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Sam & KJ's Suiseki Blog (水石)

Sam & KJ's Suiseki Blog (水石)

Category Archives: Bonsai

“She Just Needed To Be Who She Really Was.”

12 Tuesday Feb 2019

Posted by Sam Edge in Art, Bonsai, Suiskei

≈ 1 Comment

Before I begin, please take a few minutes to read this true story as documented in the Book The Element – How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything by Sir Ken Robinson (c) 2009.

The Element

“Gillian was only eight years old, but her future was already at risk. Her schoolwork was a disaster, at least as far as her teachers were concerned.  She turned in assignments late, her handwriting was terrible, and she tested poorly.  Not only that, she was a disruption to the entire class, one minute fidgeting noisily, the next staring out the window, forcing the teacher to stop the class to pull Gillian’s attention back, and the next doing something to disturb the other children around her.  Gillian wasn’t particularly concerned about any of this—she was used to being corrected by authority figures and really didn’t see herself as a difficult child—but the school was very concerned. This came to a head when the school wrote to her parents.


Gillian Lynne with her mother, Barbara, in 1932

The school thought that Gillian had a learning disorder of some sort and that it might be more appropriate for her to be in a school for children with special needs. All of this took place in the 1930s I think now they’d say she had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and they’d put her on Ritalin or something similar.  But the ADHD epidemic hadn’t been invented at the time. It wasn’t an available condition. People didn’t know they could have that and had to get by without it.

Gillian’s parents received the letter from the school with great concern and sprang to action.  Gillian’s mother put her daughter in her best dress and shoes, tied her hair in ponytails, and took her to a psychologist for assessment, fearing the worst.

Gillian told me that she remembers being invited into a large oak-paneled room with leather-bound books on the shelves. Standing in the room next to a large desk was an imposing man in a tweed jacket.  He took Gillian to the far end of the room and sat her down on a huge leather sofa. Gillian’s feet didn’t quite touch the floor, and the setting made her wary. Nervous about the impression she would make, she sat on her hands so that she wouldn’t fidget.

The psychologist went back to his desk, and for the next twenty minutes, he asked Gillian’s mother about the difficulties Gillian was having at school and the problems the school said she was causing.  While he didn’t direct any of his questions at Gillian, he watched her carefully the entire time.  This made Gillian extremely uneasy and confused. Even at this tender age, she knew that this man would have a significant role in her life.  She knew what it meant to attend a “special school,” and she didn’t want anything to do with that. She genuinely didn’t feel that she had any real problems, but everyone else seemed to believe she did.  Given the way her mother answered the questions, it was possible that even she felt this way.

Maybe, Gillian thought, they were right.

Eventually, Gillian’s mother and the psychologist stopped talking. The man rose from his desk, walked to the sofa, and sat next to the little girl.

“Gillian, you’ve been very patient, and I thank you for that,” he said. “But I’m afraid you’ll have to be patient for a little longer.  I need to speak to your mother privately now. We’re going to go out of the room for a few minutes. Don’t worry; we won’t be very long.

Gillian nodded apprehensively, and the two adults left her sitting there on her own. But as he was leaving the room, the psychologist leaned across his desk and turned on the radio.

As soon as they were in the corridor outside the room, the doctor said to Gillian’s mother, “Just stand her for a moment, and watch what she does.” There was a window into the room and they stood to one side of it, where Gillian couldn’t see them. Nearly immediately, Gillian was on her feet, moving around the room to the music.  The two adults stood watching quietly for a few minutes, transfixed by the girl’s grace.  Anyone would have noticed there was something natural—event primal—about Gillian’s movements. Just as they would have surely caught the expression of utter pleasure on her face.

At last, the psychologist turned to Gillian’s mother and said, “You know, Mrs. Lynne, Gillian isn’t sick. She’s a dancer. Take her to a dance school.”

