Rick Moquin

Emil,

I hear you. I am not saying in the beginning but after the members have had a chance to respond. Or else IMO we are just poking in the dark, we don't all have an art background you know.

__________________
Bonsai is the journey, not the destination
Bonsai Wonders

bonsaikc

Guys, thanks for bringing it up, and I am working on a great answer to your questions. Emil, you are absolutely right, if we wait for a teacher to respond, we learn far less, and then we run the risk of putting ourselves into a box, hence the webriot known as "rules."

__________________
I am the 545th best crossword puzzle solver in the world!

Sashi-no-eda Bonsai Blog

bonsaikc

Don't sweat it, Rick. Bill Valavanis was kind enough to weigh in on the first one, and we can certainly count him among the foremost authorities on formal bonsai display in the country. I am hoping he will critique each of these threads as time goes on.

__________________
I am the 545th best crossword puzzle solver in the world!

Sashi-no-eda Bonsai Blog

Mindcrime

I can see what you mean Rick, and they're all good points. However, I think that as long we give explanations as to why we like/dislike a certain option we're good. What we all need to do better is to step up to the plate and DARE speak our minds. It's not always about what's right or wrong, just thinking about it and put it in words might be as good a learning tool as any other. Even if others don't learn anything, perhaps I will just by analyzing and motivate my opinion. The good thing is that neither an art background or being a bonsai master is required for that!

Rick Moquin

Emil,

Once again I support your representations of arguments wholeheartedly. Chris and I have communicated and yes there will be an answer forthcoming down the road. This exercise as pointed out previously, although it may provide us with an honest opinion.which I give, as many others, is pointless unless we get the gist from a full fledge individual versed in 3 point displays and the rationale and placing behind them. eg. don't place Mt Fuji in a setting that is not spring!

__________________
Bonsai is the journey, not the destination
Bonsai Wonders

Mattbonsai

Hi all,

And thanks chris (Bonsaikc) for posting these displays for all to look at and comment.

In My Unexperianced Opinion, I think I would prefer a scroll to an accent plant. Because they are both quite short trees, Lower the Shimpaku, and maybe raise the Apricot, With a Simple scroll just between them.

-Matt-

__________________

William N. Valavanis

Interesting display. Great Juniper, but I find this display confusing.

What is the main bonsai on display, the Juniper or Japanese flowering apricot?

The Juniper is displayed higher than the Japanese flowering apricot, but the Japanese flowering apricot is much larger in size. So, there is a size problem here in my personal opinion.

IF the Juniper was the main item for display the Japanese flowering apricot is much too large.

IF the Japanese flowering apricot was the main item for display the Juniper is too small.

The nicely shaped and groomed Juniper looks fine on the tall table, round would have been better, but nothing wrong with the square shape. Height and table weight are good. But the grass accessory planting bothers me.
Both containers are round
Both containers are the same design (so it looks like)
Both containers are the same color
Perhaps the artist was trying to match these?

The display table under the grass accessory planting is much too small and tall. Perhaps a flat wooden slab would have been more aesthetically pleasing and not competing for attention with the Juniper bonsai.

The Japanese flowering apricot display table selection is excellent in my opinion. The bonsai seems nicely groomed, but I detect a hole in the trunk, where, perhaps a bit of moss might have been inserted to eliminate the eye-catching and disturbing gaping hole.

Although this is a bonsai display critique and not a bonsai critique I think I'd also like to make a few bonsai comments as well.

The Juniper bonsai is a finely shaped bonsai, but for my taste there is a low branch on the right side of the lower trunk which hides the curved lower trunk where it comes out of the ground.

The Japanese flowering apricot is another story and I'm trying to figure out why is was allowed in this prestigious display. OK, I know, it's in flower at the just the right time.

The rectangular container, even though it has rounded corners, does not harmonize with the trunk shape. It looks like an innexpensive training container rather than a display container. I like the dark blue contrasting color with the white flowers, but a more quiet taste, would, perhaps be an unglazed color. Perhaps a deeper unglazed round, or equal-sided (square, hexagonal, octagonal or flower-shaped) container would be more in keeping with the extremely curved trunk.

The trunk of the Japanese flowering apricot has an interesting contrived shape and has no taper. It clearly indicates where the top was "drastically pruned" and a small side shoot was trained upwards.

The branches are not well shaped and might appear better if wired downward to eliminate or soften the very curved untapered trunk.

Some have commented that there needs to be more twig development. However, according to this species natural growth characteristics, the number of branches and flowers are perfect. The Japanese flowering apricot, Prunus mume, are not grown, nor appreciated for twig ramification like a broom style Zelkova. In fact, the flower development looks great on the short twigs and indicates that the grower/artist understands how to grow Japanese flowering apricot (perhaps not how to train the shape).

Taking another general view of this display I have two suggestions:

1. eliminate the Japanese flowering apricot from this display and put the grass planting on a lower table.

2. eliminate the Juniper from this display, but keep the grass planting on a lower table.

These are just a few of my personal observations on this bonsai display and I enjoyed sharing my comments. In fact, it's working me up to the opening of the 82 Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition which opens on Saturday morning here in Tokyo. Kora Dalager and I brought 20 people to share the beauty of the world's finest bonsai exhibition.

Today is set up and all day yesterday bonsai artists were loading their trucks in preparation for the move in today. Attached are a couple of photos of Mr. Kimura's preparation of his client's 20 some bonsai which were accepted for display.

The first image shows a few bonsai and tables loaded into the trunk. The display tables are for the bonsai and the bonsai, but I don't think the loaded bonsai are for the display, perhaps for sale?

Second image shows the trees pre-judged and accepted for display.

Third image shows a proud Masahiko Kimura with some of the bonsai he is displaying for his clients.

Enjoy, and I hope the comments I'm sharing help some to enjoy the appreciation of bonsai through display understand my thoughts and taste. Please remember, they are only my comments. There are NO bonsai police.

Bill

Attached Images

	FULL-TRUCK.jpg (87.8 KB, 17 views)
	READYFORLOADING.jpg (89.3 KB, 17 views)
	KIMURABONSAI.jpg (78.8 KB, 19 views)

Phil

Thanks for the enlightening input Bill. Seems to place things in a more understandable perspective or, if anything, at least some of the "whys" and the "why nots".

Thanks for sharing some of the photos of the upcoming show and enjoy yourself. If its not too much to ask perhaps when you return you can post a few photo's here and also some of the three point bonsai displays that you feel exemplifies the way it should be done in your opinion.

~Phil

__________________

Please, always keep in mind that the typewritten word does not always convey what you wish to say, and to always treat others as you would have them treat you. Think twice-submit once.
I started out with nothing....and still have most of it.
"Its hell out there, give them hell back." ~ Prowler/Victor Gray 12/31/1943 - 11/24/2008

Rick Moquin

Bill,

Once again thank you. I / we appreciate your comments tremendously. It is this sort of exchange that educates us all. Talking to Chris he has a hockey sock full of display pics that he wishes to share with us. I hope he continues to do so in the upcoming days as well as yourself providing a timely response (after folks have voiced their opinions) as time permits in order to further our bonsai education, not to mention the often obscure part of this art form we are so fond of.

__________________
Bonsai is the journey, not the destination
Bonsai Wonders