The Judged Bonsai Exhibit consisted of about 20 bonsai of varying sizes with an excellent representation of mixed species and styles. A colorful Trident maple and Firethorn in fruit added seasonality to the exhibit. The bonsai were judged and awards several awards were presented. Adequate space was allocated to present creativity in formal bonsai display.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Demonstrations & Workshops

Then three headliners for the convention, Kunya Kobayashi (Japan), Boon Manakitivipart (California) and David Nguy (California), presented several lecture/demonstrations, critiques and workshops. Other artists conducted 24 workshops, 4 seminars of a wide range of topics and 10 critiques of all three exhibits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was kept busy presenting two seminars (Literati Bonsai and Dwarf Japanese Maple Bonsai,) a workshop and two critiques. During my first seminar on Literati Bonsai, Kunio Kobayashi and his two apprentices came to watch my presentation. My slide program was finished and I was simply demonstrating on three small young plants to illustrate different forms of literati style. Unfortunately, while wiring, bending and shaping a small skinny Double Flowering Water Jasmine, the trunk snapped, twice, in front of Mr. Kobayashi with loud cracking sounds heard throughout the room. The bonsai evolved from a small size bonsai to shohin size and nearly mame bonsai size….!