Author: William N. Valavanis

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11th Winter Silhouette Bonsai Expo 2023– Part 2

The 11th Winter Silhouette Bonsai Expo took place on December  2-3, 2023. As promised in my last blog, below are a few of the 66 photos Joe Noga took to commemorate the Expo.

A big thank you goes to Steve Zeisel who organized the event with the assistance of The Triangle Bonsai Society and Tyler Sherrod.Thank you to all the exhibitors who shared the beauty of their bonsai with others. Some traveled far to bring them to the North Carolina Research Center who hosted this important special National Exhibition.

A special note of appreciation to bonsai photographer Joe Noga and his team who spent two days moving each bonsai from the ground level to the second floor for photographing. I hope everyone enjoys looking at the fine photos Joe Noga too and adjusted. If you want to see more naked bonsai join us for the 12th Winter Silhouette Bonsai Expo will take place on December  7-8, 2024.

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11th Winter Silhouette Bonsai Expo 2023

The highly regarded and anticipated Winter Silhouette Bonsai Expo was again held at the North Carolina Research Center in Kannapolis, outside Charlotte, NC, on December 2-3, 2023.

A well deserved thank you to Steve Zeisel for sponsoring another successful  Winter Silhouette Bonsai Expo. He was assisted by members of the Triangle Bonsai Society and Tyler Sherrod. Attached are my quick photos so you can see the expo now. Joe Noga professionally photrographed the show and his high quality images will be forthcoming,

The 12th Winter Silhouette Bonsai Expo will take place on December  7-8, 2024.

Thank you to all the exhibitors who brought their bonsai for display and to the North Carolina Research Center for hosting this important special National Exhibition.

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Autumn 2023 Japan Bonsai Exploration- Part 8

World Heritage Kiyomizu Temple Bonsai Suiseki Exhibition, November 24-27, 2023 Kyoto, Japan.

Sponsored by Chinese Council General of Osaka, commemorating the 45th Anniversary of the signing of the peace treaty and friendship of China and Japan.

This special exhibit of bonsai and suiseki was organized and paid for by Kunio Kobayashi, (Shunka-en Bonsai Museum- Tokyo) took eight months of careful planning. Mr. Kobayashi brought six truckloads of bonsai and suiseki from his garden in Tokyo, plus a few client trees and a truckload of bonsai tables and folding screens. He brought a team of 12 apprentices to transport, set up, guard, load up and return everything back to Tokyo. Set up was required between 11pm and 4am. Mr. Kobayashi presented a demonstration at the opening ceremony and also free classes to the public conducted by his son-in-law, Minoru Akiyama.

It was very generous of Mr. Kobayashi to donate his time, funds and talents to help spread his passion and love of bonsai and suiseki to the world.

One of Mr. Kobayashi’s masterpiece Sargents Juniper was prominently featured at the opening ceremony in a special exhibit area and is valued at US $1,000,000. It has been estimated to be “approximately” 800 years old, and Mr. Kobayashi did not start it from seed…..