I asked Gillian what happened then.  She said her mother did exactly what the psychologist suggested.  “I can’t tell you how wonderful it was,” she told me. “I walked into this room, and it was full of people like me. People who couldn’t sit still.  People who had to move to think.”

She started going to dance school every week, and she practiced at home every day.  Eventually, she auditioned for the Royal Ballet School in London, and they accepted her.  She went on to join the Royal Ballet Company itself, becoming a soloist and performing all over the world. When that part of her career ended, she formed her own musical theater company and produced a series of highly successful shows in London and New York. Eventually, she met Andrew Lloyd Webber and created with him some of the most successful musical theater productions in history, including Cats and The Phantom of the Opera.

Little Gillian, the girl with the high-risk future, became known to the world as Gillian Lynne, one of the most accomplished choreographers of our time, someone who has brought pleasure to millions and earned millions of dollars. This happened because someone looked deep into her eyes—someone who had seen children like her before and knew how to read the signs.  Someone else might have put her on medication and told her to calm down.  But Gillian wasn’t a problem child.  She didn’t need to go away to a special school.”

She just needed to be who she really was.”

A Few Thoughts

You might ask, what has this to do in a blog focusing on suiseki? A good question, so let me spend a few moments explaining why.

I’ve been busy at work for more than two years researching how to “view” suiseki stones. It has been a passion that has taken a great deal of my free time. I have read hundreds of papers, research articles, and books on aesthetic with a special focus on Japanese aesthetic. Through this process a discovery was made, for me at least, that there is no true universal definition of aesthetic between cultures and often even between similar groups of people.

Most aesthetics focus on the concept of beauty, however, even in this definition beauty can be defined in so many ways. What I have discovered is that most aestheticians link beauty with truth. Rising early to watch the sun break brilliantly across distant mountain tops, standing in the late afternoon on the rocky shores of the ocean seeing and hearing the waves break below, or watching the inherent beauty in a small child asleep and at peace. There is not only beauty but real truth in these scenes.

At some future point, it is my hope that all of this research will be gathered and focused into a book that will help its readers to begin to define their own aesthetic regardless of the artistic outlet be it stones, painting, or something.

Returning to the story of Gillian, one can only imagine the loss to the world had the doctor not intervened to declare there was nothing wrong with Gillian – she is just a dancer. How many artist, dancers, writers, photographers, comedians have been lost to the world simply because they were viewed as different? And tragically so, treated as if they were broken.

Let’s juxtapose for a moment ourselves into the world of suiseki for a moment. How often have we stood before a beautiful stone asking someone what they see and before they can even respond we admonish them in what we see in it. If you take note, you might see a small frown appear on the other person’s face?

How often do we see people courageously describe what they see in the stone for the “expert” to immediately bark at them that what they are seeing is wrong that it is not “A” but their viewpoint “B.” How many new participants in our art form have we driven away because we haven’t allowed them to participate and for them to have an opportunity to express what they see!

It reminds me of when Masahiko Kimura created this now famous bonsai.

Upon its initial release, this was frowned upon by the bonsai world. It wasn’t bonsai; it didn’t follow the accepted practices of the time. Surely there were other forest plantings, but they were in a pot, or slab, that was horizontal to the ground. This design broke the conventional rules!

Over time it became recognized as a master work of design. Expressive, beautiful and now often mimicked by others.

Anytime there is a major change in an art style such as realism to impressionism the holders of the standard fight to maintain that hold and thus feel inclined to reject the new.

I caution each of us to allow others to see what they see. Attempt to understand what they are expressing through either their display or their interpretations. As relayed in the earlier story: “…But Gillian wasn’t a problem child.  She didn’t need to go away to a special school. She just needed to be who she really was.”

In the same way, who knows, the very person who seems to be breaking the rules today may very well be creating a new form of art tomorrow.

