In a message dated 10/23/2004 6:39:38 PM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:
I visited and had tea at Kimura's studio with NBF. It was an
over-whelming experience - the trees had the power to confuse my response to
their styling - was it grotesque? was it a greater passion than I
experience in most arts? was it one man whose trees express a love of the
creative technique beyond most?
I think a critique of Kimura lies beyond me - very far beyond. I
am glad he is among us, he is a reflection that dazzles or escapes one.
Friends:

I can think of no other artist on the planet who inspires me more to create
my work. Is it that he goes to far, or is it that he goes further than most
could ever hope to travel within the art? Are his trees overdone, or are his
trees expressing the essence of the art, i.e., bonsai as a suggestion rather
than a reflection of nature?

Without individuals like Kimura who are pushing the ceiling of the art, we
are surely doomed to mediocrity.

Cordially,

Michael Persiano
members.aol.com/iasnob

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Without individuals like Kimura who are pushing the ceiling of the art, we
are surely doomed to mediocrity.


Well, we need all kinds, but I'm not sure I'd go THAT far.
(!?!)

I know a lot of people like his work, but "decadent" is another
word that comes to mind. ;-)

Again, IMHO.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - When we see
land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it
with love and respect - Aldo Leopold - A Sand County Almanac

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The words that spring to my mind are "inspirational", "groundbreaking" and
"innovative". Without people such as Kimura bonsai would be static, stuck in
the past.

There's no need to go THAT far...but if his work has pushed us even one
small step along a new path then he has achieved everything he set out to
do.

Mike Bennett
http://www.bonsaiartists.co.uk

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Lewis"
To:
Sent: Sunday, October 24, 2004 3:07 AM
Subject: [IBC] TRUE greatness



Without individuals like Kimura who are pushing the ceiling of the art,
we
are surely doomed to mediocrity.


Well, we need all kinds, but I'm not sure I'd go THAT far.
(!?!)

I know a lot of people like his work, but "decadent" is another
word that comes to mind. ;-)

Again, IMHO.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - When we see
land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it
with love and respect - Aldo Leopold - A Sand County Almanac


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****
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************************************************** **************************
****
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++




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************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

That ( below) was well said Mike, and I'm sure many feel this way. One
thing I might add , since I've also been to his place as many on tours have,
we normally only see the wildest, splashiest trees in magazines and even his
own book. ( he also had Japanese books before it was done in English, and,
I've seen a Japanese tape with his creations ), but, when at his house, I'd
have to say that by far what you see are classical or variations of
classical trees styling You will see and regognize some of the wild ones
you've seen in magazines ( which I LOVE BTW) but mostly you stand there with
your mouth open looking at wonderful , lets say, "non-wild"
creations/styling.
further....
Well, actually, there is no further...I'm just sitting here chuckling at a
critique of Mr. Kimura's tree styling practices ......by Jim Lewis??? :)
Regards,
Dale Cochoy, Wild Things Bonsai Studio, Hartville, Ohio
http://www.WildThingsBonsai.Com
Specializing in power wood carving tools.
Yakimono no Kokoro bonsai pottery of hand-built stoneware


----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Persiano"
To:
Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2004 9:20 PM
Subject: [IBC] TRUE greatness


In a message dated 10/23/2004 6:39:38 PM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:
I visited and had tea at Kimura's studio with NBF. It was an
over-whelming experience - the trees had the power to confuse my response
to
their styling - was it grotesque? was it a greater passion than I
experience in most arts? was it one man whose trees express a love of the
creative technique beyond most?
I think a critique of Kimura lies beyond me - very far beyond. I
am glad he is among us, he is a reflection that dazzles or escapes one.
Friends:

I can think of no other artist on the planet who inspires me more to
create
my work. Is it that he goes to far, or is it that he goes further than
most
could ever hope to travel within the art? Are his trees overdone, or are
his
trees expressing the essence of the art, i.e., bonsai as a suggestion
rather
than a reflection of nature?

Without individuals like Kimura who are pushing the ceiling of the art, we
are surely doomed to mediocrity.

Cordially,

Michael Persiano
members.aol.com/iasnob

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Boon Manakitivipart++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

dalecochoy wrote:

..I'm just sitting here chuckling at a
critique of Mr. Kimura's tree styling practices ......by Jim Lewis??? :)


Personally, I would prefer a more developed style of critique -
referencing historical, cultural and economic contexts as well as the
aesthetic. Perhaps someone could comment in more detail the ways in
which these trees are 'problems'. Or point me to a text that can explain
more. Who are the critics of this art?

Its always been my view that those who can afford to patronise artists
get to decide who the geniuses are not the humble observers of the
finished artifacts.

