[IBC] Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection Call to Artists
Dennis Howke
Hello,
The Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection is sponsoring an art competition for
this years special exhibit entitled, "Elevations". The Collection is
seeking artists to create a work of sculpture - that will serve as a
display stand or pedestal - that will enhance the visual and emotional
impact of selected bonsai. The artwork will interact with the bonsai in
relation to its spatial dimensions, overall visual mass, movement and
character. The display stands/pedestals may be of traditional design,
but special consideration will be given to those that interact with the
bonsai in novel and imaginative ways.
The Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection will produce an exhibit of trees
selected from our permanent collection that will be displayed on
original design stands and pedestals that have been created to interact
with a specific tree. Ten designs will be chosen by a jury panel for
inclusion in this exhibit. The exhibition will last from August 13
through September 29, 2004.
Please email me for a prospectus and hope that you might share it with
members of your club, more detailed information is available on our
website at http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/bonsai. (Click hours and
events, Call to Artists, then click in the Example paragraph...). If
you have any question please contact me by email:
adina...@weyerhaeuser.com or phone 800-525-5440 ext. 3153.
Sincerely,
Adina Lake
Program Assistant Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection
253-924-3153
adina...@weyerhaeuser.com <mailto:adina...@weyerhaeuser.com>
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Jim Lewis
>
> Hello,
>
> The Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection is sponsoring an art
competition for
> this years special exhibit entitled, "Elevations". The
Collection is
> seeking artists to create a work of sculpture - that will serve
as a
> display stand or pedestal - that will enhance the visual and
emotional
> impact of selected bonsai. The artwork will interact with the
bonsai in
> relation to its spatial dimensions, overall visual mass,
movement and
> character. The display stands/pedestals may be of traditional
design,
> but special consideration will be given to those that interact
with the
> bonsai in novel and imaginative ways.
>
Hmm.
As the husband of an award-winning sculptor -- though one who
hasn't sculpted for a while (and who is off judging a dressage
show so isn't here to speak for herself) -- I think I would take
exception to calling a stand for a bonsai a "sculpture," much
less a work of art. A stand is -- by definition ("enhance the
visual and emotional impact OF SELECTED BONSAI") -- subservient
to that which sits upon it. A work of art which CHOOSES to be
subservient is no more than a decoration, if that.
A sculpture should be _at least_ the equal to a bonsai as a work
of art, not something for another work of art to squat upon.
It would be like asking for a painting as a work of art to serve
as the "background" for a bonsai.
Pfooie!
Jim Lewis - jkl...@nettally.com - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.
Craig Cowing
> <snip>
> The display stands/pedestals may be of traditional
> design,
> > but special consideration will be given to those that interact
> with the
> > bonsai in novel and imaginative ways.
> >
>
> Hmm.
>
> As the husband of an award-winning sculptor -- though one who
> hasn't sculpted for a while (and who is off judging a dressage
> show so isn't here to speak for herself) -- I think I would take
> exception to calling a stand for a bonsai a "sculpture," much
> less a work of art. A stand is -- by definition ("enhance the
> visual and emotional impact OF SELECTED BONSAI") -- subservient
> to that which sits upon it. A work of art which CHOOSES to be
> subservient is no more than a decoration, if that.
>
> A sculpture should be _at least_ the equal to a bonsai as a work
> of art, not something for another work of art to squat upon.
>
> It would be like asking for a painting as a work of art to serve
> as the "background" for a bonsai.
>
> Pfooie!
>
> Jim Lewis - jkl...@nettally.com - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
> people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
> its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
> should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.
Ah, out comes the curmudgeon from his hiding place! Jim, this isn't any different
than pot competitions. I think it's a great idea. I may even enter the contest.
So, double Pfooie!! ;0}
Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37
Jim Lewis
Hmph. And TRIPLE Pfooie!
Sculpture is a FINE art. Pots ain't. Pots are a CRAFT and a
damned fine one, but pots are made specifically to put something
IN (even though for many, because of their beauty, nothing ever
gets put in them (and I wonder how the pot feels about _this_ --
not living up to its "life's" duty). Sculpture is NOT made to be
a pedestal. In fact, much sculpture itself sits upon a pedestal.
Anyway, there's a heckuva big difference between sculpture and
pottery, and this is advertised as a SCULPTURE competition, when
it should have been touted as a designing a stand competition
(another honorable CRAFT).
Enter if you wish, but, like a daiza isn't ART, neither is this!
