Carolina Bonsai Expo 2010 Pictures

Another excellent show at the Carolina Bonsai Expo.


















If interested in seeing more (every tree displayed, indoors and out) check out http://bonsaistudygroup.com/bonsai-shows-competitions-and-displays/carolina-bonsai-expo-2010-pictures/

thank you for sharing....nice show

Love that carved root stand in the first pic. Nice tree/pot/stand matching.

thanks for the pics...all look stunning

I love the trees.
but the wall display is not that good. its soooo difficult to focus

thanks

regards,
jun

jun wrote:I love the trees.
but the wall display is not that good. its soooo difficult to focus

thanks

regards,
jun

Perhaps you don't like it Jun...but there were many others who did:) (pardon the quicky photo)


Every year the trees and displays get better and better...this year there were some outstanding imported trees and several amazing trees (including the first two posted by Wayne) that are owned by a participating club member but maintained by a professional. However, for me what was most impressive was the growing number of quality trees developed and/or collected locally. Once I have a chance I will post a couple of pics of those trees.
John

What displays???
Very nice trees!!!
Shalom Luciano.

jgeanangel wrote:

jun wrote:I love the trees.
but the wall display is not that good. its soooo difficult to focus

thanks

regards,
jun

Perhaps you don't like it Jun...but there were many others who did:) (pardon the quicky photo)


Every year the trees and displays get better and better...this year there were some outstanding imported trees and several amazing trees (including the first two posted by Wayne) that are owned by a participating club member but maintained by a professional. However, for me what was most impressive was the growing number of quality trees developed and/or collected locally. Once I have a chance I will post a couple of pics of those trees.
John

John,

...its my personal opinion, Even if the whole world likes it, that wont change my personal observation on that particular wall display. if most people who saw that display loved it like you said thats good for you...but you should also respect the opinion of others who do not like it...i guess that is the essence of this forum.

jun

jgeanangel wrote: ... However, for me what was most impressive was the growing number of quality trees developed and/or collected locally.

This is indeed the key point I believe. It would be the easiest thing in the world to flood the shows with imports, and I will confess to being "guilty" of buying pretty much ready-styled trees while my own work develops.

Shohin is very much in its infancy over here in the UK and I suspect it is pretty much the same in USA. Organisations such as the British Shohin Association and its American counterpart are working hard at pushing the bar upwards in terms of the quality of tree available through native sources and native endeavour. It will be a good number of years before that happens to the extent visible in Japan.

Also bear in mind that to go for anything other than a single tree exhibit requires you to have a collection of trees. If we consider that the most common way of displaying shohin is a rack or similar "mass" grouping, then you are realistically looking at a collection of some twelve quality trees. We are a long way off the average collector having that currently if these are to be anything other than "boughts".

And so to the displays: bearing in mind the limitations the exhibitors probably had, a good exhibition was certaily forthcoming. We will no doubt stray into the modern vs traditional debate here (with all its warts about labelling things) but it seems to me that if we are trying to boost shohin then why should we not also try to innovate a bit with how it is displayed. I like "traditional" rack displays but I also like some of the more innovative displays. Some will work; others wont. That's what pushing the boundaries is all about.

So, did some work at Carolina Expo while others didn't? Who is to say. Personal choice? Some will argue they don't work because they are not artistically pleasing to the eye. Others will play the "It's not how the Japanese would do it" card. IMHO the main flaw of the displays (not just at the Expo but at many shohin shows I been to) was they lacked the quality of tree needed to carry them off. As I said earlier, that will be rectified over time and I look forward to that day enormously.

But whether these current displays are to our own personal taste or not, hats off to the guys who tried to do something a bit different.

luciano benyakob wrote:What displays???
Very nice trees!!!
Shalom Luciano.

Hello Luciano, The Carolina Bonsai Expo brings together 14 or 15 regional bonsai clubs and study groups from the eastern and southeastern portions of the US. Each participating club creates a display for their trees in the show. Each club has about 5 meters (16') in which to build their displays. Participating clubs and groups are encouraged to create displays that venture beyond what is typically thought of as a traditional (Japanese Style) display. The club displays are judged by several parties including the Guest Artist, the curator of the NC arboretum, and the members of the participating clubs. In my opinion the club display aspect of this bonsai expo has added a unique and rewarding aspect to this event. In addition, individual trees are also judged.

As mentioned earlier, once I get a chance I will try to post images of the "displays". One thing I have noticed in the past is that these displays are best appreciated in person as it is often difficult to get a picture that does justice to the displays. Due to the growth of this event, many of the displays are situated such that it is difficult to get far enough away to photograph the entire display in one shot.

John

jun wrote: ...but you should also respect the opinion of others who do not like it...

