Bonsai Society of Australia

Bonsai Diary Dates
29 April 2013	Nepean Bonsai Society Annual Show PCYC Hall,100 Station Street, Penrith
11-12 May 2013	Illawarra Bonsai Society Annual Show Sutherland Trade Union Club, Gymea
18-19 May 2013	Canberra Bonsai Society Exhibition Rydges Lakeside, London Circuit, Canberra.
17-20 May 2013	26th National Bonsai Convention "The Australian Journey" Rydges Lakeside, London Circuit, Canberra.
25 May 2013	Bonsai Study Group, Annual Exhibition West Pymble Community Hall Loftberg Road, West Pymble.
2 June 2013	Forage and Feast Fair Penrith Regional Art Gallery River Road, Emu Plains (The Nepean Club will have a stall selling trees, pots etc).
8-9 June 2013	Bonsai by the Harbour Sydney Church of England Grammar School Rowing Centre, Wharf Road, Gladesville
6-8 September 2013	Illawarra Bonsai Society "The Tops" Weekend Workshop Tops Conference Centre Bendena Gardens Road, Stanwell Tops

Seminar of Seminars Australian Associated Bonsai Clubs 13th Annual Seminar 19th. -- 22nd. May 2000
Well our Seminar, Spectacular, Extravaganza call it what you will; has come and gone. Three years and more have gone into its conception. At the start of a new century, the title we coined was apt:- ‘We go back to the origin, at the dawning of a new era’. Our entire program was aimed from this direction. The B.S.of A. feels we must acknowledge the History and evolution of our particular Horticultural Art form. We set the mood on The Friday night - Cocktails at the Chinese Gardens of Friendship this event went down well, as did the cocktails, but no need to worry: we were taken back by 3 buses. Saturday morning brought a merging for the first time, the Art of Horticultural Sculpture and Play Acting. A short play in costume was performed, highlighting events from the Creation: to the Chinese Garden, Artistic Potted Plants to Penjing. Pun Jae in Korea and Tieu Canh (Tee u can) in Vietnam. Then on to the word we all understand:- Bonsai from Japan. This was chronicled by KRONOS, the recorder of events. This was an unique departure from the usual where an acting segment was introduced. Following the Historical ‘Play’ Saturday’s Lecture/Demonstrations all focused on the Past. Master Hu Yunhua took us back to China at the height of the classical Chinese interpretation of land Penjing. Using three 1958 cedars and various small underplantings in a white marble rectangular penjing tray, he created a vision that transported us back to the best of styling from the past. We then had our Korean representative deliver "Suiseki, a brief History". Richard Kong, ably supported by his Son Peter, highlighted Suiseki History, appreciation and acquisition. The show and tell segment was at times, quite amusing. ‘Nature in the European tradition’ was the title: and Nick Lenz its presenter. Nick worked on a dark, almost black rock, reminiscent of the dark, middle ages. He then planted two Chinese elms on it. This represented the European era and its effect upon - and freedom for - Artistic interpretation. In particular Nick focused on the period of Germanic Romantism. This enlightened our knowledge of the renaissance and its importance to the future of art. After an eventful dinner cruising Sydney Harbour, Sunday brought us into the present. Again the first presentation focused on learning. In particular we follow the progress of a potential bonsai enthusiast. Ingrid Bauer is the student, at the beginners class. We follow Ingrid through time from Basic, Intermediate, Advanced 1 and 2. Her teacher Dorothy Koreshoff explains at each stage the student reaches, how to condense time in order to achieve more mature results over a period of five years. This departure from the norm kept the audience entertained whilst acquiring knowledge as well as amused by relating to the their personal earlier experiences. Nick Lenz escalated us from the contempory to the future, with a presentation of anticipation for what the future could reveal. "Nature as pure form" was a masterpiece of foresight. The materials used to enable Nick to explain pure form were a more mature hornbeam and a bowling ball. Blue if you please. If we use the Art principles to style our bonsai, a reversed taper is not artistic, but when Nick showed how to make it so, futuristically in this case, by reducing their combined outlines to line, it all made sense. A round ball on top of a long (tray) a v indent to the top right of the ball where the trunk emerges from the ball became a simple work of art diagram. It was a delightful experience to see how simple form can and should be used as a guide to the future development of our Art. The early afternoon Show & Tell presentation of display by Val Allan & John Marsh consisted of three tokonoma type units. The title being "Ancient - Traditional - Contemporary". The ancient display featured the Chinese aspect. Moon Gate, Towering rock and water background. Importance to the Chinese of rocks, plants and water, real or simulated in combination with the flat marble trays was also. This aged style of landscapes took us back to the beginning of our form of "dwarfing trees" as it was once described. Traditional Japanese Display in all its simplicity was a delight. Viewing the craftsmanship of all three displays was worthwhile without the added information, which was a bonus. The Contemporary display featured an ultra modern arrangement with an innovative way of displaying a bonsai indoors. But, of course we all know for a few days at the most. A very innovative and different aspect. To round up the Seminar, China’s Master, Hu Yunhua brought present day Chinese Penjing styling using carved pumice. A extremely low edged oval marble tray with the pumice panted with a variety of small plants wasthe main focus. A planted medium /small piece of pumice was added as also many small pieces and figures were added. A beautiful masterful was a fitting finale to an event that has gone down in history. P.S.The Chinese Garden has earmarked this masterpiece for its Garden. The display area was housed in four large lecture rooms, with six different ethnic interpretations of bonsai. A passport had to be stamped in order to progress to the next "country". This was a fun