Wood sculptures and masks created by remote cultures for use in daily life and ritual will be on view, combined with classical bonsai in the unique exhibit: “Mastering Worlds; Exploring Space & Scale in Tribal and Asiatic Art.” The exhibit runs from May 13-17 at 291 7^th Ave. PH, in New York, NY.

The exhibition is vetted, containing only authentic museum quality objects and marks the first time classical bonsai and ethnographic arts have been formally paired together. This exhibition and New York Tribal Arts Week is running concurrent with Frieze Week (Art Auction Week) and as well as the other Spring Art Fairs for visitors in New York City.

Among the several bonsai on display include an important Sargent juniper bonsai approximately 100 years old, originally from the Kennett Collection and a Japanese white pine approximately 100 years old, last styled by Sean Smith and displayed in the 2012 U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition.

Cole Harwell, CEO Cole Harrell African & Oceanic Art organized and is sponsoring the exhibition. Mr. Harrell comments: “In conjunction with New York Tribal Art Week, I’m proud to present this selection of African & Oceanic Art with classical bonsai to explore how cultures condense and materialize concepts of faith, identity and belief. By examining the different art forms with mutual regard to space and scale, I’m hoping viewers develop a fresh perspective into our mutual humanity.”

Admission to the exhibition is free. It opens on Wednesday, May 13th, with a viewing party Saturday, May 16, 6-9 pm, 291 7th Ave. PH, at 27th Street in New York City. Show Hours are by appointment only Wednesday, May 13th 11am – 8 pm through Sunday May 17th 11 am – 7 pm. RSVP: cole@coleharrell.com For details please visit: http://www.coleharrell.com or http://www.nyctribalartweek.com

American larch bonsai on cork board

Most spring bonsai shows have probably taken place by now in southern areas. However, it’s now show time in the north. Our local bonsai exhibition will take place next weekend in Rochester, New York, and I’m always trying to improve each member’s display. Last month information was presented in this blog on how to make a quick and low cost companion planting from dwarf Columbine.

Dwarf Columbine companion planting on cork board

This month I’d like to suggest a quick and low cost “wooden slab” for companion plantings as well as smaller size bonsai. Traditionally, wood is used and although inexpensive types can be found, high end quality wooden slabs can cost hundreds of dollars, even for small 10 inch sizes. The prices increase with rare wood species and hand carved edge details.

Elm burl by Michel Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada

Wood from western USA tree species

Chinese quince burl

Edge detail of Chinese quince burl

Several pieces of bamboo or reed can be tied together to make similar flat board for companion plantings and bonsai as well. However, traditionally bamboo “rafts” are only used during the summer season. Since the weather for the past few days in Rochester, New York, has been over 90F, summer has probably arrived here so bamboo “rafts” are suitable now.

Pack of 4 cork tiles, $10

Thin cork boards are readily available from craft stores or Lowe’s Home Improvement Centers. Although they come in different sizes, the 12” x 12” size is great and comes in packs of four cork boards for only $8-10 making each board about $2 each.

Round shape

Free form shape

They are easy to design by sketching an irregular round, oval or free form shape using a pencil. Then simply cut out the shape with a pair of scissors. But, if you carefully try to tear the oak with your fingers and finger nails the irregular edge will look better. The sizes can be individually made for specific containers or to fit many containers of similar sizes. That’s it, finished ready to show.

Unstained cork board

Unpainted cork board edge detail

However, the cork board color is light and if you want to present a more finished “wooden slab” they are easily to paint. Dark colors are preferred to present a quite feeling, but ideally they should be a different color from the container and display table for the featured bonsai. I tried spray paint to darken the light colored cork, but got much better results using Minwax Wood Finish Stains that come in numerous colors. A foam brush works well for applying the stain, especially for coloring the edges. Simply press the foam brush around the edges first, then paint the flat surfaces last. If both sides are painted two different shapes will be created thus providing greater diversity when selecting the perfectly matched “wooden slab” for your companion planting or bonsai. This entire process can be done in only about an hour, but it’s best not to make them the day before the show.

Minwax Wood Finish Stain and foam bruch

Unstained and stained cork boards

Chinese quince bonsai on stained cork board

Crabapple bonsai on cork board

Larger Size “Wooden Slabs”

Sometimes larger sizes are necessary since the “wooden slab” should be larger than the container. It’s difficult to find larger sizes cork boards, but easy to place two smaller sizes together to appear as one. If the container is carefully positioned it is impossible to determine if one or two or even three cork boards are placed together. Once in Japan I saw a large forest style bonsai on an artificial flat stone displayed on a wooden board. But, upon closer study I found numerous smaller wooden boards carefully placed to appear as a larger size. When cutting out the cork boards, simply shape two boards with similar shapes.

