Page 18 - 2019 01 BSF Magazine_v3

be used for the group. But Mr. Yoshimura had another idea. Scurrying to the back
end of his dilapidated greenhouse, rummaging through a large and
precarious pile of assorted stuff, he pulled out an oddly shaped
piece of plywood, announcing, “We will create masterpiece - ON
WOOD!” I was dubious, never having seen a bonsai planting done
on a piece
of plywood. “Oh no” I said, hoping to dissuade him, “that’s too nice
- I’m sure you had something else planned for it!” Arthur’s pleas fell
on deaf ears because it had taken Mr. Yoshimura about 0.16 of a
second to make up his mind and his mind was made up.
Surprisingly however that humble plywood lasted 18 years of
constant moisture then repetitive freezing and thawing in the
beautiful Asheville winters, before it needed replacing anew. In
honor of this experience, Arthur used a pattern of the original then
traced it over a new sheet of plywood, which would serve for
subsequent years. Yuji wrote an article in International Bonsai
magazine in 1993, “Bonsai. Is it an art?” The definitions and
paragraph below were taken from his article:
Bonsai – a noun and verb, singular and plural. As a noun, it is (1) a
potted plant, (2) an artistic miniature potted tree. As a verb, “to
plan (tsai or sai) into a pot pen or bon)

Crescent moon Art – a noun, singular. Art is opposed to science. Art is a cultural act by humans,
Buttonwood, Conocaprus science is the knowledge to recognize actuality.
erectus, a Florida tree “Art has become so broad in scope and definition that recent societies are more
with lunar inspiration. specific in interpretation of meaning and us- age. There are categorization
Tree and photo by Rob refinements, such as “ fine arts”, painting, sculpture and architecture, and “visual
Kempinski arts”, the category where bonsai is found. However, at the core of all these
definitions and categorizations is the basic truth that art is the result of the human
creative impulse for beauty. Even though the human urge to create “beauty” is
behind our using living plants in the creation of bonsai, why accept bonsai into a
group of visual arts, particularly since keeping the plant alive in a pot is within the
domain of science (horticulture)? In taking the leap from “potted plant” to “artistic
potted plant” we have bridged the gap between art and science. Bonsai must be
supported by both, simultaneously, to achieve its full potential. Bonsai is a divergent
branch of horticulture (science) with the intention to create beauty (art). As with all
art forms, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Many different schools and
approaches have emerged during the development of bonsai as an art and a science.
There- fore, whether a potted plant becomes a bonsai and fulfills artistic potential is
dependent on the owner’s intention and taste.”

If you’re still unsure, use the following checklist to decide if you’re doing American
bonsai or bonsai in America.
• Are you a local human capable of emoting? Check!
• Old, gnarly, barely surviving local species? Check!
• Are you endangering life and limb seeking local trees
to use for miniaturization inspiration, across your nation? Check!

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