A Melbourne bonsai exhibition in winter

[Mojo Moyogi]

There was some talk on this thread viewtopic.php?f=129&t=5225about the possibility of a bonsai exhibition in winter so I thought it deserved a thread of it's own. Perhaps somebody with the keys to this place could move the related posts from the other thread to here?

Cheers,
Mojo

[teejay]

Leaving aside the question of a 'winter exhibition' in particular, why exactly isn't there annual state exhibitions? Don't get me wrong, I like going to see what individual clubs have to show, but the idea of one exhibition displaying the best in the state makes sooooo much sense. I think it would attract enough people to make it viable.

[kcpoole]

Good Idea Tee

Would be a great way to showcase the better trees in collections here and I suggest woud have to be by Invitation only to ensure the quality is maintained

Anyone wanna organise it, I t woud take some appreciable effort to arrange

Ken

[craigw60]

Hi Teejay, Bill and I were discussing this last night, we like the idea of an inter-club exhibition held in the CBD with the very best trees selected from each club. I suspect a small exhibition of very good trees is what we had in mind. The main issue is to get consensus from all the clubs to cooperate and work as one. I think an exhibition of this could really showcase bonsai and do a lot to promote our art form.
Hi Ken, what Bill suggested is that each club cover a different aspect of the exhibition so as to spread the work load and costs.
Craig

[Makkanan]

My original thought was that Melbourne clubs can be approached to participate; from those who agree, we parse the duties: one club does the venue, another the marketing, the third does the supplies, table signage, etc. Another idea is to approch the BFA (Southern), as I believe some therein are keen to assist in club-driven initiatives. (That said, I did suggest in one of their meetings the possibility of joint-sponsored shows; the idea appeared to get at best a lukewarm reception, but that doesn't mean the BFA shouldn't again be approached.) However, perhaps the 'via the clubs or BFA' approach is "barking up the wrong tree(s)." Not that I don't think this could work.... however the committees of most clubs, volunteers all, are probably working at capacity to keep their clubs dynamic. If the officers of a club volunteer to support this venture, chances are they do so knowing that most of the work is going to be done by the same core who do all of the month-to-month work anyway: they themselves. Maybe the way to go is to call for a general "Winter Show Committee" with, say, four members or so from each club.... two members of each club would form a team of 'selectors' as Craig initially suggested, while the other two can divide up the above duties. The difference in this latter scenario is that the Show wouldn't necessarily be a club sanctioned or club driven event.....(though we would of course hope for club support in terms of screens, bamboo dividers, mention in newsletters, etc.) To take the idea even further, perhaps forget about equitable club representation....especially since most of those keenest to see the show happen are all members of multiple clubs:.... just get a sign up of 15 or so interest and committed folk for this and go from there. What do others think?

[Makkanan]

Ah....you say, but where does the money come from? Good question. A bit of good ole fashioned research and storming should draw an initial budget.... clubs and or BFA can be approached as if it were an investment opportunity. Money put forward will yield a coefficient for distribution of revenue after the show (less large amounts of wine and beer for committee post cleanup!) Club "A" puts forth $300 to support the show; this is one fifth of what all clubs contribute; Show generates $2,000 [400 bodies over two days at a flash hotel in the CBD with proper marketing is not overly ambitious, me thinks]. Then club A gets $400....a 33% return on its investment.

Ah....but what about the public liability? And a 5-star hotel won't lease a flash banquet room to a bunch of folk just because they are passionate about bonsai.... they will want to deal with a business or an incorporated association..... Hmmm....all things to consider. Kick it around boys and girls!

[teejay]

They're all good suggestions Bill. I think, in the CBD, you wouldn't have an issue getting 400 people in to see it if it were advertised well. I have friends who don't practice Bonsai, but if I ask them would they go to a show exhibiting the best in the state they claim they definitely would. Club shows are great, but if an exhibition claims to show a certain standard (in the CBD) I think it changes things.

And what's wrong with holding a competition? Wouldn't it have the effect of raising the overall standard of bonsai in Victoria eventually?

[craigw60]

I agree 400 in the CBD would be easy especially if we could get a good prominent location. I reckon the competition should be getting your tree selected.
Craig

[MattA]

I agree 400 in the CBD would be easy especially if we could get a good prominent location. I reckon the competition should be getting your tree selected.
Craig

I reckon you are spot on craig, with Kokufu the honour is in being selected, winning is a bonus.