Two unstained cork boards to be displayed together

Two unstained cork boards under larger bonsai

Companion planting on two stained cork boards

Thicker Larger “Wooden Slabs”

The thin cork boards are fine for smaller size companion plantings or small bonsai. However they may appear visually too light to anchor larger size containers. Ceiling tiles come in many sizes, but the 24” x 48” size is pretty standard and cost about $5. A utility knife comes in handy cutting out the initial design of the ceiling tile, but the edges look better when shaped by hand.

Unpainted ceiling tile after shaping

Painted ceiling tile

Ceiling tiles are usually white with small holes, not the best for displaying with bonsai. After shaping I sprayed the ceiling tile with a brown spray paint, making certain the edges are completely covered with paint. I did not initially like the effect, but the spray paint did fill in many of the ugly holes. So after the spray paint dried I simply used some of the same Minwax Wood Finish Stain used on the thinner cork boards and painted again. The result came out quite well. The thicker size is well proportioned for smaller and medium size bonsai.

Unpainted ceiling tile edge detail

Painted ceiling tile edge detail

Dwarf Ezo spruce bonsai on painted ceiling tile. Note the thicker size is in proportion to the larger size bonsai.

Both of these inexpensive “wooden slabs” are ideal for flat rock planting style bonsai where larger size display tables are difficult or expensive to purchase. They can also be cut to the shape of the individual stone. Make them a couple of inches larger than the stone all around for best effect.

The 42^nd Upstate New York Bonsai Exhibition & Sale will be held on May 16-17, 2015 at the Monroe Community Hospital in Rochester, New York. The show hours are 10am to 5pm daily with bonsai and ikebana demonstrations at 2pm. Approximately 100 fine quality bonsai from local members will be on display as well as Ikebana flower arrangements from the local Ikebana International society. About ten vendors will have bonsai and supplies for sale.

International Bonsai Arboretum Spring 2015 Open House & Sale 

Additionally to make a full day of your trip to Rochester, my annual Spring Open House & Sale will take place at the International Bonsai Arboretum on the same days as the bonsai exhibition from 10am to 4pm. Contact me for directions, questions or details.

The annual Lilac Festival down the street from the bonsai exhibition features over 700 lilac shrubs in over 400 cultivars. Come, visit Rochester– the snow has finally melted and warm weather has arrived (and I hope it stays), so come see, study and buy some great bonsai!

Its show time and the time for spring bonsai shows is rapidly approaching. In order to complete the presentation of your bonsai an appropriate companion planting, suiseki or figurine is often utilized next to the tree. Formal bonsai display requires study along with fine taste, which is a lengthy topic. Rather than to attempt to cover the theory, design and background of bonsai display, I’d like to present a quick and easy solution to creating an instant companion planting, which may enhance the presentation of your bonsai for your bonsai show.

Perennials are often used as companion plantings for bonsai. There are almost an unlimited number of different perennial species which are suitable for bonsai companion plantings. Dwarf or low growing plants work best. Often, when pot bound the foliage reduces in size and is more delicate. Pot bound companion plantings usually dry out quickly so keep many of them in a shallow saucer of water during the summer, especially dwarf Hostas with large leaf areas.

Perennial selection at Lowe’s Home Improvement Center

A few days ago I went to one of our local Lowe’s Home Improvement Centers and was surprised to see a display of dwarf Columbines growing in one quart pots for sale. The common Columbine, Aquilegia Canadensis, is a wild flower native to eastern North America, which reaches heights of approximately two feet.

The dwarf Columbine cultivar ‘Little Lanterns’ is an excellent dwarf mounding perennial suited for small areas and rock gardens because it only grows to ten or twelve inches in height. The small deep red and yellow nodding flowers stand above the blue green foliage and often last from April to June depending on the weather. I purchased a few pots of the ‘Little Lanterns’ columbine at $3.98 each and returned to my studio to create a spring blossoming bonsai companion planting.

First an appropriate container was selected. Generally shallow round containers with short feet are best for combining with bonsai for display. A smaller size companion planting is better than one which is larger. The choice of an unglazed or colored container depends on the bonsai container. Personally, if the bonsai container is glazed I’ll select an unglazed companion pot. If the bonsai container is unglazed a glazed companion pot is used. Also, if the bonsai container is symmetrical (round, square or equal-sided) an asymmetrical (rectangular or oval) companion pot is used. Likewise I like to combine asymmetrical bonsai containers with symmetrical companion plants. Many people like to use expensive containers for companion plantings. However, when the plants are fully grown they often overhang the container and sometimes the container cannot even be seen or enjoyed. Therefore, I generally do not use high quality containers for companion plantings and even used chipped or broken pots when the final result will be a full planting.

