Are there major shows without the competition aspect, ie, awards, placements, etc.. If not, should there be?
The smiley face was to suggest I was joking. However, I prefer judged shows and in my experience, those who oppose it generally don’t have great trees. It is quite obvious that the point of shows is to show other people our trees, to inspire, etc. The element of judging forces participants to step up and take it seriously, which should increase the quality, and therefore the viewers’ experience.The point is to show other people your trees. To inspire others. To allow others to view a range of styles and species.
Why is it necessary to win?
Very few bonsai shows over here are judged. Most are cooperative displays to show a range of trees. In the past when we had competitive shows we found that people were withholding information and techniques so they could get ahead of others and win. Now there's little reason to keep secret formulae or techniques so growers are far more likely to openly talk about what they have tried and new ideas that work.
Sorry Brian, I missed the smiley.The smiley face was to suggest I was joking.
Agree wholeheartedly!Local clubs here have displays at garden centers and community centers that aren't judged. They're Just displays to draw in the public.
FWIW, competition in the last few years, from Bill Valavanis' National show to Ryan Neal's show out in Washington state a couple of years ago, has driven the overall quality of bonsai in the U.S. to historic levels--from a grindingly static past. Competition drives ambition to have better trees. Displays can do similar things, but nowhere as effectively as trying to get a ribbon or cash prize, or bragging rights. Some like that, some don't. the fact remains without competition, U.S. bonsai would not be where it is today.
The slip side of that is the "At the Atlanta Bonsai Society, the judge selects a Best in Show, Best Expert, Best Enthusiast, and Best Novice. Novice being someone new to the hobby. He can also award Honarable Mentions at his/her discretion.
The problem with this system is most of the members think they’re Experts! Hardly anyone enters as “Enthusiast”.
At one time, we had ribbons given by style: Best Slant, Best Cascade, Best Informal Upright, etc. And second place, and third place ribbon, too. It seemed like almost every tree got some sort of ribbon.
At BIB, the awards are determined by tree species and size. So, it’s Best Large Conifer, Best Medium Deciduous, Best Large Broadleaf, etc. There’s also a category for Best Shohin, and one for Best Unusual Style. And a Best in Show.
There’s all kinds of different ways to do it.
I think the public likes to have award winners. I have seen them say things likes, “Look over here, honey, this one’s Best in Show!” And I think it helps educate everyone to have examples of superior trees (and displays) to demonstrate the art is more than just sticking a tree in a pot.
Oregon, Washington...what's the diff? I used to live out there, so I should know better.I think you meant Ryan's show in Portland, Oregon......
Amen.Competition drives ambition
Yes!At the Atlanta Bonsai Society, the judge selects a Best in Show, Best Expert, Best Enthusiast, and Best Novice. Novice being someone new to the hobby. He can also award Honarable Mentions at his/her discretion.
The problem with this system is most of the members think they’re Experts! Hardly anyone enters as “Enthusiast”.
At one time, we had ribbons given by style: Best Slant, Best Cascade, Best Informal Upright, etc. And second place, and third place ribbon, too. It seemed like almost every tree got some sort of ribbon.
At BIB, the awards are determined by tree species and size. So, it’s Best Large Conifer, Best Medium Deciduous, Best Large Broadleaf, etc. There’s also a category for Best Shohin, and one for Best Unusual Style. And a Best in Show.
There’s all kinds of different ways to do it.
I think the public likes to have award winners. I have seen them say things likes, “Look over here, honey, this one’s Best in Show!” And I think it helps educate everyone to have examples of superior trees (and displays) to demonstrate the art is more than just sticking a tree in a pot.
Submitting a tree into a show, where others will be looking at it, is a great motivator for doing all the little things that you know you should do, but haven’t. All the “attention to detail stuff”.The Birmingham club was agonizingly against judged shows for years. I made a hard and somewhat contentious push for judging the show, and when we finally got it done, the quality of our show improved by leaps and bounds.
Kathy Shaner has been our show judge now for the last 4-5 years, and she has asked me to walk the show with her while she judged it for the last 3 years or so. It is my favorite part of the show, spending an hour with her alone in the room while she goes through the judging process. I can’t say I have agreed with all of her selections, but she is the judge, and it’s her call.
We judge by experience categories: beginner (under 3 years), intermediate (3-7), and experienced (over 7). Then in each experience level, 1st and 2nd place awards are given by tree type, deciduous, evergreen, flowering/fruiting, and tropical. Finally, from among the awards, a Best in Show is selected.
We also make judging completely optional, by placing a small dot on the tree tag which marks the tree as “exhibition only”.
I'd show/hide every tree I've got for that!she has asked me to walk the show with her while she judged it for the last 3 years or so. It is my favorite part of the show, spending an hour with her alone in the room while she goes through the judging process. I can’t say I have agreed with all of her selections, but she is the judge, and it’s her call.