Advertisement

Classical Bonsai Art

25 Tuesday Mar 2014

Posted by Sam Edge in Bonsai

≈ 2 Comments

Classical Bonsai Art: A Half Century of Bonsai Study – The Creations & Passion of William N. Valavanis

We always enjoy reading new books about bonsai or suiseki and Bill’s latest book is no exception.  You can pick up a copy for a very reasonable price by clicking here. This is quite a large book at 9×12-inches with over 250 pages of color photographs.

CoverIn addition to the beautifully photographed trees he also includes: Drastic Pruning of Maple & Deciduous Bonsai, Improving Design by Inarch Branch Grafting, Improving Deciduous Surface Roots, Bud Pinching Used to Limit, growth & Reduce Foliage Size, Bending & Moving Heavy Trunks & Branches, Juniper Approach Grafting
and more
.

We think you will really enjoy this book as it truly does show Bill’s passion for bonsai.  Enjoy a few other selected photos from his book.  All photographs are copyrighted by William N. Valavanis 2013.

5 4 3 2 KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA SONY DSC 6

 

Tables – Outstanding Craftsmen from Japan

17 Sunday Feb 2013

Posted by Sam Edge in Bonsai, Suiskei

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Stands, Table Craftsmen

We don’t know about you but we find it very difficult to find the right stand for our displays.  Finding them in America often requires us to search eBay, local antique shops or a few online antique search engines.  Yet, these often turn up very little. It is difficult because often a stand must be purchased just for a single display – much like high quality pots, they have to be right for what they are being matched with in the display.

We have been fortunate to find a number of stand that work with our small pots and stones, but it is an endless search assisted by our friends in Japan.  Next as you know then there is the difficulty of getting them to the U.S.  Small stands tend not to be a problem but larger stands often arrive with broken legs.  Well, let’s know go down this path this morning.  Many older and antique stands served other purposes than being the foundation for a bonsai or suiseki display.  However, in the late 1950’s craftsmen began to be asked by bonsai and suiseki proprietors to make stands that suited their needs.  Let’s take a few minutes to discover a few of these craftsmen.

Kaneko Kazuhiko and Tables

In 1959, Toshiji Yoshimura of Kofu-En Bonsai Garden gave orders to Kaneko Kazuhiko (1909-1972), a tropical wood craftsman, to make tables for bonsai and suiseki.  Kaneko presumed a strong sturdy table would be appropriate for the display of bonsai and suiseki. He sat on the table he had made and claimed, “It can even hold me up.” Toshiji replied, “This will be used to display bonsai and stones. Please consider the size and thickness of the legs so that they will coordinate with the bonsai and stones.”  In this way Toshiji taught Kaneko about the essentials of bonsai and stones. Kaneko had refined techniques in woodwork, and with guidance by Toshiji, he was able to complete a table for bonsai and suiseki in short time.

The tables (D-5, D-6) evoking a fresh atmosphere as if they were assemblies of natural bamboo, are made out of cotoneaster wood. To make these, Kaneko went to Baji Koen (a horse-park in Setagaya district) to sketch bamboo.  The tables (D-7, D-8) with open work design were made with reference to ideas from other bonsai/suiseki enthusiasts. Kaneko spent time in formulating the design. The tables, created by the combination of the plans by Toshiji, who was aware of the essentials of bonsai and suiseki, and the refined techniques of Kaneko, enhance the beauty of the stones.

(c) 2007 Sen-En-Kyo

(c) 2007 Sen-En-Kyo

(c) 2007 Sen-En-Kyo

(c) 2007 Sen-En-Kyo

Kaneko passed away at the age of 70, when his skills were at zenith, capable of producing refined tables. The inscription “Kazuhiko” was inscribed underneath the top board of his tables. In the early days of when he was making his tables, he engraved his inscription directly on the bottom of the top board, but in later years, he followed Katsuragi Kozan’s way of attaching a bamboo with inscription.  He similarly attached a piece of boxwood with his inscription to the table.

