I’d like to see one American organization become a bona fide leader in the U.S. bonsai community. We in the U.S. are lucky to have a few decent national-level clubs, but none is a true leader in the bonsai community. By “true leader” I mean an organization that becomes the must-join organization for U.S. bonsai enthusiasts; one that stands head-and-shoulders above the rest.

Our organizational state in the U.S. is far too fragmented and to too little benefit of the community. Bonsai and its organizations in the U.S. are lacking in several areas as compared to what can be found in other parts of the world. This need not be and it will take a true leader organization to address the necessary change and growth issues appropriately.

The logical choice for such an organization might be the American Bonsai Society (ABS). However, ABS is quite stagnate and devotes its energy almost exclusively toward the hobby of bonsai rather than the fullness of the endeavor and community. ABS fills a niche, but that is no way to be the leader. Bonsai Clubs International (BCI) seems perhaps more interested in the possibilities for positive change, even in the U.S.. However, BCI is not devoted just to the U.S., as their name plainly suggests. They, too, seem to lack the necessary level of focus and energy for effectively addressing issues of change. The North American Bonsai Federation (NABF) is little more than a virtual club that serves only the purpose of linking North America to the World Bonsai Friendship Federation (WBFF - yet another virtual club). This is an admirable cause, but does not give them any role in leadership.

By far, the most vibrant and effective organization in the U.S. is the Golden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF). Their list of active programs dwarfs that of any other organization in the U.S.. Also, the relevance of their activities is much closer to our national needs than is found in other, larger organizations. It is a shame that they are relegated only to activity within California.

Perhaps the U.S. is so large a country that it needs 2 or 3 national organizations, working together, each serving as the leader organization for its region. This is not so hard a conclusion to reach, given the fact that most of the truly effective and energetic organizations around the world cover countries that are only a fraction the size of the U.S.. At this time there are a few regional bonsai organizations in the U.S., but none has the apparent capability or inclination to become a leader. I hope that the future holds more promise for how bonsai in this country is led and organized and how national-level organizations conduct themselves to the benefit of the entire community.


What should the leader organization do?

Everything. The true leader organization in the U.S. should be the umbrella organization under which, by comparative scope, all other organizations logically rest. This organization should have the leaders, the focus, and energy necessary for taking on bold initiatives and effecting positive change. This organization should have chapters specific to bonsai professionals, bonsai students and bonsai hobbyists, and should drive the activities in the U.S. that are geared toward each of these groups within the endeavor.

Without a doubt, the leader organization should host the best national exhibits each year; the bonsai exhibits that set and continually raise the standard for quality. I believe these exhibits should be judged events and held in fine arts museums. As a part of this facet of the endeavor, the organization should have a serious and effective program for training and maintaining skilled bonsai judges. Further, this organization should champion the idea of bonsai as “art” first and act and conduct its affairs accordingly.

All of the above will be necessary for a true leader organization to become apparent. I sincerely hope that the U.S. will one day have a leader organization that is committed to positive change, exemplifying excellence and facilitating growth within the U.S. bonsai community.

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

Andy,

I have read your wishlist on the BTO http://www.bonsaitodayonline.com/ already. I agree wholeheartedly. Although I am not American, of course, I think I have enough experience there.
I think something has to happen.

best regards
Walter Pall
new addresses: bonsai@walter-pall.de http://walter-pall.de/

Andy,

Hear, Hear.

I feel Andy's pain. And, as I'm sure is his intent, there is much more to this.

1. Organization

While GSBS has proven to an effective model for several state level organizations none as yet have been able to match their accomplishments either due to IMO simple age or internal "issues"... Can a regional or national oufit even reproduce their model succesfully?

Statewide we have LSBF, modelled after GSBF. In Texas we don't fill our venues, i.e., conventions and the one or two artist tours. True, workshops get filled up but convention attendees tend to be a core group of folks that do these events. Vendors do so-so. The main focus of LSBF tends to be to the beginner and intermediate bonsaist. Events are kept inexpensive and they've tried a variety of approaches. Yet our success level after decades does not seem to approach GSBF whether measured in enthusiasm, participation, cash flow, or number of quality bonsai. These are my observations, perhaps it might be worth comparing data. Bottom line is that I think we do okay but should be able to better given our potential resources.