Two of these three plants are to be combined for the companion planting. The third plant was planted in a smaller container which will be displayed with a smaller size bonsai

I generally first select the bonsai to be displayed, then chose an appropriate companion pot. Then  proceed to create the companion planting or switch pots of an already established planting. If the companion planting is established, it is probably full of roots and the container can be easily switched. This is commonly done to change from a glazed to an unglazed container to contrast with the bonsai to be displayed.

Plastic screening placed over the drainage hole to keep the soil in the container

A small amount of the original soil, mixed with bonsai soil was first placed on the bottom of the container

Companion plantings are best presented when they completely fill the container, often overflowing. Sparsely planted companion plantings are not as effective as a container full of foliage and flowers as well. If a few smaller plants are planted in a larger companion pot and have not completely filled the pot it is best to wait and display in the future.

The bonsai, which will be displayed, is an American larch, Larix laricina, growing in an antique Chinese rectangular unglazed container. I collected this tree “north of Toronto, Canada” over thirty years ago on the lakeshore. Therefore a round blue glazed container was selected for the companion planting so it would contrast with the rectangular unglazed container of the bonsai.

Two of the ‘Little Lanterns’ columbines were selected for the companion planting since I wanted a full container of plants. Plants with plenty of unopened flower buds were selected to prolong the flowering season display. Its always advisable to select plants with many unopened flower buds to extend the blossoming period. However, try to select plants with at least one open flower bud to make certain the color will be suitable for displaying with a bonsai and especially is not the same color as the companion planting container.

First sharp trimming shears were used to cut the root ball in half

Although the pant appears to be pot bound, it is not

Note the roots are primarily growing around the perimeter of the pot and the center is dry

A bamboo chopstick was used to carefully tease the roots of each plant

Each plant was removed from the one quart plastic growing pot and was severely root pruned. Then about half of the soil was removed from one side of each of the two plants and they were combined to create a single plant.

A little bonsai soil was mixed with the original peat/bark nursery soil to fill the display container. The completed companion planting was immediately thoroughly watered and placed in the shade to recover from the transplanting.

The first plant was positioned in the new container

The second plant was added trying to keep the crowns of both plants close to each other so they appear to be one plant

Additional soil mix was added and gently firmed with a chopstick

A few days later the companion planting was groomed to remove any damaged leaves, old flowers and to create a symmetrical appearance. A stand was then selected for the formal display of the American larch bonsai. The companion planting must also sit on some kind of display table as well. Flat boards, wooden burls or bamboo rafts are commonly used for companion plantings. Since the bonsai is in a rectangular container on a rectangular display table I did not want to repeat the straight lines and selected an irregular shaped wooden burl for the companion planting.

The completed ‘Little Lantern’ columbine companion plant ready for display with a bonsai

This companion planting of ‘Little Lantern’ columbine is only an example of what can be created from commonly available perennials at local garden centers. There are hundreds of different Hosta cultivars which can also be used as well. Annuals can also used as companion plantings as well.

This bonsai display is being prepared for the 49^th Upstate New York Bonsai Exhibition on May 16-17, 2015 in Rochester, New York. Everyone is invited to visit the exhibition and see nearly 100 beautiful bonsai including my American larch bonsai. Also, it is no accident that both the American larch and ‘Little Lanterns’ columbine are both native to eastern North America. It is sometimes desirable to use companion plants which grow in the same area as the bonsai.

The Ueno Green Club is the headquarters for the Nippon Bonsai Cooperative a long time professional bonsai organization organized in 1931. The organization is a business corporation and members must be approved and pay a hefty entry fee, plus annual dues. Twenty one years ago there were over 500 members. Today the membership is approximately 250.

Nippon BonaI Association Building

Nippon Satsuki Association Office

Twenty one years ago the Nippon Bonsai Cooperative built a three story building in the center area and removed the long buildings. Then a more modern building was constructed on the left side. The building is owned by the Nippon Bonsai Cooperative, but the land is leased. There is a close relationship with the Nippon Bonsai Association, a non-profit organization established in the early 1960s which was first established as the Kokufu Bonsai Society in 1934. Their headquarter building is located diagonally across the street from the Ueno Green Club. About a half block away is the headquarters for the Nippon Satsuki Association.

Third floor shohin bonsai sales during Kokufu Bonsai Exhibitions

Second floor bonsai sales during Kokufu Bonsai Exhibitions

Outdoor sales area during Kokufu Bonsai Exhibitions

Located next to the Ueno Zoo on a corner lot the land actually belongs to a government organization and the corporation has a long term lease. The area was originally called the “Bonsai Club” and is used for auctions, meetings, exhibitions and selecting trees for shows. Originally there were long buildings around an open area where indoor activities were held. The open area in the center had tables for sales and displaying bonsai.

