The annual statewide convention is now about three weeks behind us, but the glow still shines brightly here in Brevard County. In addition to being the lead club for the exhibit, BSOB earned several notable successes. We should all feel proud of our contributions to the art of bonsai in Florida and the USA.
The Scholarship Competition
To start, our own Antonio Castillo won the statewide scholarship competition. Antonio’s achievement is a testament to what hard work and dedication can accomplish in the pursuit of bonsai excellence. He’s been a regular at our monthly study group, soaking up knowledge from club leaders like Reggie Perdue and myself. He’s also active in online forums, hosts professional artists for private sessions at his collection, and has built an impressive bonsai library. Antonio is taking all the right steps to fulfill his passion, and his collection is already reaching world-class status. He’s truly a rising star in BSOB. He plans to use the scholarship funds to travel to Europe, and I’m sure the $500 in Joshua Roth tools will come in handy.
Club Night Winners
Club night brought BSOB back to the winner’s circle. Our Mayan ruins planting took second place in what I consider the most fun part of the convention. The combination of Mayan artifacts, the Frog King, and a striking Dwarf Schefflera (Heptapleurum arboricola, its new Latin name), all set on an amazing stand and backdrop, made for one of the best compositions we’ve ever produced. (So good, in fact, that I bought it in the auction. For an outside opinion, my daughter saw it on Father’s Day and said, “Where did that come from? That’s really cool.”)
It was a true team effort: Blaine Johnson donated the tree and Mayan figures, T.J. Synman provided the outstanding stand, Janice Barnes contributed the accents, muck, and other materials, and I added the Frog King and painted/expanded backdrop. If I forgot anyone—please forgive me. There was some alcohol consumed at the event.
Recognition
In statewide recognition, Carol Nicholson received the BSOB Volunteer Award, and Bruce Hartmann earned the Regional Volunteer Award. I was honored with the BSF Legacy Award, and Ronn Miller—former BSF and BSOB president—was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. On the lighter side, Jason Schneider cracked the toughest clues I could devise to win the scavenger hunt. He proved that our nation’s submarine force is in very smart hands. It’s clear that BSOB is a vital part of the BSF family.
The Creative Art Installation
And last—but certainly not least—was the outstanding exhibit. With BSOB as the sponsoring club and myself as the exhibit chairperson, we created a show that will be remembered for years to come, setting the stage for future innovation in bonsai design and display. The kudos are still coming in. For example, Jay Samaranos from New York shared this online:
“You didn’t just organize a display. You curated a moment in time: a conversation between tradition and courage. And in doing so, you gave permission—to question, to imagine, to reframe. What we witnessed wasn’t just the evolution of bonsai, but the evolution of how we relate to it. You made space for something sacred to breathe a little wider. That’s no small thing.”
So many people contributed to the success of this exhibit. I’ll try to name a few—if I forget anyone, please forgive me.
Bruce Hartmann made numerous trips with me to Orlando to load items into the storage unit, always with a cheerful attitude and great travel companionship. He also accompanied me to several club talks in the months leading up to the convention, offering encouragement and friendship every step of the way.
The BSOB study group made a massive contribution. Carol Nicholson found the dining room set for just $25 (though it cost more to ship it to my garage!). She then led a fantastic team—Janice Barnes, Antonio Castillo, Reggie Perdue, Skip Miller, Bruce Hartmann, Blaine Johnson, and Jerry Hrenko—who came together over several sessions to build the tokonoma, the trans-dimensional portal, and the out-of-this-world dining room set.
Speaking of the trans-dimensional table, I have to highlight the incredible centerpiece Janice Barnes created. It truly elevated the entire installation and served as a unifying element for the excellent bonsai. Honestly, she should teach a class on how to make pieces like that.
Making that table and the rest of the scenery was some of the most fun I’ve ever had at a study group. And did you hear what Dr. Michael Sherman said about it?
“The ‘Table’ is monumental art! It belongs in the finest museums where it would be talked about in the same breath as Rodin, a Noguchi, or a Calder…”
Never before has a bonsai show received such a comment.
BSOB also fully supported the exhibit with outstanding displays. Carol Nicholson’s “Bonsai Dreaming” shadow box—crafted from foam and pool noodles—showed how creative thinking can achieve amazing results. Janice Barnes’ “Burgeoning Phenomena” used trees and family artifacts to add a heartfelt personal touch. (I especially loved that bunch-of-bananas pot!)
Scot Stewart placed his trust in me and contributed a fine Dwarf Jade clump to the Dining Room display—so did Janice Barnes with a Headache tree. Neither of them knew how their trees would be used, but I think they were both pleasantly surprised by the final result.
Blaine Johnson’s “Roadside Bonsai” struck an emotional chord with many attendees—so much so that people asked to buy parts of the display. Antonio Castillo’s two entries, including the outrageous “Don’t Do Cosmic”, brought an avant-garde flair that was warmly welcomed. Bruce Hartman took a cheeky approach with his “The Brazilian” display, which ended up getting the most post-it note comments from attendees. Hey, sex sells!
Reggie and Cosette Perdue showcased two superb displays, but “The Creation of Bonsai” was one of my personal favorites. It resonated on so many creative levels. I had a few displays myself, including “Galactic Roots: A Star Wars Tribute”, which was a collaboration with French headliner Laurent Darrieux. Combining his deep Star Wars fandom with my eclectic skill set, we created a sci-fi and politically themed piece that looked boldly toward the future.
And who could forget the “flash mob” pantomime performance of “Hachi No Ki” by Eva Johnson (a former BSOB member) and Tanner Smith? If that didn’t set a new trend in bonsai display, I don’t know what will. If you missed it here is a video link of the performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QNmtbsmNEs
In addition to the displays, I want to thank the team who helped assemble and (thanklessly) take down the exhibit: Jan Barnes, Jason Schneider, Skip Miller, Scot Stewart, Carol Nicholson, T.J. Synman, Blaine Johnson, and several dedicated members from the Orlando club. It was hot, hard work—but we truly appreciated their effort.
A summary of this creative installation is featured in an paperback book that benefits the Bonsai Societies of Florida. With Sai Ogranaja’s photography support, I pulled that book together in just two weeks—writing, editing, and digitally enhancing the images. I believe we created a unique and compelling take on the exhibit.
Here is the link—buy a couple! All profits go to support the Bonsai Societies of Florida.