ABS reflects not only it's humble beginnings (read the old issues) but also the state of the art in this country. While ABS may not be strictly aimed at the hobbyist, it is, as is BCI, rather cliqueish. Perhaps not intentionally but simply because there is always that group of people that do everything, the old 80:20 principle. The same names appear over and over.

2. Geography

Think of the sheer enormity of the land mass we're talking about. While this is not an issue for existence of an organization it does present numerous obstacles for a quality exhibition, i.e., "Ginko".

How do we have a truly representative show?

While such an event has occurred in the past, the participants, correct me if I'm wrong, appeared to be those already in the inner circle, the convention attendees "movers and shakers", etc. They were in that cliche that publishes all the articles, attend all the shows etc. Very few names in the resulting book are truly "obscure"...

Regardless of the participants there is still the packing up and moving of rather expensive trees and pots, liability, etc., all for a short term event.

3. PURPOSE

May I ask the question "Who needs this organization, this event?" Andy Rutledge? Jim Stone? The hobbyist? The "Artists"?

I was warned away from this sort of thing by someone who's been there done that and now sells the t-shirts, being that I profess to be more about the art than the politics...

But at the same time it'd be great to have this pool to swim in... to have bonsai promoted to high art, or at least "craft" from obscure hobby or horticultural oddity- with backing behind it...

I think this is called looking for a free ride... Why do I personally like the concept- more venues, pitting my work against others, greater respect and awe... Porsches, champagne and groupies...

Really though, most of it goes back to wanting to see EXCEPTIONAL bonsai produced right here in the US of A- stuff that makes everyone's heads turn, worldwide.

Why is ABS, etc. not filling this need? Why are they not seeing it? Someone always seems to be left out in the cold- the "Artiste", "the hobbyist/Enthusiast", the "professional"...

I get the idea that Andy is really concerned with catering to the "artiste"...

Is there really an advantage to this Picasso image vs. Bob Ross?

4. Paradigms

Recently on ClayArt a potter wrote in about how his name was left off the gallery invitation for a mixed media exhibition- paintings and his pots. The director wrote it off as oversight but it led to a wider discussion about how pottery is generally not viewed as art but "craft" and most potters are thought of as dirty smelly bandana'd old hippies making "stuff".

One potter living in Japan pointed out how this is not so over there.

Sound like some common themes are at play here? I believe Carl R. can offer some anecdotal obervations here, as can the various potters.


5. MONEY

Tied with number 3 above, one typically does not see the same price tags associated with pots vs. paintings, or "real art". Anyone remember Walter's comments about prices of the paintings vs. his bonsai when the two were paired?

Much of this will come back to the almighty dollar. Follow teh money trail. Ever see a National Endowement go to supporting bonsai? Think a gallery will even care, unless perhaps it's owned by an enthusiast?

Let me talk of what I know directly. There is no "real" bonsai shop in Houston. I sell supplies at shows, club meetings and mail order. Another guy has a landscape nursery, he'll board your trees, and sell you a "mallsai". Too many folks are unwilling to work with quality material (i.e., expensive); that whole extreme honor in frugality thing- look what I dragged from the dumpster (if it lives) in 30 or 40 years this'll really be SOMETHING! We'll get a few hundred over a weekend to attend our shows. If anything else is going on in the city we'll suffer.

The line is clearly drawn at club meetings and these forums every day. There's the artists/elitists and the "hobbyists". While fanaticism may be rampant on both sides only one will extend extremes of financial, physical and mental reserves for little trees in pots. Who will be passionate enough to (repeatedly) step in and do the work or support the events?

Will Fred from Arkansas go to New Hampshire? CA Al to Florida? Jay to New Mexico? Show trees in tow and pockets full of spending money to support the event? For a hobby? I think it will take all three to pull this off. I hazard to suggest there is simply not enough crossover from the latter to the former to swell the ranks and suppport such large undertakings.

I think Andy is asking that we battle the Hydra. Not only do we have to form and support this thing, but we also have to change the bonsai paradigm, not only amongst our own ranks but that of the art world as well as the general public.

Which head do we tackle first?

Sincerely,

Jim Stone
TX

This is a wonderful 'wish list', Andy has placed before us a challenge and Jim has refined or at least reworded some of the issues.

