AusBonsai

hugh grant wrote:probably a stupid question but would you need to register for the whole weekend + the workshop with Marc or can you just pay to do the workshop only?

Hugh

you will have to register for at least a day to do a workshop.

PM me if you need some more info

Cheers
Skip

Hey everyone,

The interest shown in this year's Weekend Workshops has been bigger than normal, due to our guest list. And a number of queries have come from newbies who have never attended before, asking what it is all about and how it works.

Illawarra Bonsai Society Society started the Weekend Workshops in 2000, originally at Otford. In 2005 it moved to Stanwell Tops. Both locations are south of Sydney, on the way to Wollongong at the southern edge of the Royal National Park. The centre where the workshops are held is a large function centre, providing rooms for seminars etc, but also accommodation. This is what makes the Weekend Workshops the special event that it is. Participants get to spend the weekend together, working, eating and socialising together. Of course there is also the option of making a day trip to attend, and many in fact come for the day, beginning early and leaving late after the daily program has finished.

Accommodation is dorm style. There are many rooms in very close proximity to the workshop rooms. We split the rooms into male and female, each sleeping up to 6 people in bunk beds (but usually we keep numbers to 3 per room, so that top bunks are not needed).

For full weekend registrations, once you arrive on the Friday night, all meals from a supper that night until lunch on Sunday are provided. Day registrants get lunch and morning and afternoon teas. The club Committee puts on a 'happy hour' on Saturday night before dinner.

During the days, workshops with visiting tutors are held in the main seminar room, whilst outside in the sunny courtyard areas, many more attendees bring their own trees to work on. (For those who have attended in the past, who can forget Skippy's podocarpus or Ray's junipers!). The weekend also have a contingent of dedicated suiskei fans, each making daizas using woodworking tools. You can watch any or all of these things as go on, and participating in workshops is not compulsory.

But the club is proud to have such an esteemed guest on offer this year. In the past we have had the likes of Grant Bowie, Lee Wilson, Lindsay and Glenis Bebb, Janet Sabey, John Marsh, Chris di Nola, Brian Sampson, Don de Luca, Carole Waller, Georgina Kretschmar, Derek Oakley, Andrew Ward, Leigh Taafe, Clinton Nesci and Ray Nesci. (Apologies if I miss anyone). This year we have our first international guest, Marc Noelanders. Of course not to outdone by a much favoured and respected tutor at the Weekend Workshops, who is returning for (I believe) his third time, Tony Bebb.

I hope you can make it along for this fantastic event, now on for its 13th year.

Jamo

Thanks, Jamo.
Can you tell me what is a master class, exactly? In what way does it differ from a workshop?

Lisa

LLK wrote:Thanks, Jamo.
Can you tell me what is a master class, exactly? In what way does it differ from a workshop?

Lisa

The standard of the participants is much higher , ie are advanced enough to conduct there own workshops with beginners.

Understand styling and can wire trees competently. At least that is what they were here with Mr LO.

Cheers Pup

Masterclass:

The standard of the participants is much higher , ie are advanced enough to conduct there own workshops with beginners.

Thanks, Pup, that is how I understood it as well. At the one bonsai convention that I attended which had masterclasses, the participants had either to apply or were invited to take part. I can't see that this is necessary for the masterclasses with Marc Noelanders, at least there is no mention of it in the brochure. No criticism, I just wanted to know so that we can inform the club members here in Canberra at our next maating, this Saturday. So: can anyone with a workshop tree, regardless of his/her standard, enrol for one of Marc Noelanders masterclasses? Also: I couldn't find any indication that the number of observers is limited. How is that working?

Lisa

I have only been to one Tops weekend Lisa but it is all pretty casual from what I understand. Anyone that is at the event has the freedom to walk in and out of the various areas workshops included. The edicate is pretty well self regulated and they all do a good job of not stepping on each others toes.
It is a very peacfull enjoyable weekend. But don't sign up yet I am still to get my registration in.

Can you just come along for a day to just look around without paying or if you need to pay to just observe how much would it be, I am not good enough to do a Master Class as such but would love to see what goes on a these type of meetings.
Paul.

As I understand to come for the day with no workshop will cost $100

Day registration (per day) $100/person
(includes morning & afternoon teas & lunch)

Skippy wrote:

hugh grant wrote:probably a stupid question but would you need to register for the whole weekend + the workshop with Marc or can you just pay to do the workshop only?

Hugh

you will have to register for at least a day to do a workshop.

PM me if you need some more info

Cheers
Skip

Thanks Skip

LLK wrote:Masterclass:

So: can anyone with a workshop tree, regardless of his/her standard, enrol for one of Marc Noelanders masterclasses? Also: I couldn't find any indication that the number of observers is limited. How is that working?

Lisa

Anyone with a workshop tree can enrol for a masterclass with Marc. The term Masterclass is not so much a replication of the last AABC at Perth, but probably more in line with the type of workshop that you would see at the AABC. The only limit to observer numbers is ultimately the registration numbers that we have for the event. That is way that the Tops Weekend Workshops work. Bretts is right that it is pretty casual - observers can walk in and out of the room whilst the workshops are going on. There are in fact plenty of things happening at once, that by sitting and watching the workshops all day would mean you miss out on the action happening outside in the courtyard (more trees, woodworking, and pottery).

As already highlighted by Bretts and Hugh Grant, to observe for the day is $100 and observe for the weekend is $170.

Yhanks, Jamo. Sounds perfect. See you at The Tops.

Lisa

DONE!!! Miyagiman, Gabriel and myself are coming !!! PUMPED!!!

After a ripper AABC in Melbourne (thanks to Bonsai Northwest for a great convention, involving the truly excellent demonstrator Boon) just a reminder to all that another great international demonstrator in Marc Noelanders is coming. Was able to speak to a number of people at the AABC about the workshop weekend, and there is defintely a lot of interest on top of the great number of registrations already received.

Ohhh my Gosh wish I was in Australia at this time would love to see Marc and tony go at it at the tops!!! Hopefully someone shares the knowledge learnt and takes lots of pics!

Tony Bebb wrote:

Bretts wrote: It is perfect timing for the next round
I would like to go into a bonsai phment=0]002.jpg[/attachment]

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ot this time. I am thinking a 5 sided stumpy cascade pot to start with unless you have any better ideas

Pot sounds fine. Would need to be stumpy to handle the visual (and physical ) weight of the rock. Not so usual to see 5 sides. Better bring plenty of wire by the looks.

I was having trouble finding a pot. Now I have two to choose from.
I picked this one up with a half dead seiju elm in it for $40. Nice base and it seems it will pull through. Interesting pot I think the shape will be great at the moment but not sure about the colour. Cleaned up with the other possible pot/stand combo. Might be another hard choice between these two.
Organising a little more wire, also need to collect a firethorn for a friend and almost ready set. Hope the kangaroo basher makes it.