Hi Jun. John is a big boy now and quite capable of defending himself. But I would have to say that if it had been my display you were criticising, I would have been more receptive to your opinion (to which you are of course entirely entitled) had it not been followed by that line of smileys.

Don't take that too much to heart please - I am of late becoming very much anti-smiley as (IMHO) they really do devalue a decent point and/or valid opinion to the extent of making it seem almost idiotic.

And I'm resisting the temptation to put one in here even if it might lighten the tone of the post and emphasise that this is not a criticism of your opinion. Honest! I'm smilin' inside.

jun wrote:

John,

...its my personal opinion, Even if the whole world likes it, that wont change my personal observation on that particular wall display. if most people who saw that display loved it like you said thats good for you...but you should also respect the opinion of others who do not like it...i guess that is the essence of this forum.

jun

No disrespect or lack of respect intended Jun...I was just sharing an opinion just as you did...twice I might add

John

nevermind.

Hi fiona,

First two smileys-drunken
3rd-geek
4th-confused
5th & 6th- rolling eyes

all of these smileys are related to my observation on the wall displays and not meant to offend anybody...specially the rolling eyes. i think even without words the smileys can expressed my personal opinion.

regards,
jun

thanks John!
same with me...I respect your opinion very much. and if the smileys offended you in a way... my apologies.

regards,
jun

FWIW, I too do not think the "wall of shohin" worked -- despite the gaudy ribbon and with or without smilies (AKA "emoticons" -- and may I kindly bop over the head whoever it was who invented THAT word?).

I noted elsewhere here (see General Discussion) that there were many more shohin at this show than was usual. Some of them were excellent trees -- tho I have no idea whether they were home grown or store bought.

I'm kicking myself for not taking a picture of the buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) bonsai -- labeled in the show handout as "unidentified." It was a large bonsai. Aside from mine -- pictured here a few weeks ago -- it is the only one of its species I've ever seen. (For those who were methodical about their photography, it was in the Appalachian Bonsai Kai display -- number 7.)

If someone photographed it, please show it.

P.S. - I dunno where the Appalachian Bonsai Kai is located.

As mentioned earlier, I posted a picture of every tree on display, inside and out. Here's the one you were talking about: (2nd tree in this post)
http://bonsaistudygroup.com/bonsai-shows-competitions-and-displays/carolina-bonsai-expo-2010-pictures/msg7176/#msg7176

Alas, it doesn't seem to want to show the pictures. I probably have to join. Can you send it to me: lewis.jk@gmail.com

Love the trees and the presentation.

Here are a few photos of the club displays from the Expo.

Mid-Appalachian Bonsai Kai (group that Jim referenced...the Buttonbush is on the left)


Bonsai Society of the Carolinas


Triangle Bonsai Society (I am not sure if that name is exactly correct) Raleigh, NC


This is the display of a study group based in Florence, SC (sorry guys...I have never mastered the name of your group)


Susquehanna Club from Harrisburg, PA


Cape Fear Bonsai Club


Mountain Empire Bonsai Society


I didn't catch the name of this club from Virginia but this is their first year at the Expo


Piedmont Bonsai Association


Nashville Bonsai Society


Black Creek Study Group


Blue Ridge Bonsai Society - There was just no room to photograph this display


I must apologize to the Atlanta and Knoxville groups as I somehow did not get photos of the entire displays...both were in a difficult location. Unfortunately(only because I don't have a photo), the Knoxville club's display was selected as the best in show display! Their display was very traditional but outstanding! Every tree was superb! The trees, tables and accents all worked well together.

Here are photos of the individual trees from the Knoxville display - I think this is all but one of the trees.

Thanks for posting - some nice trees there.

I like the Florence SC display. One suggestion might be to get rid of the flat wood stands and use the simple stands and replace the flat ones with simple slabs.

The wall of shohin is interesting. I'd like to have seen it in person as from the photograph it tends to deemphasize the individual trees but in person one could probably focus their attention.

Thanks for the pics, John et al. Sorry I missed it this year as I was 'on call'. I'd also like to see pics of the various award trees. What was the SC display awarded...innovation?
John

John Quinn wrote:Thanks for the pics, John et al. Sorry I missed it this year as I was 'on call'. I'd also like to see pics of the various award trees. What was the SC display awarded...innovation?
John

Guest Artist: David Easterbrook
Best in show tree

Best in show display - I only have video


Peer Awards:Participating club members
Best Tree

Best Display


Peoples Choice award:general public


Curator Award: innovative/creative display


Doyle/Clark/Kazan Award

Great pictures John.
Thanks for posting them.
Where is your tree?
Ken

Some great trees there local and imported. Well done to all!