicate that the exhibited works would not be the "best of the best". I for one would have to work for several years to get one of my best trees to the point that I would exhibit it. But if the opportunity presented it self I would do it.

The discussion of a work of art at the gallery with the artist or just with a fiend to discuss what the painting says to us is common at art shows. How the artist achieved the look, the message, the movement. the threeD effect in twoD are discussions that are enriching to the viewer.

Buy not adding the grade or competion to the venue I think alot of trees that are in hiding would come out and we all would be very surprised at the hoigh quality that is hidden out there.

I think I get the point of a high quality exhibition for the sake of the art.



Richard

Bring in the Clowns!

This reply is for Andy, but not entirely directed to him.
I will interchange exhibit for show frequently, and do not mean to degrade exhibit in any way, as to say that most of these venues will be known as "shows".

The obvious: We all do "Bonsai"

The less obvious - When was the last time we went to:
1. a coin show
2. a koi show
3. a dog show
4. a stamp or coin collecting show
5. an art show
6. an Ikebana show
7. a cactus, iris, violet or orchid show
8. a tropical fish show
9. an air show
10. etc., etc.

Anyone see tunnel vision here...

I'll bet these people are just as pasionate about the stuff they believe in and probably wish in some way that all those that enter would elevate the way the collect, display, and grow their works would elevate it to artist ranks. I too am sure that they would love to have a huge National show with an organizing body that has competant judges and everyone gets along and sings hail to the chief when the "big guy" comes in.

There will always be those that want more from something then the activity is willing to give. There will always be discussion on what is the best way to achieve that too.

It will probably happen when the guy with the talent, access and means gives it a go.

Al Keppler, the little guy

I relate this story. I was shocked to find out that since 1995 the largest collection of Japanese art, collectables, furniture, paintings and sculptures, out side of Japan was located at the Clark Institute located just 45 miles south in Hanford. It was a side trip during the recent GSBF convention. Those that went were pleasently surprised. Yet not everyone went. Probably not even 50%.
Why...

Anyone with a desire to get educated in the arts of Japan I would think would want to see this magnificent display.
Yet when I asked most of the group in the Fresno club, none had even heard of it, and did not think they would check it out. Just not their cup of tea. ( sorry for the bad pun). I'll be willoing to bet that the combined population of the surrounding 50 mile radius is well over 1.2 million. I'll bet that there are probably about 500 people in the 50 mile radius that have seen the Clark, or even heard about it.

Just what kind of patronage is needed to support a large National event. It may seem prudent to sharpen the pencil and crunch the numbers first. I'll bet that the bonsai base, willing to participate, in America is not large enough to have a positive effect on the financial burdon of an exhibit that large.

How would you advertise this event? The Bonsai publications? We all know how good that works.
Radio?
TV?
Internet popup?

With the exception of the popup, I have never seen a bonsai exhibit advertised on TV. People in America are not that interested in the arts. We have not been introduced to them at an early age, nor do we spend much time with them in our education system. With nothing to do, I'll bet the average European would give a fine exhibit of bonsai a chance on a Saturday afternoon, rather then take in a fine showing of " Dude wheres my car" at the Bijou.

First we have to change the Culture, then we can give the exhibit thing a chance.

Hey Al, you left out the gun show and the peep show. Without those I would be a no-show.

On a more serious note, the best turnout our club ever had was when our event happened to coincide with a rummage sale held in the parking lot of the same high school where our bonsai exhibit was staged. We probably had more than a thousand folks stroll through the bonsai show, where our typical attendance is lucky to break a couple of hundred.

I suggested to the powers-that-be that we try to coordinate our next event with the rummage sale folks and they all looked at me like I was joking. I'm thinking we might schedule our own rummage sale next time just to boost attendance. People seem to love a good rummage sale, and if they are already out of their cars, they don't mind a stroll through the exhibit.

Regards,

Matt