What's your opinion on this set up?

[Watto]

This display was at the Goulburn Bonsai Society's show last weekend and created some excited discussion. Some loved it and some were in the other camp. The display was described as good, bad, interesting, unique etc, so I would appreciate your views.

[TimS]

I’m not against it; but perhaps if the tablecloth was black also to help it blend into the background, and there was a less obtrusive cradle that maybe supported the pot underneath and behind that didn’t run a bar across the front it could be an improvement.

The slab is a bit of an odd choice> quite a formal shape for a very informal tree, pot and stand.

[phantom]

Excellent

[Pants404]

I really like the concept.
The straight legs contrast nicely with the plant and pot
I think the base just feels off, but some kind of base stops it from looking like some chemists apparatus.
The only part is actually dislike is the band around the pot. Having a wide, flat band wrapped straight around it really distracts me from the pot.

Overall I personally find it pleasing

[Gerard]

Scope for improvement but I love the attempt, daring to be simple but unconventional will only make the piece more interesting.

[treeman]

I don't mind using metal as a stand. But if the pot wasn't hidden by it......

[MJL]

Trying different stuff is to be applauded .

Sometimes different stuff works, sometimes it might miss the mark. To try, is to learn (either what to do or what not to do). Learning is good whether you're a hobbyist, master, guru or any other word we attribute to those who practice the art of bonsai.

From my perspective... here we have a tree that is clinging to and surviving in a challenging location. Perhaps the stand heightens (literally and metaphorically) the sense of exposure and isolation. That said, a rugged bowl on a blue cloth probably provides a sense of seaside location, rocky cliffs ... both perspectives would work; this one probably creates more discussion. Discussion helps us all learn.

[Pearcy001]

The tree needed to be raised, otherwise it would be lost low down and often just walked over. The stand is not to my taste personally, but raising the tree was the correct decision in my opinion and better off being show at that height with the stand than on the table top alone. Even some subtle bends in the legs would have helped as it doesn't flow with the sweeping trunk of the tree at the moment, preferably I would like to see it with one leg (still straight) positioned further out to the right in order to marry up with the flow of the tree (like a lop sided triangle?). Also if something could be done to reduce the thickness of the rail crossing the pot, as my eye is drawn to it like an interupting line. Likewise you could make the rail even thicker below in order to make the lowwr half of the pot completely hidden, in turn making the pot look shallower. Perhaps even a second smaller piece of wood on top of the legs with the pot positioned on that, just not that rail through the guts haha. Good on you for putting it out there for feedback.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

[Keels]

Its a great concept. It definitely could be improved. I'm working on a similar idea so its great to see others giving it ago.

[matlea]

I like the use of the metal stand exploring other ways to display, but like others I think the way the metal band cuts across the pot is distracting. Would be interesting to see what it would look like with a matt black metal plate for the base rather than the slab?

[kcpoole]

As we discussed on Sunday watton,
Seems like universally dislike of the band across the pot
Make it smaller so the pot is up higher and you have a winner

The idea of a flat plate is a good one too

Ken

[Watto]

Thanks for all the input and information, all very interesting. The universal thought appears to be the band around the pot needs to go but the idea has a little bit of merit. Stand by for next year.
The black metal stand is "supposed" to disappear or blend in with the black background, so visually in your minds eye the metal is not seen and you only see the tree and pot suspended over the billabong that runs via the rapids into the sea.
OK, so that is a bit much but..........

[EdwardH]

I like the tree but am not keen on the display as a whole. The idea of the metal stand is OK. The pot doesn't suit the tree as the tree look like it is lying on the ground. Perhaps a crescent moon shaped pot would be a better choice? The band across the pot draws away from the tree making the metal bracket a feature point. Also an accent plant would improve the display.

[TimS]

If the cradle that the pot is in was a full bowl that completely covered the lower portion of the pot and didn’t expose the bottom the way the band does, I think it would also be an improvement.

I like the effect of just a small section of the pot being visible above the band, I guess sort of like a rock planting, but seeing the base of the pot below the band is a bit distracting

[GavinG]

Very interesting. For me, the strongly horizontal tree, the horizontal metal band and the very flat board all reinforce the sense of direction of the tree. I don't mind the band around the pot at all - it gives a very strong sense of "being held", as opposed to "perched on top of", which works for me. It would otherwise look insecure with the legs being so spindly. The legs being held in the wood also looks stronger than just sitting on top of the table. The display makes more of the tree than an ordinary shortish bonsai stand would.

Just my 2c.,

Gavin