Page 33 - BSAM 2015 Q4

My rst encounter with Ryan was the day of the set up. A photo shoot had been organized to photo- graph the trees prior to placing them on display. It was a bit of organized chaos as trees, stands and accents where shu ed around for their professional photo to be taken. Ryan insisted that the owners be present for the shoot to ensure that the photo captured the artists’ vision in their trees. Ryan of course, in work clothes and most likely exhausted, kept the team and the trees moving along.
e next day was opening night of the Artisan’s Cup: a huge amount of people were already queued in long line which travelled out the door and along the side of the building. Before the doors opened, a loud rumble began! A drum line began to play drums so loudly that I could feel the vibrations in my chest. My level of excitement only grew with every bang of the drum. Just then, the doors of the exhibition opened. At the entrance were Ryan and Chelsea, once again taking a moment to greet and individually thank everyone for coming.
As I walked through the doorway I must admit I was quite emotional and wasn’t sure why. We entered a long darkened and quiet hallway, I learned later that designers intentionally made it this way so the patrons would slow down and enter the exhibit in calmer state. ere were 5 obelisks illuminated from above with statements and quotes regarding the exhibit and the bonsai on display. To the le were statutes from the museum and cut out windows from which you could
Top left; A photo shoot had been organized to photograph the trees prior to placing them on display. Ryan insisted that the owners be present for the shoot to ensure that the photo captured the artists’ vision in their trees.
Far left; Five obelisks illumi- nated from above with state- ments and quotes regarding the exhibit and the bonsai on display.
Right column, top to bottom;
A drum line thunderously proclaimed the opening of the exhibit.
One of the judges for the Artisans Cup, bonsai artist and teacher, Boon Manakitivipart with his student Barbara Wilson.
Left to right; Louise Leister, Mark Arpag, Les Allen, Lutiza Bernstein, Judith Fister, William Valavanis and Kora Dalager.
Bill Valavanis, show cospon- sor, exhibitor and a renowned American bonsai pioneer, adds the nishing touches to his trees on exhibit.
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