Well.

Issue 93 of Bonsai Today contains within its pages an example of
the contrast between true greatness and faddish, wannabe
greatness.

Starting with "Goshen" on the cover and a couple other John Naka
trees inside you have the greatness.

And then there are those things by Kimura on later pages. I
wasn't going to comment on this contrast, my opinions on Kimura
being what they are (over exposed, over designed, over fussy,
and over decorated trees) but when the artist in the family,
Jackie (wife), picked up the magazine and made the same
comparison (and she doesn't know Kimura's pop reputation) I
guessed I might not be too far off base.

Her reactions to Kimura's trees: "Just too, TOO. Overdone. "

(And I certainly agree with the BT publisher about the "tacky"
photos.)

IMHO, of course. 8=/

I'd wish magazines like BT would devote as much to Naka's work
as they do to Kimura's.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Nature
encourages no looseness, pardons no errors. Ralph Waldo Emerson

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----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Lewis"
To:
Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2004 2:05 PM
Subject: [IBC] TRUE greatness


Kimura

Her reactions to Kimura's trees: "Just too, TOO. Overdone. "


From greatness to overdone -

It is sort of like the categories in music - so many people think
that Opera is Overdone. Others have a "taste" for it.
Kimura is certainly into heavy drama. Without his show would we
really know where our greatest appreciation lies?
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.
Lynn

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----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Lewis"
To:
Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2004 2:05 PM
Subject: [IBC] TRUE greatness


Kimura

Her reactions to Kimura's trees: "Just too, TOO. Overdone. "


From greatness to overdone -

It is sort of like the categories in music - so many people think
that Opera is Overdone. Others have a "taste" for it.
Kimura is certainly into heavy drama. Without his show would we
really know where our greatest appreciation lies?
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.
Lynn

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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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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

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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

************************************************** ******************************
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************************************************** ******************************
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Well I agree that Naka's trees are truly great, but we
are deaing with a living, ever changing art form.
Mozart was a pop artist of his time and now he is one
of the classical greats. If you really want to be
shaken up, look up Lisa Tajima on the net. I have her
book. She is classicaly trained and is gaing
recognition in the japanese bonsai community.

Kitsune Miko
--- Jim Lewis wrote:

Well.

Issue 93 of Bonsai Today contains within its pages
an example of
the contrast between true greatness and faddish,
wannabe
greatness.

Starting with "Goshen" on the cover and a couple
other John Naka
trees inside you have the greatness.

And then there are those things by Kimura on later
pages. I
wasn't going to comment on this contrast, my
opinions on Kimura
being what they are (over exposed, over designed,
over fussy,
and over decorated trees) but when the artist in the
family,
Jackie (wife), picked up the magazine and made the
same
comparison (and she doesn't know Kimura's pop
reputation) I
guessed I might not be too far off base.

Her reactions to Kimura's trees: "Just too, TOO.
Overdone. "

(And I certainly agree with the BT publisher about
the "tacky"
photos.)

IMHO, of course. 8=/

I'd wish magazines like BT would devote as much to
Naka's work
as they do to Kimura's.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL -
Nature
encourages no looseness, pardons no errors. Ralph
Waldo Emerson


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Manakitivipart++++

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http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail
+++++



=====
****
"Expectations are resentments under construction."

Anne Lamott

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"Michael Persiano" wrote in message
...
In a message dated 10/23/2004 10:21:29 PM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:

snip

Kimura's underlying theme is the strange harmony between the living and
the
dead in nature. His work almost relentlessly is an exploration of this
fascination.

snip

Do any of you have a url for Kimura's work ?

Thanks for your help,
David..........................

Kitsune Miko wrote:

Well I agree that Naka's trees are truly great, but we
are deaing with a living, ever changing art form.
Mozart was a pop artist of his time and now he is one
of the classical greats. If you really want to be
shaken up, look up Lisa Tajima on the net. I have her
book. She is classicaly trained and is gaing
recognition in the japanese bonsai community.

oh my!!!! Samurais and masters and Literati must turn upside down in
their graves...
but it is today's conception of life... childish in all his manifestations

Theo

--
MSN messanger / or ICQ 25 666 169 4
Private Mail :
«»«»«» Just for today... don't worry .....be happy «»«»«»

Kitsune Miko wrote:

Well I agree that Naka's trees are truly great, but we
are deaing with a living, ever changing art form.
Mozart was a pop artist of his time and now he is one
of the classical greats. If you really want to be
shaken up, look up Lisa Tajima on the net. I have her
book. She is classicaly trained and is gaing
recognition in the japanese bonsai community.

oh my!!!! Samurais and masters and Literati must turn upside down in
their graves...
but it is today's conception of life... childish in all his manifestations

Theo

--
MSN messanger / or ICQ 25 666 169 4
Private Mail :
«»«»«» Just for today... don't worry .....be happy «»«»«»

Kimura has a book, The Bonsai Art of Kimura, which is
published by Stone Lantern Publishing Co. The price on the back
cover of my copy was listed as U.S.$24.95. A review by Andy
Rutledge at
http://www.bonsaitodayonline.com/boo...iewkimura1.htm
shows the current price is $29.95. In it you will certainly find
plenty of examples of his highly sculptured, dramatic bonsai.
However, you will also find far more examples of classically
designed bonsai with little or no jin involved. The same can be
said for his earlier Japanese language book, The Magical
Technician of Contemporary Bonsai, Part I, which was published in
1982 and is long out of print (and currently quite costly).
People seem to have a love/hate relationship with
Kimura's highly sculpted bonsai. Like Picasso or Stravinsky, that
is the case with much great art. It is significant that it does
inspire strong reactions. That is an element of "success" in art.

But it is unfair to dismiss his art on the basis of some
of the more spectacular bonsai which are chosen by magazine
editors.
Sorry, I don't know of any sites exclusively dedicated to
Kimura's bonsai art. A Google search for Kimura bonsai photos
ought to turn up any number of hits, however. For example, visit
http://images.google.com/images?q=Ki...tos&hl=en&lr=&
sa=N&tab=wi&sourceid=tipimg

Alan Walker
http://bonsai-bci.com http://LCBSBonsai.org

"Michael Persiano" wrote...
snip
Kimura's underlying theme is the strange harmony between the
living and the dead in nature. His work almost relentlessly is
an exploration of this fascination.
snip
-----Original Message-----
From: D J Maclean
Do any of you have a url for Kimura's work?
Thanks for your help,
David..........................

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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

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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

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