AusBonsai

While organising our annual show at BSV we have been doing some soul searching. What do people want to see?
The audience: 1. General Public
2. Bonsai Community
3. Club Members.
Historically we have built an image, we are a large club and an old club. Trees get better every year and many trees are of a very high standard. This is expected by the general public.
But what about the members?
It is always heartwarming to go to a show and see a beginners "pride and joy". It is not our intention to exclude or intimidate our own members but we try very hard to show the public our finest artworks.
Displays will suffer if they are crowded.
We already have a very large and expensive venue (Box Hill Town Hall) So expansion is unlikely.
We could have a beginners display (this would replace some of the high quality trees)
We could strive to exhibit the very best we have. (this might make us appear aloof and unfriendly)

In the last year I have visited shows at , Bendigo, Goldfields, Ballarat, Geelong, Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley, Northern Suburbs, Bonsai Northwest, Vic Native Bonsai Symposium and AABC Convention in Adelaide. All shows are different and seem to develop their own atmosphere.

Should we continue on our current course or have we become stuck up?
What do you want to see? Post a reply or stop and chat at the show.

For me, exhibiting a tree is the pinicale of my work, and I would not personally want to show a tree unless it is of 'show quality'. Show quality being a tree that is the very best that it could be. That is just me though, and only how I feel about my own bonsai

I think we also need to encourage beginners, and give them something to strive for at that early point in their learning process, so I can understand both sides of the boat. I think the addition of a beginners table, or bonsai in training table is a great medium ground though

Is an interesting topic, as its something I've thought of a few times as I'm learning more about the art

If one of the purposes of the show is to promote bonsai in the community and encourage people to take up what can be a wonderful interest, then it is clear that there should be a place for beginners trees, and trees in development. The fact that some quality trees miss out might be regrettable, but the exhibition already revolves around these trees - something "beginner-friendly" pays off by encouraging new members. And we all had to start somewhere. Just my thoughts.

Gavin

Thanks Jason & Gavin, the next hurdle is to convince those beginners to exhibit their work in what has become an intimidating environment. There is the perception that these trees will look ordinary alongside the customary exhibits. Certainly the sales area will be full of reasonable beginners options.
I think I need to talk to the members who do not exhibit and encourage them to aim for next year. They can do it!

I also think that those people with the top level quality trees tend to have multiple entries in shows. I don't think any of them would begrudge giving up one spot for a beginners tree for the promotion of bonsai to the general public.


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You know our Goldfields exhibition well and we encourage all members to display. The show is not really for the viewer, it is for the members who put the show on. You learn a lot from putting your tree up for exhibition. We actually don't need more quality trees, we need more people wanting to take up the hobby and enjoy the process of beginner through to Master..

i have discussed this recently with a few of my bonsai peers. I am strongly of the opinion that best way to promote the art and push the standard of bonsai is to exhibit the best trees in the best possible manner. Getting a tree to exhibition quality should be a goal - a long, hard earned one. That's what pushes us to produce quality and improve and innovate. To have a tree represented in a show should feel like an achievement.

I see it at other club shows, where beginner trees are exhibited along side trees of the more experienced members. The quality overall suffers as the more experienced members do not put the effort in to present the best possible tree, why bother as it will still be a stand out amongst the other trees and it is just not considered a prestigious show.

I specifically joined up to the BSV after attending the exhibition and being impressed with the overall quality of the exhibition and the trees on display. I felt I had to be part of a club that had trees of that quality. I consider myself a beginner - I do not currently have a tree I would consider show worthy for the BSV exhbition at this point, does that discourage me? Hell no - the complete opposite - it pushes me to strive towards producing a tree worthy to be exhibited.

I can see the benefits of having a beginners display as a separate side attraction - but not at the expense of quality trees. Really, who attends an exhibit to see beginner trees? I just need to walk out to my backyard - there's plenty of them!

Well said Jase,

I also consider myself a beginner but more and more I am driven by the desire to produce and show top quality trees. I don't think we need to worry about intimidating beginners by showing high quality trees, I think it should serve as inspiration.