Jim Lewis - jkl...@nettally.com - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.
********************************************************************************
dalecochoy
From: "Craig Cowing" Subject: Re: [IBC] Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection Call
to Artists
> Jim Lewis wrote:
>
> > <snip>
>
> > The display stands/pedestals may be of traditional
> > design,
> > > but special consideration will be given to those that interact
> > with the
> > > bonsai in novel and imaginative ways.
> > Hmm.
> > As the husband of an award-winning sculptor -- > > Pfooie!
> > Jim Lewis - jkl...@nettally.com -
> Ah, out comes the curmudgeon from his hiding place! Jim, this isn't any
different
> than pot competitions. I think it's a great idea. I may even enter the
contest.
> So, double Pfooie!! ;0}
>
> Craig Cowing
> NY
> Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37
I think this is interesting and might have even decided to try making
something of a display with ceramics or even ceramics & wood combo,( since
I didn't get in on the Bonsai InSites thing,) but, NOT with a little less
than a month for a deadline! ( I didn't notice anywhere when this was
originally posted). I'm always open to something "off the wall"
Regards,
Dale Cochoy
dalecochoy
From: "Jim Lewis" <jkl...@NETTALLY.COM>
Subject: Re: [IBC] Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection Call to Artists
>
Jim, THAT'S gonna get you some emails!! :>)
Dale
Jim Lewis
> From: "Jim Lewis" <jkl...@NETTALLY.COM>
> Subject: Re: [IBC] Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection Call to
Artists
> >
> > Enter if you wish, but, like a daiza isn't ART, neither is
this!
>
>
> Jim, THAT'S gonna get you some emails!! :>)
> Dale
Well, not yet, but as Andy noted to me -- offlist -- the extent
to which bonsai is an art is . . . so, at least partially,
because the tree/pot/stand/etc... harmonize for a cohesive
(single) image. This business of working to make one of those
elements
conspicuous only occurs at the expense of the overall display. .
. . In other words, making any part of the composition
conspicuous makes, by definition, the "composition" fall apart
and become a ridiculous mess.
If Pac. Rim want to highlight stand or pot art, they need to do
so outside of the realm of bonsai.
Jim Lewis - jkl...@nettally.com - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.
********************************************************************************
Alan Walker
that a competition that focuses on one part of display will result in "a
ridiculous mess" also assumes that the jury will not appreciate the need
for harmony in composition. 'Tain't necessarily so.
Bonsai stands can enhance or ruin a bonsai display. I seem to
recall that the announcement mentioned that the stands would be matched
to specific bonsai, so the artist who enters should realize the need for
compositional harmony, if they hope to win. I'm sure there will be a
few ridiculous messes, but what's the harm?
I don't see how bonsai is threatened by events like these.
Mostly the traditional styles are superior, but occasionally someone
manages to come up with a novel idea which will eventually become one of
the "traditional" styles. Such scolding stifles creativity and sucks
the fun out of bonsai. No wonder we're such a geriatric group on the
whole!
Alan Walker
http://bonsai-bci.com http://LCBSBonsai.org
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Lewis
Enter if you wish, but, like a daiza isn't ART, neither is this!
> Jim, THAT'S gonna get you some emails!! :>)
> Dale
Well, not yet, but as Andy noted to me -- offlist -- the extent
to which bonsai is an art is . . . so, at least partially, because the
tree/pot/stand/etc... harmonize for a cohesive (single) image. This
business of working to make one of those elements conspicuous only
occurs at the expense of the overall display. .
. . In other words, making any part of the composition conspicuous
makes, by definition, the "composition" fall apart and become a
ridiculous mess.
********************************************************************************
Jim Lewis
I dunno. Someone has to get excited about something here.
snip
> I don't see how bonsai is threatened by events like these.
> Mostly the traditional styles are superior, but occasionally
someone
> manages to come up with a novel idea which will eventually
become one of
> the "traditional" styles. Such scolding stifles creativity and
sucks
> the fun out of bonsai. No wonder we're such a geriatric group
on the
> whole!
Oh, bonsai isn't "threatened."
It may not be advanced much, though.
MY point was (and is) that to call these "art" is a bit silly. I
can't imagine a real sculptor having a go.
I'm often wrong, though.
Jim Lewis - jkl...@nettally.com - Tallahassee, FL - Apples and
Oranges: A Demonstration -- Welcome to Hooterville! Population:
2000. Elevation: 3000. Established: 1850. TOTAL = 6850 -- Bob
Lilienfield
Craig Cowing
> Such a dither!!