(c) 2007 Sen-En-Kyo

(c) 2007 Sen-En-Kyo

Kozan, Yuzan, and Junzan

Ogawa Yuzan (D-11) and Hibino Ikkansai are the oldest names of table craftsman known since tables for bonsai and suiseki started to be made at the end of the Meiji period. They followed by Katsuragi Kozan, and Shirai Junzan (Eisaku) (D-12), apprentice of Ogawa Yuzan (Seigo), Kaneko Kazuhiko, Nakano Teizan, and Hongo Junzan are the latest known craftsman and were active when the bonsai and suiseki boom was at its height.

(c) 2007 Sen-En-Kyo

(c) 2007 Sen-En-Kyo

(c) 2007 Sen-En-Kyo

(c) 2007 Sen-En-Kyo

Shirai Junzan

Shirai Junzan (In our personal collection)

Sugimoto Sashichi

This is a set of three tables designed and order made by Sugimoto Sashichi known as an enthusiast of shohin bonsai.

(c) 2007 Sen-En-Kyo

(c) 2007 Sen-En-Kyo

(c) 2007 Sen-En-Kyo

(c) 2007 Sen-En-Kyo

In Closing

All of these stands are beautifully made by superb craftsmen.  I think we in America has a lot to learn by studying these tables.  As we look at the above table by Sashichi (D-15) for what do you believe it was designed?  At 88 x 25.6 x 4 cm it was likely created for a suiseki display.  The low profile would be excellent for a long and relatively narrow bronze doban.  That is not to say that a beautiful forest planting might not be held on this stand.

Clearly a great deal of thought was put into the creation of these tables.  The woods are beautiful and selected for both their beauty of grain as well as their ability to harmonize with the intended objects to be displayed.  I find with many American stands, the design is too heavy. As Toshiji Yoshimura stated above – the designer needs to pay particular attention to the thickness and size of the legs.  Otherwise, there is a lack of harmony between the stand and the tree or stone being displayed.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful for someone in America who has the talent in woodworking to recreate these beautiful tables for us?  The designs are timeless.  The time that it would require to replicate these tables would dictate a tidy sum of money to acquire them but worth the cost.  We hope you enjoy these tables this Sunday morning, or whenever you are reading this post.

Lastly, we want to thank Sen-En-Kyo for this valuable information on these superb tables.  If you don’t have his book, I highly suggest you find a copy of Suiseki – An Art Created By Nature. You can find a reference to these books on our blog.

Bay Island Bonsai Exhibit of Fine Bonsai 2013

22 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by Sam Edge in Bonsai

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Bay Island Bonsai 2013

The BIB show was this weekend and I must admit we had a great time visiting the show and seeing all of our friends and making new ones.  KJ and I took a few snapshots to just give you a glance of what was there. This is a very small selection of photos.

I do want to add though come back in a few days as we post about one of the most artistic suiseki displays we have ever witnessed.

BIB Exhibit of Fine Bonsai 2013

BIB 2013  BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013 BIB 2013

Bay Island Bonsai – 2013 Exhibit

17 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by Sam Edge in Bonsai

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Bay Island Bonsai Show 2013

A short blog post today to remind everyone that Bay Island Bonsai is having their 2013 show this weekend.

You can learn all about the show – just click here.

Bay Island Bonsai 2013

Bay Island Bonsai 2013

The show is being held at the Oakland Lakeside Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave. Auction on Saturday, with preview at Noon and auction at 1 PM.

Bonsai demonstration by Boon on Sunday at 1PM. Guided tours of the exhibit both Saturday and Sunday. Vendor sales, Club sales, Educational bonsai material for sale.  Hours: 10AM – 4PM Saturday and Sunday.

Entry to exhibit is free, donations accepted. For more information: (510) 919-5042.

Some of Our Favorite American Bonsai Trees – Part II

21 Friday Dec 2012

Posted by Sam Edge in Bonsai

≈ 5 Comments

This is Part II of the trees where I took a few photos back in 2007 and 2008 at the BIB show.  Boon has a fabulous bonsai club and he and his members have a number of very fine bonsai.  I would highly recommend you attend their show this January 19-20, 2013.  You can learn more about the show by visiting this page. And see their exhibit photos here.

