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important addition to the world of bonsai. How did this happen? Fundamental to the impact of this truly evocative book is its creativity. e psychoanalyst, Rollo May, has written very convincingly of the foun- dational role that courage plays in creativity. May’s point is that creativity does not come easy. We must all be grateful that Stephen Voss had the courage and openness to allow bonsai to ignite his creative spirit. We must also be grateful that he had the resolve to carve out time for this project and the energy to bring it to fruition. It wasn’t a solitary journey. Stephen speaks of the generosity of his family. Jack Sustic, curator of the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, recalls that he couldn’t help but notice this young man photographing the collection and conversation commenced. Stephen recalls Jack as a generous mentor and a consummately companionable guide over the nine months and over thirty visits he made. A work of the aesthetic quality of In Training requires collaborative e ort. e artists at the design rm, Polygraph, worked collegially with Stephen to design and print the book. e result is a work that is physically worthy of the images that it holds, the design, layout, the aesthetic choices, and the quality of the printing magnify the images in a way similar to the way that Michael Hagedorn’s a erword does. Figures 5 and 6 present two views of a buttonwood against a bronze background. e background choice is felicitous. It is just right. Such judgments are not
snap decisions. In essence, they ask the tree “What background would do you justice?”
In Training, in a fundamental way, was made possible by the collegiality of the bonsai community. It was funded through Kickstarter, which is an online platform for “crowd-funding.” In essence, artists are able to secure funding for projects through a public appeal. Products are o ered to potential investors, in this case, signed copies of the book. A target is set that is su cient to produce the work. e funding proceeds
Top; Figure 9
Ficus natalensis/natal g In training since 1976
Bottom; Figure 10
Juniperus californica/California
juniper
In training since 1985
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