Brooks Falls, alaska

[dick benbow]

Now is the start of the sockeye salmon run. A time for photographers to document the extreme skill of the fish returning to navagate the falls and a time for bears to show equal skills as they begin the daunting test of storing fat for hibernation.

My brother just returned from making the trip to photograph the action and inspired me to reflect the event in my toko. The kusamono is reeds and water plants. pine is limber.

 

[dick benbow]

Thought since i couldn't elicit a response with my tokonoma highlighting a fishing bear, thought maybe someone woud have some comments on the buck who just stepped out of the deep (zelkova) forrest. suiseki is mountain stone.
In another parrish, I often get comments expressing that my maroon or blue tokonoma floor was too strong. So I have again replaced the floor with a moss green, thinking this may be found a bit more neutral.
Thoughts?

 

[dick benbow]

Si I didn't overlook your thanks for the post. Thank-you

 

[Dirty Nails]

Dick, I enjoy your tokonoma displays and stories very much. They provide a fresh perspective on the art of bonsai. We have and see so many trees sitting on benches but you are incorporating them in to your home and life with thought, care and feelings.

Recently Owen Reich was discussing accent pieces and one that stuck with me was using an old toy tractor or rusty John Deere badge with something like an oak tree to envoke feelings of the Midwest corn fields.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[dick benbow]

Appreciate your comment. the art of display must evoke feelings for it to have achieved what is desired from the visitor. I think what was hardest for me was not to over do it but be as subtle as possible.

 

[dick benbow]

Recently I was gifted with a tea cup thrown and fired by an artisan friend. I wanted to be able to display it at home and pondered how.

In my research I learned before bonsai, treasured teapots were often used as objects of art in a home display alcove. Often accompanied with a haiku poem carefully scripted on a scroll.

I like this one by buson

Ears of my od age,
The summer rains
Falling down the rain-pipe

 

[Klytus]

Scent of BBQ
Roof moss in the guttering
Knocking my pipe out.

 

[Dirty Nails]

Dick do objects like these have any place in a bonsai or tokonoma display?

 

[kakejiku]

Dick do objects like these have any place in a bonsai or tokonoma display?

Absolutely...

 

[dick benbow]

I see Maples-san has answered your question and i agree. In bonsai display I understand
the art objects have to contribute to the season or theme. In a tokonoma display an object of art may be used as the feature. Some of the difference between a bonsai display and the tokonoma display is, more often than not at a bonsai display the scene would have to stand on it's own as the person who made the display is not on hand to explain. While in someone's home toko display the owner would be on hand to explain something of why this object had purpose or meaning to the attending quests.

I consider myself a student of this form and my explainations are given only to the best of my aquired knowledge at this point

 

[Smoke]

Thought since i couldn't elicit a response with my tokonoma highlighting a fishing bear, thought maybe someone woud have some comments on the buck who just stepped out of the deep (zelkova) forrest. suiseki is mountain stone.
In another parrish, I often get comments expressing that my maroon or blue tokonoma floor was too strong. So I have again replaced the floor with a moss green, thinking this may be found a bit more neutral.
Thoughts?

These Shikishi boards come in buff/yellow also. I would look into that color and have your artist tone down the sumi-ink. The shikishi board in there with the dear is an essay in Black and White. Just too stark for me. Too much of a hot spot. All needs softening.

Green is not neutral. Buff or tan is neutral. A tatami matt would go along way on your floor. If you could reverse your floor with the walls you would have it nailed. The light green on the walls and the simulated grasscloth on the floor would be kill.

 

[dick benbow]

smoke, your the best. thank-you for your suggestions. I'm in the process of downsizing my residence and realtor wants toko and my koi ponds destroyed. So if i ever get things to his satifaction so i can list, I'll try and have one built (toko) to exacting standards. In the mean time again thanks for sharing your knowledge.