<snip>
> I don't see how bonsai is threatened by events like these.
> Mostly the traditional styles are superior, but occasionally someone
> manages to come up with a novel idea which will eventually become one of
> the "traditional" styles. Such scolding stifles creativity and sucks
> the fun out of bonsai. No wonder we're such a geriatric group on the
> whole!
> Alan Walker
The only thing that is threatened by events such as these is a closed mind.
Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37
********************************************************************************
Philip Lewis
>I think I would take exception to calling a stand for a bonsai a
>"sculpture," much less a work of art.
I agree to a point.
>A sculpture should be _at least_ the equal to a bonsai as a work
>of art, not something for another work of art to squat upon.
I think the rigidity of thinking that one piece of the whole is
subservient to the other would be saying that those folks who create
beautiful bonsai pots are not in fact artists/sculptures.
A tree in a plastic pot can be beautiful can be nice looking.
A nice (empty) bonsai pot, can be a thing of beauty.
But the same tree, presented in that beautiful pot (assuming they go
together) can be fantastic.
In the same way, the potted tree, presented on a fantastic stand, will
join to be a greater thing of beauty.
If i were the sculpture of the stand, i would need to see the tree to
make decisions on proportion, design, flow, etc.... (sounds like that
is their intent:
>The Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection will produce an exhibit of trees
>selected from our permanent collection that will be displayed on
>original design stands and pedestals that have been created to interact
>with a specific tree.
I think the idea is to create a piece of work that is synergistic with
the bonsai... so that the combination of the bonsai and the stand
become a new single entity to be appreciated. Think of it as a
collaboration of the bonsai, pot, and stand sculptors.
Perhaps i've misunderstood your specific problem jim?
--
be safe.
flip
Aus! Aus! Sie Daemonen der Unwissenheit!
Remove origin of the word spam from address to reply (leave "+")
Jim Lewis
> >I think I would take exception to calling a stand for a bonsai
a
> >"sculpture," much less a work of art.
>
> I agree to a point.
>
> >A sculpture should be _at least_ the equal to a bonsai as a
work
> >of art, not something for another work of art to squat upon.
>
> I think the rigidity of thinking that one piece of the whole is
> subservient to the other would be saying that those folks who
create
> beautiful bonsai pots are not in fact artists/sculptures.
>
Well, though I agree we've dithered more on this topic than it
might deserve, in fact, they are not. And there is absolutely
NOTHING wrong with that. Pottery/ceramics is an ancient and
honorable CRAFT, older by far than most of the so-called arts and
"fine arts." Those who do it (well) are artisans or
craftspersons.
I haven't heard of any potters trying to get their efforts
"elevated" into one of the arts. Potters that I know are
perfectly happy to be known as master craftsmen and women. (One
of the benefits of being a master craftsman, is that living
artisans actually can MAKE a living at it; that's often not so in
"The Arts.")
> A tree in a plastic pot can be beautiful can be nice looking.
> A nice (empty) bonsai pot, can be a thing of beauty.
>
> But the same tree, presented in that beautiful pot (assuming
they go
> together) can be fantastic.
>
> In the same way, the potted tree, presented on a fantastic
stand, will
> join to be a greater thing of beauty.
>
Very true. BUT the pot, and the stand are there to SERVE the
tree, which is their reason for being.
But . . .
> If i were the sculpture of the stand, i would need to see the
tree to
> make decisions on proportion, design, flow, etc.... (sounds
like that
> is their intent:
That relegates sculpture to a craft. I doubt that Michaelangelo
or Rodin, or Calder (???) would have subjected themselves to the
dictates of some other (lesser, perhaps, in their minds) art.
>
> >The Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection will produce an exhibit of
trees
> >selected from our permanent collection that will be displayed
on
> >original design stands and pedestals that have been created to
interact
> >with a specific tree.
>
> I think the idea is to create a piece of work that is
synergistic with
> the bonsai... so that the combination of the bonsai and the
stand
> become a new single entity to be appreciated. Think of it as a
> collaboration of the bonsai, pot, and stand sculptors.
That makes it like a lichen, part algae and part fungus, and
really neither. Or a mule -- which (usually) is sterile.
"Neither fish nor flesh nor good red herring." (John Heywood ca.
1500s, sometime)
>
> Perhaps i've misunderstood your specific problem jim?