Richard

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----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Patefield"
Subject: [IBC] TRUE greatness
Its always been my view that those who can afford to patronise artists
get to decide who the geniuses are not the humble observers of the
finished artifacts.

Richard


Richard,
That is a very interesting, and I guess, I feel ...accurate statement.
It sure explains the buying/selling frenzy with designer clothes, watches,
purses, shoes, cars, watches, art, etc. etc.
I think you are onto something there!
Andy Warhol saw this long ago. The tomato soup can is great art... if you
are running with the right crowd! :)
Dale

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************************************************** ******************************
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Patefield"
Subject: [IBC] TRUE greatness
Its always been my view that those who can afford to patronise artists
get to decide who the geniuses are not the humble observers of the
finished artifacts.

Richard


Richard,
That is a very interesting, and I guess, I feel ...accurate statement.
It sure explains the buying/selling frenzy with designer clothes, watches,
purses, shoes, cars, watches, art, etc. etc.
I think you are onto something there!
Andy Warhol saw this long ago. The tomato soup can is great art... if you
are running with the right crowd! :)
Dale

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Boon Manakitivipart++++
************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

On 25 Oct 2004 at 13:49, Richard Patefield wrote:

dalecochoy wrote:

..I'm just sitting here chuckling at a
critique of Mr. Kimura's tree styling practices ......by Jim Lewis??? :)


Personally, I would prefer a more developed style of critique -
referencing historical, cultural and economic contexts as well as the
aesthetic. Perhaps someone could comment in more detail the ways in
which these trees are 'problems'. Or point me to a text that can explain
more. Who are the critics of this art?

Its always been my view that those who can afford to patronise artists
get to decide who the geniuses are not the humble observers of the
finished artifacts.


Well, I don't know what Dale was referring to, but I wasn't
really "critiquing." I simply don't like his overly ornate
trees. Period. I like trees that appear to be styled by Ma
Nature -- not a Waring blender.

And specifically, I also thought the trees in that BT article
reprint were poor examples of his work.

Fine art critics notwithstanding, one really shouldn't
"critique" until one can "do" as well as the putative critiquee;
and I have never made that claim, and likely never will.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Bonsaiests
are like genealogists: We know our roots!

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************************************************** ******************************
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dalecochoy wrote:

..I'm just sitting here chuckling at a
critique of Mr. Kimura's tree styling practices ......by Jim Lewis??? :)


Personally, I would prefer a more developed style of critique -
referencing historical, cultural and economic contexts as well as the
aesthetic. Perhaps someone could comment in more detail the ways in
which these trees are 'problems'. Or point me to a text that can explain
more. Who are the critics of this art?

Its always been my view that those who can afford to patronise artists
get to decide who the geniuses are not the humble observers of the
finished artifacts.

Richard

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Boon Manakitivipart++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

That ( below) was well said Mike, and I'm sure many feel this way. One
thing I might add , since I've also been to his place as many on tours have,
we normally only see the wildest, splashiest trees in magazines and even his
own book. ( he also had Japanese books before it was done in English, and,
I've seen a Japanese tape with his creations ), but, when at his house, I'd
have to say that by far what you see are classical or variations of
classical trees styling You will see and regognize some of the wild ones
you've seen in magazines ( which I LOVE BTW) but mostly you stand there with
your mouth open looking at wonderful , lets say, "non-wild"
creations/styling.
further....
Well, actually, there is no further...I'm just sitting here chuckling at a
critique of Mr. Kimura's tree styling practices ......by Jim Lewis??? :)
Regards,
Dale Cochoy, Wild Things Bonsai Studio, Hartville, Ohio
http://www.WildThingsBonsai.Com
Specializing in power wood carving tools.
Yakimono no Kokoro bonsai pottery of hand-built stoneware


----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Persiano"
To:
Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2004 9:20 PM
Subject: [IBC] TRUE greatness


In a message dated 10/23/2004 6:39:38 PM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:
I visited and had tea at Kimura's studio with NBF. It was an
over-whelming experience - the trees had the power to confuse my response
to
their styling - was it grotesque? was it a greater passion than I
experience in most arts? was it one man whose trees express a love of the
creative technique beyond most?
I think a critique of Kimura lies beyond me - very far beyond. I
am glad he is among us, he is a reflection that dazzles or escapes one.
Friends:

I can think of no other artist on the planet who inspires me more to
create
my work. Is it that he goes to far, or is it that he goes further than
most
could ever hope to travel within the art? Are his trees overdone, or are
his
trees expressing the essence of the art, i.e., bonsai as a suggestion
rather
than a reflection of nature?

Without individuals like Kimura who are pushing the ceiling of the art, we
are surely doomed to mediocrity.

Cordially,

Michael Persiano
members.aol.com/iasnob

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Boon Manakitivipart++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++