I might even be tempted to come for a long drive if you guys get this off the ground. Maybe a little late to try and organise it for this year but with planning for next it is a very good idea and could even draw entries from interstate.

Matt

[teejay]

I reckon the competition should be getting your tree selected.

Fair enough. I just like looking through old 'Bonsai Todays' from the club library and looking at the winners from all the Japanese competitions, how the tree started, who worked on it etc... It strikes me that that may be how trees themselves become famous (along with the artist(s) responsible).

[Jamie]

just bringing some of the talk over from the other thread

Craig said,

What I would like to see is a large inter-club exhibition with a panel of selectors chosen from each club. So the trees would be selected for exhibition rather than just presented and we could assemble the very best Vic. has to offer at one show. I know an event like this would require some pretty mammoth organizational skills but with the combined resources of our clubs and some astute marketing it could do a great deal towards promoting our art form in the community at large.
Craig

Jamie said,

i LOVE winter silhuoettes !!! im hoping i can get it nicely with my celtis too! would i be able to show some ficus that have been defoliated to mimic winter silhuoettes? i sometimes imagine them as deciduous trees when defoliated as i dont usually get so see winter ramifications

COUNT ME IN!!

Noah said,

I agree since moving down here im concentrating on winter ramification etc on decidious trees. After seeing a couple of members trees "naked" im liking it

Craig said,

well at last Mojo and I have some like minded souls. I like what you say about the figs Jamie there was a series of pics Aus101 put up of Taiwanese figs defoliated for exhibition which struck me as very sensible.
Craig

Makkaned said,

Craig:
I floated the 'joint show' idea a couple of times at BFA meetings.... there didn't seem to be much enthusiasm for it. We're getting off the topic of liquidambars in winter of course.... perhaps maybe the go is to start with three of four clubs with selectors as you suggested. To me it seems that a joint show is not such a massive undertaking: Club "W" takes care of the venue, Club X [not the naughty lingerie store!] secures the accoutrements, Club Y does marketing, Club Z does the set-up.... We'd probably be talking about a show a fraction of the size of any of the big ones in metro Melbourne. I reckon find a vinyard for example which wants to do a bit of joint event marketing (too cold now for opera among the vines) with a spare function room for the weekend..... or a small conference room in one of the finer inner city hotels.... the 'draw' value defraying the venue cost..... anyway, I'm all for it.

Craig Said,

reckon an inner city venue would be the go just because of getting numbers through the door. One of the art galleries in fed square would be perfect if you could persuade the powers that be that ours is a legit art form. So how could we go about getting the clubs interested ?
Craig

Teejay said,

Great idea Makkanan. I agree with Craig also, a city venue would be best as I find that most of my city dwelling friends are completely adverse to actually leaving the city for ANYTHING

Jamie Said,


gday craig

those pics of the figs the taiwanese create are magic, i set my goals high and i want to own a tree like that one day i beleive i have one that will one day become like that being the fused fig i styled just recently, another might be my monster that i recently got aswell

i wish i could get down to put a few trees in maybe one day i will be able to send a couple down to you and then get them sent back once the exhibition is finished

i cant see why the art galleries wouldnt see our art form as an art form.

jamie.

KC said,

Jamie wrote:
gday craig
i cant see why the art galleries wouldnt see our art form as an art form.

jamie.

Agreed.
The BMW Museum in Munic thinks that Walter Palls trees are a good Art display

Ken

sorry its a bit late guys, to bring it over from the other pots might have made it even more confusing as it only works chronoligcally,


jamie

[Mojo Moyogi]