>
Perhaps -- or maybe it's just me.
marty haber
From: "Jim Lewis" <jkl...@NETTALLY.COM>
To: <BON...@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sent: Monday, March 08, 2004 2:19 PM
Subject: Re: [IBC] Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection Call to Artists
> Perhaps -- or maybe it's just me.
.
Yes, Jim ... or maybe it's just you.
Marty
Chris Cochrane
> ... as Andy noted to me -- offlist -- the extent
> to which bonsai is an art is... so, at least partially,
> because the tree/pot/stand/etc... harmonize for a
> cohesive (single) image. This business of working
> to make one of those elements conspicuous only
> other words, making any part of the composition
> conspicuous makes, by definition, the "composition"
> fall apart and become a ridiculous mess.
I wonder about the the notion "conspicuous," Jim? While a distracting
("conspicuous" application #1) element in a composition including bonsai by
definition makes "the composition fall apart," it is not accurate that a
visually dominant ("conspicuous" application #2) element makes a display
composition fall apart. Working to choose or make an element more (or
sometimes less) visually dominant, if it is intended, does not occur at
expense of the overall display.
Japanese-style display including bonsai arrays objects such that some are
clearly dominant. An exhibit without conspicuous, dominant elements would
be lack feeling and expression. Companion objects are "companions" because
they support more visually dominant elements in display. The choice of
visual dominance is balanced by both objects chosen and their relative
placement in the composition to create harmony.
Harmony in an exhibit is dependent on elements not being distracting.
Glaring distractions are often the misplacement or poor choice of relatively
inconspicuous elements, and these can make the composition inadequate (or a
"ridiculous mess," if you prefer).
Bonsai doesn't have to be the focus of a contemporary display & the
Weyerhauser competition allows, but doesn't require, that the bonsai bow to
other objects of art including its own support or framing.
If we were to chart a continuum of sophistication in utilizing display
space, lining bonsai (or suiseki) along a table with no stands would be at
the lower end of the range. Sticking a board under each would be a modest
improvement. Putting them each atop footed stands of varying height and
varying their depth of placement as well as careful varying their horizontal
distribution would be a large improvement. Somewhere among these early
choices, recognizing and utilizing the eye movement and eye speed would add
utility to reading the exhibit rythmicly. Adding companion objects that
expressed seasonality, added emotional appeal or spoke directly to an
invited guest would strengthen the display. Placing the companion objects &
their supports with undertstanding of use of space in terms of dominance &
avoiding distraction would be another large leap.
Further sophistication arises from recognizing continuing conventions
regarding the use of space & understanding exceptions to conventions that
are still resounding. Contemporary display will deconstruct the
conventional model and re-build "exhibition space" with elements or concepts
of space that may or may not utilize the same conventions.
The Weyerhauser examples are very instructive, but not as exciting as they
could be. So much the better for the competition to improve upon them.
For example, the stick figure sculpture (including a striding figure colored
white) might just as well be holding a pot of geraniums or a beach ball in
terms of visual impact. The bonsai seems an afterthought like the companion
plants in some poorly composed traditional exhibits. It is an exhuberant
display which neutralizes bonsai as just another object rather than an
elevated one. Perhaps that is the point. The bonsai is well displayed
against a plain background without distraction & fails to capture the
viewers first glance. It is a different neutralization than we see in
bonsai placed in front of complex backgrounds or with lighting that causes
distracting shadows.
The fellow using a rectangular black-lacquered board, a set of two
rectangular black-lacquered boards and a suhama-shaped, naturally-contoured
& naturally-finished slab as stands breaks many conventions & his overall
scene is chaotic, to me. Maybe chaos or at least ambiguity regarding
dominance and perspectives (e.g. depth of the scene conflicting in different
stand placements) was his point.
Bonsai logo designers & webmasters dabble in contemporary bonsai display in
images. The National Bonsai Foundation homepage image (image of tips of
wired bonsai limbs) are strong in limiting the full view of a bonsai. No
doubt peek-a-boo display has its place & could be very imaginative-- though
perhaps as effervescent as the same trend in women's dresses. What would
you choose to show, and what would you hide, artfully?
Few USA bonsai & suiseki exhibits artfully apply Japanese display
conventions. There is much to gain in conventional display & contemporary
options. The Japanese explore contempory options, as well-- even the
leaders of traditional format such as Uraku Sudo include non-traditional
display formats among their published materials.
Best wishes,
Chris... C. Cochrane, sas...@erols.com, Richmond VA USA