In all of the bonsai discussion forums, this question comes in various forms: “Why are you so concerned about showing bonsai?” or “Why should I be concerned about showing my trees?” or some other way of phrasing this basic question. It’s an important question and the answer is central to life. Really.

You may be skeptical (I can hear some of you sighing right now). I understand that some of you may not regard the exhibition of bonsai as very important, certainly not important enough that the reasons for doing so would be central to life, right? I expect that if you don’t agree that bonsai exhibition is important, you also don’t regard bonsai as art. If this is so, then I find your view quite logical.


What is important in life?

There is a bit of the film, “Dead Poet’s Society,” that I just love. Robin Williams’ character, a teacher, is trying to impress upon his uninspired students why they should care about poetry. He cites that they may all grow up to become doctors, lawyers, businessmen, etc., and that these are all noble pursuits and necessary in life, but that art, poetry, music, love… “These are what we stay alive for.”

It’s corny, but he’s right! Art is central to our lives. We surround ourselves with it and many of us participate in artistic endeavors as hobbies or vocations. Art is the driving force in some of our lives, but every human being has the innate desire to be creative in some way. Every human being is attracted to beauty. We seek beauty. We are captivated by great beauty, and meaningful beauty most of all. Art, the best art, is meaningful beauty epitomized. One answer to the question above is, art is important in life.


So why show it off? Why? We might as well ask:

Why play music for others?
Why put paintings in a public museum?
Why have art shows?
Why have concerts?
Why make motion pictures?
Why be an actor?
Why be an artist?
Why be a musician?

Can you imagine a world where art was kept private? Can you imagine just how dull our world would be if art was simply a personal activity and there were no venues for artistic display? What if Degas or Matisse or Chopin or Kensett or Anthony Hopkins or Michelangelo or Hank Williams Jr. kept their art private, not allowing others to see their work, not allowing the world to revel in their mastery and joy of creation? What a crummy world that would be!

In such a world, the most developed art form would be the art of suicide.


Please show your bonsai. We should show our bonsai because we then contribute to the beauty and value of life. We allow others to revel in our work and share in our joy. We may be doctors and cashiers and accountants and middle managers, and we have to be to fulfill our obligations and put a roof over our heads. But the beauty that we create should be shared with our fellow enthusiasts and with our fellow human beings. So do your part for the sake of art and life. Give someone else something to stay alive for.

Kind regards,
john doe
wherever, USA

Kind of ironic Andy, The Japanese even made an artform out of suicide, with Hari Kari. And, who could forget "Divine Wind",The Kamikazi. "BANZAI"

Can you imagine a world where art was kept private?

I think you've made your point, Andy, but let me turn the question around.

Can you imagine a world with 6 billion artists? Each one feeling in their heart and soul that they are the best at what they do and a sincere need to prove it to the rest of us? As you can see, both extremes have their drawbacks. I figure the artist- non artist ratio is about right as it stands now.

Tony

By the way, this was not supposed to be a poll. I did not make this poll, I did not entitled the thread, "Vote:...." and I'm upset that the list admin would deliberately change what someone else here (I) had written as the title and change the apparent reason for the thread.

Not good list management.

Tony said:



Wait a minute Tony. I never said anything about proving anything to anybody. The thread was designed to provoke thought as to how to be a better artist through crticism of the outside world versus keeping your work to yourself. I agree that to have a 6 billion people out there saying they are best would be damaging. I certainly don'tpost here to prove that I am better than anybody else. I certainly have a puny gallery compared to some folks here.

Hopefully through stimulating conversation, public workshops and demo's, and public display, I will be making the most artistic tree that I am capable of doing at my present time.

Keppler

Al.........Huh?

you must be talking about the "serious about bonsai" thread below [as it stands now anyway]. Here, I was responding to Andy's supposition that the more artist the better. I think not actually.

I don't think I accused you of having proved or not proved yourself to us or to the bonsai community. I don't think you'll find that in this thread or the other one. I'd be the first to say you are top notch. I did disagree with you [on the other thread] about the important things in life, that's my opinion. Please re read it and you'll see what I mean.

Post there and we'll discuss it.

Tony

Tony, I see what you mean. I look at threads connecting in some ways. I feel this thread is just an extension of the other since I was talking about public display of trees , and why I am for it. I felt that Andy started this thread having to do with the other thread, and why he is for it also. Both scenarios have to do with the same thing. Whether we discuss them here or there makes no difference to me. The point is we are talking about the art of bonsai, and that is useful.

Yes I do think showing our trees is important. I do it for others enjoyment. I agree 100 percent with Andy on this one, even though he called me childish in another thread, the big poo poo head.

-Nut ( staying anon to protect the innocent -my huge unfenced bonsai collection)

Hi Andy,

As an editor I'm sure you're aware - We change titles all the time. Frequently, this is due to misspellings, often it is due to generic titling like "I need help!" or the ever popular "A Question"

In this case I didn't actually change the title to VOTE: ____________ , the system prefaces every thread containing a poll with that word in the directory. It doesn't appear that way on the main page, http://www.bonsaitalk.com

I have added polls to other threads to stimulate response and consideration from a "silent majority" of the readership here that does not participate in discussions. It's easy for them to click an opinion and get their 2c in without having to draft a missive. As you can see, there were 11 poll responses but only 4 individuals participated in the actual discussion prior to this post.

The intention was to provide sidebar material for the discussion of why folks don't display trees. Unfortunately polls precede the thread. I'll see if I can extract the poll without damaging the thread. It appears to be easy to close or modify, but I am not sure.

Regards,

Matt

I have tried to vote this thread several times but I keep getting the message:

The action you have attempted could not be performed as your session appears to be invalid. Click the below link to attempt this action again with a new session.

I'm not sure what to do about it except to suppose that some votes are not wanted. If the total 'turn out' is low, perhaps this is the reason.

If, on the other hand, all votes are wanted perhaps someone could tell me how to do it.