Andy,

I don't see how you've sold us on any advantages to mixing with the "art snobs".

All you've done is malign the status quo without telling why some new national or regional collection of politicos and a snooty show would be so beneficial. For example, Ginko is the brainchild of one man.

Why can't a bunch of us get together with our best tree every year in Bob's Campsite and Trailerpark, smoke brisket, drink beer and have a pissing contest as to who's tree is the best. We take a bunch of good pics post them on the internet or your magazine and voila. We're vindicated without all the high and mighty nonsense.

Don't you keep trying to sell something which noone is inclined to buy? Bonsai is not high art. For most it's stunting little trees in pots.

Jim
TX

Hi Andy,

I tried to distill some of your ideas and come up with some thoughts and questions of my own on what you are proposing or thinking about in hopes you can clarify:

I’d like to see one American organization become a bona fide leader in the U.S. bonsai community.
An American organization that becomes the must-join organization for U.S. bonsai enthusiasts; one that stands head-and-shoulders above the rest.

• For what specific pupose would this organization be created? To gain prestige around the world pitting our best bonsai and artists against those other countries?
• What qualities would this organization have to make me act as if I must-join?

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.

• As an American, I think the limiting factor here is the physical size of our country. Our dramatic differences in climate also play a role. ie... CA hasen't become a leader in US bonsai for no reason.

Germany for instance, is a little larger in size than the state of Wisconsin, where I live. I have the resources both physical (sometimes) and economical to traverse my state but I don't have those same resouces when it comes to the whole USA. (I think this is one of the big reasons Japan and other countries have more unified bonsai organizations.)

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.

• Here we're building another heirarchy that has control over what we can or cannot do and ultimately leads to less freedom of expression, sort of like our national government.

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.

• Who does all the judging, from judging which are the "best exhibits" to judging or raising the "quality control" to finding and convicing Art Institutes or museums to show a bonsai exhibit.
• We know this judging can be pretty political.

Further, this organization should champion the idea of bonsai as “art” first and act and conduct its affairs accordingly.

• Here we are again with Art being the main focus, not that there's anything wrong with it. ;-)

• It seems not to be a plan for the many but an organization for the few.

• Again, why would I or most bonsai practitioners want to join this organization.....what could most contribute and what would we get in return?

Anyways, just one man's thoughts on a January afternoon.

Echoed by a lot of us.

Perhaps a network of clubs and societies organized by one "association" would suffice. These clubs and societies could become members if they so wished.........but, there would have to be alot of incentive for the clubs to join.


That would open up a whole lotta bonsai realm.

Then again, the moss might be greener on this side of the pot already.




Paul

that we don't even take our own art seriously..........

Andy,
If anyone is in a position to do what you are thinking of it is you.Start in Texas.Start with the LSBF.Make it more than what it is.
Bonsai is an art as much as it is a craft,or horticulture.The public doesn't see it that way because they can't hang it on the wall or set it on the mantle and brag to their friends how much it cost.Bonsai takes effort and is a continous endeavor.You had an article about collectors vs. "bonsaists" in BTO awhile back.For bonsai to advance in the U.S. we need collectors,and to have collectors we need to display...EXHIBIT...first class bonsai in shows.there was a book published a number of years ago.I believe the title was "Outstanding American Bonsai".Someone needs to publish another one.With your design and writing skills,who better than you to do so.It would be a start.

sincerely,

Andy

Andy,

I appreciate your advice and admonishments. I agree with what you say, to a point. Yes, there are things that I can do - and I'm doing some of them. But they are but stones on the beach unless our large organizations make them a standard element in their efforts and their prescriptions.

I'm working to hold a small (25 or so displays) but artistic show in Dallas in Jan/Feb 2005 in one of the museums in the arts district. Last year a similar effort was begun, but with a larger scope and with several individuals involved. The complexity of opinions turned the effort into a clusterfudge, so this time I'm doing it myself (at the behest of our club leadership).

I'm sure it will be a nice little event, but how sad is it that our national organizations want no part of such efforts at excellence. They have no interest in bringing the art of bonsai into the arts world. Instead, individuals have to do it without the interest or participation of our "leadership." What a joke.

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

Andy R.
How ironic, This is the last paragraph of the last post in the exhibit thread...



Hope to see some pics in '05
Regards, Al

Hi Al,

I agree that sometimes it takes a dedicated individual with a cohesive vision to pull something like this together. However, that is ego, too!

These two definitions of the word are almost opposites - one is "exaggerated," one is "appropriate!" I know which one you meant in your original post.

ego

a. An exaggerated sense of self-importance; conceit.
b. Appropriate pride in oneself; self-esteem.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=67&q=ego

Andy,
...It wasn't meant as admonishment,but as encouragement.


.................................................. .....andy

Yes. ;-)
Sometimes admonishment is the most appropriate form of encouragement.

As for ego, surely it can be likened to cholesteral: LDL and HDL. You need one and should curb the other. ;-)

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