Tonight was the ribbon cutting ceremony officially opening the two day exhibition. Tall tables were distributed throughout the exhibition area where about 50 members and visitors gathered and enjoyed a wide delicious wide assortment of Puerto Rican appetizers. They even had sweet tea.
During the couple-hour reception a skilled jazz musician provided lovely background music. The musician has been a suiseki collector for over 20 years too. Afterwards I presented a short program featuring my garden and bonsai.
During the past 60-odd years, I have had the fortunate and unique opportunity to visit, study, display, and often judge, bonsai exhibitions in Canada: Brazil, Germany, Italy, China, Indonesia, Belgium, England, South Africa, Puerto Rico, Korea, and across the United States and Japan and Australia. I’ve seen a LOT of bonsai around the world.
Every bonsai exhibition is different, and has its own distinct atmosphere and character. All are pleasing and I’ve enjoyed and learned from every-one. Often what to avoid when organizing exhibitions.
The venue is probably the most important factor when evaluating exhibitions; followed by design, layout, presentation of each displayed bonsai and of course the beauty of each specimen. I’ve seen large important exhibitions with less than beautiful refined trees, as well as smaller shows with fewer, but better developed and refined bonsai. Each is different and proudly presented by the organizations presenting their finest bonsai.
The Tropical Bonsai Symposium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is one of the finest I’ve had the pleasure of visiting. There was a high quality attention to all details including the backgrounds, table coverings/skirting, lighting, appropriate display tables for every bonsai and accessory plantings. Of course, each bonsai was cleaned, as well as the container and display tables, had no dust or dirty pots.
Every bonsai was positioned straight on the display tables and was well presented to the visitors. The overall layout and positioning of each tree may have had the ability to improve their presentation. The general public as well as long-time bonsai practitioners enjoyed this exhibition, as well as me.
A few random thoughts on the Tropical Bonsai Symposium exhibition:
There was a great number of Neea bonsai, but only one Ficus displayed. There was a very wide variety of different species, especially those native to Puerto Rico. I was quite surprised to see a few of the broadleaf evergreen Neea completely defoliated to show the skill and beauty of short refined small twigs. They actually reminded me of Larch or Fukien tea.
Congratulations to the Bonsai Shohin Society for presenting and hosting an excellent exhibition and may you continue your quest for promoting bonsai!
