Page 62 - BSAM 2015 Q3

Carlo Oddone and his untiring desire to teach and promote bonsai in Italy, the conference instructors and masters received certificates in his name and in recognition of their work to promote bonsai.
During the three days, the turnout of the public was remarkable thanks to the vendors’ market with 53 exhibitors selling bonsai and accessories, plus the local nurserymen in the Arcofiori event. The numbers attest to the success of the event if you think that over 360 participant registered for the convention and 3600 visitors attended the exhibitions.
At the closing ceremony the President of the Unione Bonsaisti Italiani (UBI) announced the nominations for 2016 Arcobonsai to organize the next UBI National Congress.
Award UBI for the best tree in the exhibit was presented to Salvatore Liporace’s Mountain Pine by President Luciano Granato, UBI.
Making Bonsai History in Vietnam
By Tom Elias, USA
The Targa IBS (Instructors Bonsai and Suiseki) was presented to Club Drymenetum for their Cork oak, Quercus suber, by IBS President Sandro Segneri.
The BCI Excellence Award (Bonsai Clubs International) was presented to Sandro Segneri for the mountain pine, Pinus mugo, by BCI Director Massimo Bandera.
The City of Arco Emilio Parolari Memorial tro- phy, based on votes cast by the public, went to the Hungarian Bonsai Association for their Japanese maple, Acer palmatum.
The Euro Arcobonsai Contest Trophy was awarded to the representative from Slovakia.
Finally The 14th Trofeo Arcobonsai for Italian Clubs is awarded to Giardino delle Nove Nebbie di Udine.
History was made in the world bonsai commu- nity on June 5 to 8th, 2015 in Rin Rin Park, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Members of the
Vietnam bonsai community joined efforts to stage the first major international convention and exhibition held in Vietnam since it became the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1976. Officially, this was the Asia Pacific Bonsai Friendship Federation Convention and Exhi- bition 2015 that was hosted and organized by Ho Chi Minh City and the Vietnam Natural and Traditional Beauty Association. BCI member Ms. Hoang (Honey) Ny played a major role in the planning and staging of this grand event. It was held in Rin Rin Park, a large park with a beautiful Japanese garden. This was a per- fect setting for this bonsai event.
Bonsai hobbyists throughout Vietnam came to this exhibition along with nearly 200 foreign guests from seventeen different countries. The organizers esti- mated that in excess of 15,000 visitors attend the four day event and viewed over 800 trees on exhibit. Trees varied from large landscape scenes with multiple trees and stones arranged in a beautiful landscape setting to numerous large single tree bonsai, to numerous small (shohin) to tiny (mame) trees. It was evident from the quality of the bonsai on display that this art form has advanced rapidly in a relatively short time. Tradition- al-style bonsai were exhibited along with many others that have been influenced by Japanese-style trees and even some that showed a Chinese influence. Regard- less of the influences, Vietnamese bonsai artists can now rightfully assume a position on the main stage along with the great artists from other countries.
It was an enormous task to make this event happen and everyone who contributed to this should be con- gratulated for their foresight and vision. Many of the city officials were present for the opening ceremonies that began with music and colorful dancing. The flags
60 | BCI | July/August/September 2015