Since the Nippon Bonsai Association and Nippon Bonsai Cooperative work closely together and membership overlaps, it is a bit difficult to distinguish their differences. However, one organization is a for profit professional corporation and the other is a non-profit association. The Nippon Bonsai Association rents the Ueno Green Club for three days each January from the Nippon Bonsai Cooperative for judging and photographing bonsai for the Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition.

AUCTIONS

The Ueno Green Club building is a modern three story building with very thick walls for earthquake protection. There are elevators which make moving large bonsai for exhibitions, auctions and sales easy. Each floor has been deigned to be partitioned to create individual rooms for meetings, judging, sales and bonsai displays.

SELECTING BONSAI FOR AWARDS AND EXHIBITIONS

PHOTOGRAPHING BONSAI FOR PUBLICATIONS

EXHIBITIONS

SALES DURING THE 2015 KOKUFU BONSAI EXHIBITION

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Yukio Murata, Kyuka-en Bonsai Garden just purchased young Trident maple seedlings for future masterpiece bonsai using Masakuni Tools

Peter Warren helped Minoru Akiyama, a graduate apprentice of Kunio Kobayashi, and his son in law, with this sales area. A large suiseki was sold which was in a wooden storage box with the owner’s name. The new client did not want the previous owner’s name on the box so Peter began to erase the inked name. It was taking considerable effort and someone suggested he use a power tool to sand off the name. Great idea, it worked!

Osamu Fukudata, another graduate apprentice of Kunio Kobayashi watches.

Most foreigners are familiar with the Ueno Green Club as only a sales area during the Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition, but it is indeed much more.

Each of our exciting bonsai tours to Japan includes a private tour to S-Cube, Masahiko Kimura’s studio, Omiya Bonsai Art Museum and the bonsai gardens in Omiya Bonsai Village. There are always new bonsai and other interesting things to see and study.

Mansei-en Bonsai Garden

Hatsuji & Takahiro Kato

Omiya Bonsai Village

  

Shunka-en Bonsai Museum in Tokyo is the home of Kunio Kobayashi who is one of the top bonsai artists in Japan and the world. His garden is a mecca for many, including me because of the high quality bonsai and especially his distinctive formal bonsai displays.

Winter flowering cherry, Prunus campanulata

Japanese five-needle pine, Pinus parviflora

Chinese quince, Pseudocydonia sinensis

Apprentice Jin explaining the magnificent display of a Japanese black pine

Japanese flowering apricot, Prunus mume

Japanese black pine, Pinus thunbergii

Part 2 of Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition was held on February 10-13, 2015 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Tokyo, Japan, following a day closed where 181 bonsai displays were replaced with all new bonsai, except for the four special displays. The Japan Suiseki Exhibition opened on the closed day and the Ueno Green Club sales area was also open for visitors.

These two views may quickly seem similar to Part 1, however all the trees are new. However under close examination a few of the companion plantings were identical, but slightly rotated. I’m not certain because my personal study of Part 2 has not been completed yet, but I think I remember seeing a few display tables from Part 1.

Japanese five-needle pine, Pinus parviflora

Gardenia, Gardenia jasmoindes

Zuisho Japanese five-needle pine, Pinus parviflora ‘Zuisjo.’ Perhaps the reason for the increased number of this choice cultivar is because most are approximately only 50 years old and only now beginning to show aged rough bark. This cultivar is slow to start developing, but once established quickly grows fat. There have been several articles on Zuisho Japanese five-needle pine in International BONSAI authored by Julian Adams who has mastered the cultivation and propagation of this cultivar in the United States.

A colorful companion planting used for a shohin bonsai composition. Again, like Part 1, only five displays were shown.

This shohin Japanese grey bark elm, Zelkova serrata, had the finest twigs I’ve ever seen on a bonsai!

A small size Toyo Nishiki Japanese flowering quince, Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Toyo Nishiki’ with multiple colored flowers. Although red, pink and white blossoms are common for this great cultivar, I’ve often seen red branches grafted onto specimens to improve color distribution.

Chojubai Japanese flowering quince, Chaenomeles japonica ‘Chojubai.’ This species was quite common in both Part1 and Part 2, both as main trees in a medium size display and used as companion plantings. They are often planted on or with stones or in the multiple trunk style because they do not form thick trunks. The word “chojubai” means long life Japanese flowering apricot because the flowers and rough bark are similar to Prunus mume, also the flowers blossom for a long period of time, commonly from autumn through winter to spring.

Kokufu Award Winners

Japanese five-needle pine, Pinus parviflora. This bonsai has an interesting history and I saw it auctioned many years ago for over US $500,000. I’ve got photos of the auction, but recently delete them from my laptop collection of over 40,000 images. I needed to make room for new photos. But, of course I have original photos archived at home.

Trident maple, Acer buergerianum

Chinese quince, Pseudocydonia sinensis

Japanese grey-bark elm, Zelkova serrata

Japanese five-needle pine, Pinus parviflora