feature, providing a great memento & keepsake of the Bonsai Journey. As one entered old China, Penjing of the period was displayed. Proceeding through the room, one passed dimensional three peaked mountains as a backdrop plus applicable artifices. Once passing the moon gate you travelled through time to the contemporary Chinese design. This gave viewers an appreciation of Chinese background of our art. Dorothy Koreshoff & Max Blanco designed the Chinese room. Passports were then stamped to pass into Korea. This took us from China to a variant aspect of Penjing as it translated to Pun Jae. Richard Kong was in charge of the Korean section. Our passports were stamped as we crossed over to Japan. Much technical and artistic skill by John Marsh went into the design. John was more than ably assisted by Kym James, and together they were able to create the best of Japanese display. Its authenticity was fantastic. We then travelled South to Vietnam. Where the miniature plants became Tieu Canh, here we felt we had really left Australia. We all marvelled at the quality of their plants but the display itself was unbelievable. I am sure none of us have ever seen such an overwhelming display. Quan (John) Tran in costume, headed the small team of their main members. Upon legally entering the Northern Hemisphere, featuring English, European and North American influences, we catch the last stages of autumn as we enter a section, which is decorated with autumn leaves, both on the floor and on the bonsai. We find as we turn that we are in the depth of winter. Snow is covering the benches, with dimensional Snow Mountains in the background. All is icy blue and white with ice and snow. This vision then moves on to late winter /early spring. Ingrid Bauer, and Ian Smith produced the wonderful feeling. We cross the equator to find Australia in the Southern Hemisphere. Benches covered with cowhides and artistically aged palings. Rusty corrugated tin as a backdrop, an old paling door with rusty hinges and rusty old farm tools all set the scene for an amazing display of our native bonsai. All this with koalas in gum tree bonsai and bales of wool and straw. But could there be more? What about gum trees as a section of backdrop. A Lee Wilson creation. Native Bonsai were provided though the courtesy of the Waverley Bonsai Society of Melbourne. All this could not have been achieved without the many unrecognised assistants who worked tiredly but tirelessly all through the night without sleep, and yet fronted up ready to go on Saturday morning. The Artists Master Hu Yunhua Born in 1943. In 1960 he entered the Peking Forestry Institute, majoring in gardening design and overseeing the construction of gardens in Nanjing and Shangai. In 1977 he became director of Penjing research in Shangai, he is a permanent board member of the Chinese Horticulture Institute and head of the Penjing Study Group and honorary president of the Shangai Penjing Society. Master Hu is most widely known in Australia through his book "Chinese Penjing, Miniature Trees and Landscapes." Those who have seen him demonstrate will agree that he is not only one of China’s most accomplished Penjing exponents but one of the most exciting demonstrators that we have experienced in this country. Nick Lenz Nick is a retired University lecturer in Freshwater Ecology with a Masters Degree in Biology. His interest in Bonsai spans 40 years and he considers himself "self-taught" in the art, but admits to being heavily influenced by Romanticism that comes from his German heritage. He currently cares for his private Bonsai Nursery that his open by invitation only. His other interests include: Colonial Restoration, Ceramics, Landscape painting and Religious (Methodist) teaching. His demonstrations are well known for their informative, artistic and entertaining qualities. His current book "Bonsai in the Wild" reflects his "different" but inspirational approach to Bonsai. This is his first visit to Australia and the excitement he has expressed concerning this Seminar will surely be reflected in the demonstration he has planned for us. John Marsh and Val Allan John and Val are both Bonsai Artists In their own right, and are life members off the Nepean Bonsai Society Inc. They are both teachers of Bonsai and have conducted demonstrations, workshops and lectures Nationally and Internationally. The most memorable of their demonstrations together was on the program with Yogi Yoshimura in 1984 with a dramatic windswept coastal landscape. They have their own unique styles and have not demonstrated together for some years, but for this special occasion they will combine their knowledge gathered over the years of setting up countless Bonsai exhibitions to present a fascinating program on displaying Bonsai through the ages. Dorothy Koreshoff Dorothy needs no introduction as she is probably one of the most respected and well known names in Bonsai, in Australia and Overseas. Along with Vita, her late husband, they were the founders of Bonsai and established the first Bonsai Nursery in Australia. Through the publication of club newsletters and books and with their combined and vast knowledge, they were instrumental, in helping many people understand and enjoy the art of Bonsai. Dorothy is currently the President of the Bonsai Society of Australia and patron of many clubs across the country. Richard Kong Richard, now retired from his management position in the private business sector, has been involved with Bonsai and Suiseki for 20 years. For the first ten years he was a member of the Incheon Bonsai Society of Korea and now, living in Australia for the past ten years after leaving his beloved trees in Korea, has settled in Sydney with his family. Recently he has begun developing the "Saimdang" Bonsai and Suiseki Gallery in Rouse Hill, Sydney. Eventually it will open to the public as a retail outlet. His range of interest covers fruiting, flowering and deciduous trees. Richard believes Australia holds many benefits to the Bonsai grower, with our long growing seasons, our love of gardens and our mild winters. Richard plans an extensive talk about different cultured in Bonsai. He is currently a member of the Bonsai Society of Australia.