I did not know Marion very well, but she leaves a big
void in her passing.
She subscribed to my newsletter for years. The first time I
ever saw her was as a
black robed assistant to Yuji Yoshimura as he performed a very
theatrical
lecture/demonstration on the creation of a three part saikei
planting in Atlanta for
the BCI 1981 convention. It was my first time to attend a
bonsai convention, and it
changed my world. Yuji created in his demonstration a three
part saikei representing
the seacoast, piedmont and mountain topography found in
Georgia's geography. It was
literally a dramatic departure from the usual lecture/demo.
Even though saikei are
not long term projects like bonsai, a lot was learned and it
was a great
experience. Marion and another assistant were dressed in black
robes like acolytes
and performed silently as Mr. Yoshimura made his presentation
with much attention to
staging and lighting. It was a creativity in presentation
rarely seen in bonsai
circles.

Probably not as acolytes. In Japanese drama (particularly Noh,
but in Kabuki, too) the stage hands who change the scenery are
robed in black from head to toe (even their tabi were black) on
the fantasy presumption that the audience can't or won't see them
as they come out in mid action to remove scenery (or a body),
etc. I'd guess that Yoshimura was emulating this aspect of
Japanese drama.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Our life is
frittered away by detail . . . . Simplify! Simplify. -- Henry
David Thoreau - Walden

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