To lower the standard of exhibitions in an attempt to be all inclusive will hold the art back i feel. Like it says on the main page, every time we workon a tree it shouldbe to improve it, not just mauntain it. I think club shows should be a vessel for improving the standard of bonsai in the country and attracting new hobbyists.

For what it's worth, I reckon every show should have a 'Beginners Section' and that it should be marketed as such as well. Now, I'm not saying trees with 5 minutes work done to them should be displayed, but even beginners have a tree or two that is showing a lot of promise and it is those trees which should be displayed. Yes, we all like to go to a show and see the best of the best, but for most people the best of the best are also known as "unobtainableium" trees. How many times have I heard someone, at a show, mention it all looked to hard and they didn't think they could ever do that? There's a person possibly lost to the hobby!!! And yep the beginners are quite often put off by the fact their tree is going to be displayed along side one of the Club "pro's", so they leave the tree at home and eventually loose interest in even going to a show, because all they ever do is work and never get to show one of theirs.
All Clubs have workshops during the year, where the members work on their trees under the supervision of the more experienced members. These workshops are the ideal time to encourage the newbies to work on a particular tree, because "it shows promise of being a display tree at this years show". Actually the thought just came to me, but back in the day when I was a 'Clubbie' we used to have workshops just to work on display trees - and that included competitive shows where you could very well be assisting on making the tree that beat yours better, but isn't that what this hobby is all about?

Yep, definitely a beginners section in every show I reckon.

Wow, reading this I found myself floundering between the views.

To be honest, when I go to a show I want to see the top grade trees and their display - this is what will benefit he Bonsai standard in Oz! Like steel sharpens steel the best should be pitted against each other! No doubt in my mind.

Recently I saw a show that had a Beginners or Start-up Journey section next to the sales tables, and I think that would be an excellent exposure for newbies.

At the Royal shows you have the main event AND a sideshow alley ... Must be a reason for that!


Cheers
Elmar

Showing quality(pinnacle) trees to the public is very important and they should be displayed in their best light--beginner or developing trees could be displayed with a representation (framed drawing) of what the artist wants to achieve.Could give a better Idea of the process.
"quality is just what you like"

It's a tough one. Clubs should be inclusive places that support all levels of their members.

That said I want to push my trees and having a goal like a show to strive towards really helps this.

Perhaps the show should be for top trees and then there are separate club sessions focusing on refinement and display to help up skill those that are still working towards show quality trees?

It's a tough one.

I agree this is a tough topic. I think Jase has made some very good and valid points, and i have to say i have the same morals when it comes to display critically upon myself also.

Yes it is true a club environent and community is for the progression and building of bonsai as a whole and personally for those involved, its a community in which should be all inclusive.
Shows and exhibitions are though, and could be said to be, pinnacles of presentation as they are a chance to show your work, an opportunity to present.

To put it simply in the form of an analogy, would you show a half completed Painting in an Art prize or exhibition? or would you complete that painting and show it when you are truly ready to present what it is you have pursued and perceived?

I hope everyone plays nice and is respectful in this thread. At our Bimer show we encourage beginners to show trees - no tree is turned away unless it is unhealthy. I agree with Bodhi and Graeme that all trees should be welcome - but not consigned to some pokey dark back corner. Everyone has to start somewhere and if a member thinks his/her tree is good enough it usually is. I think most clubs could do with an injection of younger members and I am pretty sure they won't come back if their pride and joy is turned away. Who gets to decide what tree is a beginner tree then ? I think the danger is having a two tiered club where the beginners aren't nurtured but rather shunned. The members put on the show so I think their trees should be shown. I know I have re evaluated every tree I have put in the show - it always looks so much worse when it is in a new setting

Hi all, I'm a bit of a newby (actually, I think this may be my first post) & recently attended the Waverly Bonsai clubs show. Not sure they had any 'beginners' trees on display however they did have demonstrations in a separate area for beginners & I found this very interesting, I got a lot more out of that than simply seeing beginners trees.