The size of this country is going to be the biggest drawback to Andy's wish. As Jim said, "will Jay go to New Mexico".... well I've never been there. In my 58+ years on this earth I have only been to CA two times and to few other places outside of the Washington to Maine eastern section of our country.

With the size of this land, and I include Canada (I know it is a wonderful seperate country... but we share so much and the border is so loose) would it be a better idea to have two or three regiional organizations?

I ask the question... I do not know the answer.....

Jay

Jay,

Canada is just the 51st state, right? ;^)

Andy and Jim:

Great thoughts. Great arguements or points why not.

Fine art is shown in regional and sub-regional exhibits. Some are in the National gallery. Each is different is scope and artists for the most part. Some like Tut are traveling shows for a short period.

I think the key to this offer is to have "exhibits" not shows as we know them today. If an "exhibit" charges for entry and the Fine arts do and Tut was not cheap. The money raised is there for future exhibits.

This is one way to build over time toward a national show.

Organizations:

IMHO ego is the biggest issue here. Each group out there today has the clich, as Jim states. But lets cut to the chase, these are ego's that will not surrender small world to that of a larger one, even regional.

What is needed is an outsider who is interested in the art for the art. Best if he is not involved in the art. Imagine Picaso being the leader of the National Arts Foundation.

I think there is a term for this person, sponser or philanthropist who loves the bonsai art enough to fund a show some where some how. Who is not tied to an artist. Not tied to the politics of the organizations. Not doing bonsai. Just someone who loves to art enough to exhibit it in a big way.

In our circles we will not find this person or this energy or resources needed to pull this off. Only outside can we hope to educate motivate a person to give this a shot. Can it be done? YES. How do we do this? Each day we talk bonsai with 1-3 outsiders. Show passion for the "art". Take a tree to woke day. Give a tree to a company VP or President. Hook his wife on this stuff. Go where the bucks are and beg. What ever it takes.

Sorry for the ramble. But the point is we need a well to do person or group that is not tied to bonsai at all to fall head over heals in love with it to the point that they want the rest of the word to see our stuff.

Just my thoughts.

Richard

HAPPY NEW YEAR to ALL YOU GREAT PEOPLE

Actually Andy we need less leaders and more doers. )
The easiest thing to do is complain about the lack of leadership but the hardest is to get someone to take charge.
Before we can organize nationally there must be something to organize. We need more people to form into groups and call themselves clubs. More active members in those clubs that are out there. More interplay between those clubs. More local shows. More bonsai nuts.
Hate to say it but you are , I think , trying to organize a tribe that isn't out there. We have too many chiefs and not nearly enough Indians now.
A movement of any kind starts at the grass roots. It gathers momentum there. It just won't work if you start at the tree tops.
Last thing we need is another organization that has only one purpose. To be a drain on the treasury of the few clubs out there.
If you want to make a change. Start a club. Get other people interested in bonsai. Build a tribe then look for a chief . Then there will be something to organize !!!!!

Ron writes:

"A movement of any kind starts at the grass roots. It gathers momentum there."

Ha! I hope I can type this through the convulsions of incredulous laghter... Just what exactly is it that you think I'm doing here?! ;-)

Ron, bonsai enthusiasts who are members of one or another organization/club are sheep (me too!) - taking advantage of what thier shepherding organization offers them (us). These organizations have proven to be stagnate, uninspired, averse to change and do a good job offering up what they've always offered up. As a result, we have what we have today. It's fine, but it's not excellent.

This is a grass-roots effort to change minds, open minds, get tomorrow's leaders thinking and prepare the way for positive change.

I dunno where you think we are, Ron, but see the grass and the roots around us - we at the grass roots here. I'm just talkling here. ;-)

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

Andy said;
"The logical choice for such an organization might be the American Bonsai Society (ABS). However, ABS is quite stagnate and devotes its energy almost exclusively toward the hobby of bonsai rather than the fullness of the endeavor and community. ABS fills a niche, but that is no way to be the leader."

Huh??
Stagnate, no leader??
regards,
Dale Cochoy
ABS Board of Directors

I think you are trying to start an organization, loosely based on bonsai, and using this board to do some free advertising. But I am glad that you got a chuckle out of me anyway. With the amount of people you are alienating with your efforts you will need a few chuckles along the way.
Sorry but you did ask me