My original thought was that Melbourne clubs can be approached to participate; from those who agree, we parse the duties: one club does the venue, another the marketing, the third does the supplies, table signage, etc. Another idea is to approch the BFA (Southern), as I believe some therein are keen to assist in club-driven initiatives. (That said, I did suggest in one of their meetings the possibility of joint-sponsored shows; the idea appeared to get at best a lukewarm reception, but that doesn't mean the BFA shouldn't again be approached.) However, perhaps the 'via the clubs or BFA' approach is "barking up the wrong tree(s)." Not that I don't think this could work.... however the committees of most clubs, volunteers all, are probably working at capacity to keep their clubs dynamic. If the officers of a club volunteer to support this venture, chances are they do so knowing that most of the work is going to be done by the same core who do all of the month-to-month work anyway: they themselves. Maybe the way to go is to call for a general "Winter Show Committee" with, say, four members or so from each club.... two members of each club would form a team of 'selectors' as Craig initially suggested, while the other two can divide up the above duties. The difference in this latter scenario is that the Show wouldn't necessarily be a club sanctioned or club driven event.....(though we would of course hope for club support in terms of screens, bamboo dividers, mention in newsletters, etc.) To take the idea even further, perhaps forget about equitable club representation....especially since most of those keenest to see the show happen are all members of multiple clubs:.... just get a sign up of 15 or so interest and committed folk for this and go from there. What do others think?

I like the idea of forming a selection committee from club memberships to select trees and would happily put my hand up be involved in this process.

Cheers,
Mojo

[Makkanan]

I wrote to Adrian, the President of Bonsai Federation of Australia/Southern Chapter to let him know that this idea is being kicked around. I trust that maybe he'll put this on the agenda for the next meeting, which I think is in August. (Won't be there myself as the club for which I was delegate has decided not to renew our membership....long story and another thread.) Anyway, if they don't move on this I'm happy to contact the other metro clubs.

The concensus seems to be: A.) CBD location Hotel/Gallery? -- Rudi [YV, not Geelong] and I have some contacts at Fed Square. How about "ACMI?" The Australian Centre for the
[SLOWLY!] Moving Image! or the Ian PottingMix Gallery
B.) Winter 2011 (Perhaps during school holidays?)
C.) Panel of selectors, but no judging in show.
D.) No raffle, no trade.... just a class ART show.
E.) Probably smaller than your average club show....60-75 trees?
F.) Maybe get Tim V. to do security!

I think the process re organisation would be: First see if BFA wants to run with it. If not, see if a group of clubs wishes to jointly sponsor it. If not, see if a single club wishes to sponsor it but open selection up to any tree from any club. If not, look for some corporate support as sponsor or per venue, perhaps piggybacking on another event. If not, then we're back to the informal group of interested enthusiasts.

[craigw60]

All sounds good, with regards to judging that would be up to the clubs but there is not much of a tradition of judging in Vic. A fed square venue would be just fantastic. 2011 would be good gives people plenty of time to prepare trees.
Craig

[bonsaibruce]

Howdy,
While I know your intentions for a winter show are fantastic, unless you have a single local club for support, a group working via e-mail will have a difficult time. From the 3 or 4 bonsai conventions and 6 or 8 work confrences I have been involved with, planning needs to be started at least 2 years out. Any venue in the city will want a deposit of $$$ thousands and a company to guarantee the rest of the money.
For what it is worth, my humble advice would be, to get involved in your local club at committee level, then push hard to have a winter show in your area. Then, after a number of years, when the show is attracting visitors from all over the state and Australia, approach the BFA or AABC to sponsor a multi club major exhibition. Good luck. I promise I will attend if the show happens.
Support your local club, join other clubs even if you do not attend the meetings, club members can display trees at club shows.

This came the other day and locals will enjoy the display and the coffee next door.
The Bonsai Society of Sydney
Bonsai
Exhibition
on Saturday - 21 August
9:00am—5:00pm
Sunday - 22 August
9:00am—4:00pm
at
Checkers Resort & Conference Centre
331 Mona Vale Road, Terrey Hills
Featuring demonstrations by
experienced club members
Admission: Adults: $5.00
Concession: $3.00

This is the Society’s 10th exhibition displaying over 90 trees, by
the members of the Society. The display will also feature a number
of bonsai by Megumi Bennett.
Ikebana — from Koryu School of Ikebana, Sydney Chapter will
be on display as well as demonstrations at 12:30 noon on
Saturday and Sunday.
Demonstrations — by our experienced club members on both
Saturday and Sunday at 10:30am and again at 2:00pm.
Raffles — Proceeds will go this year to Blind Dogs Association
and the Bonsai Society of Sydney.
Shopping — A wide range of bonsai, starter plants, soil, pots,
pebbles and accessories will be for sale at the exhibition.

For more information contact:
Megumi Bennett 9450 2802 or Dennis Lavell 9451 5411.

Happy Bonsai,
Bruce