We hope you enjoy the trees as much as we did seeing them in person and having the opportunity to photograph them.  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

Sam and KJ

Our Favorite American Bonsai Trees – Part II

Bay Island Bonsai 2007 Bay Island Bonsai 2007 Bay Island Bonsai 2007 Japanese White Pine. Height 14 inches. Japanese pot. Bay Island Bonsai 2008 Bay Island Bonsai 2007

One of the finest trees that I have had the opportunity to see in person. It was an honor to photograph this tree as it won a major American award.

One of the finest trees that I have had the opportunity to see in person. It was an honor to photograph this tree as it won a major American award. Everything about this tree to me is perfect – the styling, the ramification, the wiring, the bark, the trunk movement, the nebari – I think just everything!

Bay Island Bonsai 2007 Bay Island Bonsai 2007

Some of Our Favorite American Bonsai Trees

20 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by Sam Edge in Bonsai

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

BIB Exhibit of Fine Bonsai

Last week we posted about some of our favorite Japanese bonsai trees, so this week we are going to post a few photos that I took back in 2007 and 2008 at the BIB show.  Boon has a fabulous bonsai club and he and his members have a number of very fine bonsai.  I would highly recommend you attend their show this January 19-20, 2013.  You can learn more about the show by visiting this page.

Some of Our Favorite American Bonsai Trees

Bay Island Bonsai 2008 Bay Island Bonsai 2007 Bay Island Bonsai 2007 Bay Island Bonsai 2008 Bay Island Bonsai 2007 Bay Island Bonsai 2007 Bay Island Bonsai 2008 Bay Island Bonsai 2008 Bay Island Bonsai 2008 Bay Island Bonsai 2007 Bay Island Bonsai 2007

Some of Our Favorite Bonsai Trees

13 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by Sam Edge in Bonsai, Japan

≈ 2 Comments

Since I seem to have come down with bronchitis and don’t feel very well, I thought I would look through old photos today and review some of our favorite bonsai trees that we have seen over the years. All of these trees in this post are from Japan.  There are a number of trees in America that we love as well but I don’t have enough energy to sort through those today!

Stay healthy!

Japanese Bonsai Trees

Taikan-Ten 2012 Part 3

28 Wednesday Nov 2012

Posted by Sam Edge in Bonsai, Bonsai Pots, Japan, Suiskei

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Kyoto, Taikan-Ten 2012

This is the final post on the Taikan-Ten show in Kyoto, Japan. Today’s photos were shot in the vendor area of the show.  Enjoy!

A Few Books About To Go On Sale

A Few Books About To Go On Sale

2012 All Japan Shohin Bonsai Association Auction

23 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by Sam Edge in Auction, Bonsai, Bonsai Pots

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Isseki, Toufukuji, Yusen

It is that time of year again – yes, the All Japan Shohin Bonsai Association Auction.  Normally the association places auction pages or like last year a PDF file of the items up for auction.  So far this year I have been unable to locate anything on their web site. So I inquired with Peter and he found that the items for their auction is in this month’s Kinbon magazine.  Peter was kind enough to take photos of those pages and send them to me to share with you.  Keep in mind these are photos of pages and not scans so the photos may show some distortion, but we think seeing them is the most important thing.

Once again they have some very nice trees and pots for sale.

Update: The catalog has now been posted online. It is 22MB in size so we have downloaded and re-sampled the images for viewing on screen and it is now 1.5MB. Download the auction catalog here.

If you want the 22MB version you can get that here.

All Japan Shohin Bonsai Association Auction

A few close-ups of the pots.

Yusen Pots

Yusen Pots

Our favorite Yusen pot is on the right...

Our favorite Yusen pot is on the right…

Toufukuji

Toufukuji

Toufukuji

Toufukuji

Top pot is by Isseki

Top pot is by Isseki

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