Current Issue 1.1
In this issue we present a curated collection of images from the Pacific Bonsai Expo 2024 edition, consider the idea of West Coast bonsai culture, try our hand at defining “American Bonsai”, question why bonsai seems to have originated in Asia and not elsewhere, talk to a Hollywood visual effects expert about the idea behind 3Dbonsai.com, savor Joe Noga’s photos of trees dressed for winter, visit Belgium for a look at shohin bonsai from the 25th anniversary Trophy, discuss wood-fired pots at the Gafu-ten with a ceramic artist, visit the Bonsai Brewing Project in Whitefish, MT, and much more.
Curated Images from the Pacific Bonsai Expo 2024 (PBE 2.0) prompt thoughts about West Coast bonsai culture.
A response to the question posed by American Bonsai Society (ABS) “What is ‘American Bonsai’ and how should the ABS define ‘Native’ in the context of American Bonsai as an art form?”
Interview: Welcome to 3D-BONSAI
Aaron Kupferman, Hollywood visual effects expert and the creator of 3Dbonsai.com, discusses the technical side of creativity, Spider-man, making bonsai pots and his vision for bonsai education.
History: Why did dwarfed potted tree culture originate in Asia and not elsewhere?
Human societies across the globe depend on plants. Penjing/Bonsai is appreciated as an art form in many different cultures. Yet, Penjing/Bonsai seem to have originated first and exclusively in Asia. Independent scholar Robert J. Baran reviews historical evidence to explain the geographic origin of dwarfed potted tree culture.
Gallery: Winter Silhouette Bonsai 12
Images by Joseph Noga from the 12th Winter Silhouette Bonsai Show in Kannapolis, NC held on December 6-7, 2024.
Images from the Trophy,
2025: 25th Anniversary.
Part 1. Shohin compositions.
Images reprinted with permission from the Secretariat of the Belgian Bonsai Association. Words and photos by Walter Scott.
Earth, Wood and Fire
Angelica Ramirez talks with Gayle Fiato about making wood-fired pots and her successful display of pottery at the 50th Gafu Ten Shohin Bonsai Exhibition that was held on January 10-12, 2025.
Travel: Gettin’ Bonsai’d
What does brewing beer have to do with bonsai? A bike trip through Glacier National Park led us to the Bonsai Brewing Project in Whitefish, MT. We interviewed co-founder Kella Smith. Photos by the Bonsai Brewing Project, Walter Scott and Hunter D’Antuono (courtesy of the Flathead Beacon newspaper).
