God must have been smiling on us during the US National Bonsai Exhibition. Everything worked out as planned, and even better. Volunteers helped set up (45 at one time!), unload and place the bonsai, answer questions, checked that nobody took any photos (some did…), attend the exciting banquet and benefit auction and finally take down. But, more importantly, the bonsai from across our country were beautiful, especially when displayed next to each other and offered the opportunity for enjoyment, study and even critique. Several trucks and vans brought fine bonsai from California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Florida, Alabama and other close by states. Each bonsai arrived in perfect condition, and they were lovingly watered and touched up for formal display. Bonsai fellowship was abound and old friends were greeted as new friends from around the world were made. The bonsai, ikebana and Chinese brush painting demonstrations were well attended and the large sales area was always busy with people adding to their collections.
The US National Bonsai Exhibitions are about the trees, not people. As stated many times before, only the beauty of the individual bonsai specimens was the determining factor for acceptance. It did not mater if someone grew the bonsai from seed for 50 years, nor if the bonsai was flown in from Omiya Bonsai Village the day before. I wanted to show beautiful fine bonsai.
It was a glorious and elegant event and I'm very thankful for my Rochester "Crew" and all those from around the country (and my Canadian family too) who jumped in enthusiastically to produce the US National Bonsai Exhibition. By the way, we are all still friends afterwards, there were no problems.
STATISTICS:
353 bonsai were entered by 118 exhibitors. Total bonsai on display was 248 by 95 exhibitors. Some bonsai were withdrawn after being accepted because of the tree's health.
There were 185 formal displays including 18 shohin bonsai compositions with 80 individual specimens. 30 states were represented in addition to Canada and Puerto Rico.
The National AwardFinest Bonsai Masterpiece
Japanese Black Pine
Scott Elser, Portland, OR
Evergreen Award
Finest Evergreen Bonsai
San Jose Juniper
Anthony Alario, Providence, RI
Deciduous AwardFinest Deciduous Bonsai
Japanese Maple
Suthin Sukolosovisit, Stoughton, MA
Yoshimura Award
Finest Classical Bonsai
Nikko Satsuki Azalea
Robert Blankfield, Rochester, NY
Bonsai Travel Award
Finest Bonsai & Companion Plant Combination
Bald Cypress
Michael Feduccia, Plant City, FL
Ho Yoku Award
Finest Western Display
Japanese Maple
Joseph Noga, Winterville, NC
Custom Oriental Woodcraft Award
Finest Shohin Bonsai Composition
Shohin Bonsai- mixed species
Melvyn Goldstein, Euclid, OH
ABS North Amercian Bonsai Award
Finest North American Native Species Bonsai
Coast Redwood
Robert Shimon, Port Arena, CA
Puerto Rico Bonsai Federation Award
Finest Tropical Bonsai
Nia
Michael Sullivan, Cooper City, FL
Nippon Bonsai Association Award
Finest Japanese Style Display
Japanese Black Pine
Scott Elser, Portland, OR
It seems as though these winners pretty much covered the country from California to Florida to Massachusetts to Oregon and locations between. Truly a "National" exhibition, and living up to the title the Japanese bonsai magazine gave our exhibition: The finest and highest level bonsai exhibition in the United States."
A well deserved "thank you" to everyone who assisted in the production of the US National Bonsai Exhibition, "congratulations" to the winners, "appreciation" to all the exhibitors and to everyone who came together last weekend to simply enjoy bonsai and bonsai fellowship.
I look forward to organizing the next 4th US National Bonsai Exhibition on September 13-14, 2014.
Truly God was smiling on Rochester last weekend.
Attached are a few of my personal photos. The professional bonsai portraits are now in production and will be in the upcoming 3rd US National Bonsai Exhibition Commemorative Album. It can now be ordered with a special "Pre-Publication" price of only $50. Please contact me if you would like to order the commemorative album and study the professional photos of 248 bonsai, plus other events.
Bill
