MidAtlantic Bonsai Societies 2008 Spring Festival

This year's Spring Festival marks MidAtlantic Bonsai Societies' (MABS) Twenty-Fifth Anniversary! The Spring Festival will commence Friday evening, April 11, 2008 and will continue through Sunday afternoon, April 13, 2008, at the Hudson Valley Resort & Spa in Kerhonkson, NY.

A program of renowned International and American professional Bonsai artists will perform lecture/demonstrations, workshops, and critiques of Bonsai on display which are provided by MABS member clubs. In addition, Bonsai vendors will be on-site offering a large selection of Bonsai, Bonsai related plants, containers, tools, books, and other supplies for purchase. To open the 2008 Spring Festival and to welcome all registrants, complimentary beverages and snacks will be offered on Friday evening, beginning at 6:30 p.m. until about midnight.

Featured Artists -

Min Hsuan Lo - Taiwan

Graham Potter- United Kingdom

Michael Hagedorn - USA

George Le Bolt - USA

The public is invited to visit the Bonsai Exhibit area and the Vendor area on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Sunday from 9:00 a.m. until noon, for an entrance fee of $10.00 per person. The fee is waived for children under 12 years of age. The optional annual Banquet and Auction are scheduled for Saturday evening. Arrangements have been made with the Hudson Valley Resort and Spa for special room rates; so bring the entire family. For a registration form or additional information visit our Internet website at http://www.midatlanticbonsai.freeservers.com or contact Mr. Brian O'Byrne by telephone at (973) 379-3386 or by e-mail at bkobyrne@yahoo.com.

MIN HSUAN LO  

Mr. Min Hsuan Lo, who was born in 1956 in Central Bonsai Garden, where the family Bonsai nursery was founded by his father in 1947. He expanded his Bonsai education by learning from Bonsai Masters in Taiwan. He was awarded the grand prize at the JAL World Bonsai Contest in 1999 and has received many honors since. In 2001, Mr. Lo started teaching Bonsai courses in Ken Kuo Technical University. In 2004, he became the Bonsai teacher at Pei Tou Community University. He is a founder of the Taiwan Bonsai Creators Association and is currently its chairman. Mr. Lo was one of the headliners at BCI 2004 in Taiwan and has taught Bonsai in Malaysia, the Philippines, South Africa, India, and the United States. Mr. Lo is known for his "Lo's Style" of Bonsai which combines the essence of old trees, the flowing lines of Chinese calligraphy, and ancient Chinese philosophies. He will perform a lecture/demonstration on Saturday and one on Sunday using a San Jose Juniper and a Chinese Elm, respectively. Also, on Saturday he will perform a critique of the Exhibit material, and on Sunday he will perform a "Bring-Your-Own" workshop.

Web profile & gallery

GRAHAM  POTTER 

Mr. Graham Potter, who first became interested in Bonsai in 1992, did not develop a passion for Bonsai until 1999 when he met Kevin Willson who shared his own Bonsai ideas and unique collection. Mr. Potter then founded The Kaizen School of Bonsai which is devoted to Bonsai cultivation techniques and products (http://www.kaizenbonsai.com). His school is based upon the Japanese "Kaizen" concept which is concerned with the gradual improvement in processes to attain a particular goal or result. Improved processes ultimately results in superior quality. Mr. Graham comes to us from the Great Yarmouth area of the United Kingdom. He will perform a lecture/demonstration on Saturday and one on Sunday using an Eastern White Cedar and a Yew, respectively. Also, on Saturday he will perform a critique of the Exhibit material, and on Sunday he will perform a workshop with "Collected Eastern White Cedar" workshop.

MICHAEL  HAGEDORN

Bonsai containers for nine years while living in upstate New York and in Arizona. During his years as a potter, Mr. Graham also studied Bonsai with Boon Manakitivipart. In 2003, taking advantage of a rare opportunity, he traveled to Japan where he apprenticed for several years under Bonsai master Shinji Susuki. During that time seven trees which Mr. Hagedorn wired were accepted into the Kokufu Show in Tokyo, two trees in the Taiken Ten, and one in the Sakafu Ten. He also wired two of Mr. Suzuki's Bonsai that won a Kokufu Prize and a Prime Minister Award. Mr. Hagedorn now resides in Portland, Oregon where he creates and teaches Bonsai as well as writes Bonsai articles for major Bonsai magazines. He will perform a lecture/demonstration on Saturday using a Kingsville Boxwood, a critique of the Exhibit material on Saturday, and a Sunday afternoon workshop featuring 30 year old Kingsville Boxwood material.

 GEORGE LeBOLT

Mr. George LeBolt, who resides in Closter, N.J., became enamored with Bonsai over 40 years ago. He first studied Bonsai with Frank Okimora and then for five years with Yugi Yoshimura. Mr. LeBolt is a past President of MABS and is currently the President of the Bergen Bonsai Society. Mr. LeBolt's collection of several hundred trees has garnered many honors including BCI's "President's Award" (2002), MABS's "Best of Show Award" (2005), and MABS's "President's Award" (2006). About 35 years ago, Mr. Lebolt became particularly interested in tropical Bonsai, which now accounts for about 40% of his collection. Mr. LeBolt will devote the Friday evening program to the "Brazilian Raintree". On Saturday he will perform a critique of the Exhibit material. For his Sunday afternoon workshop, he will supply trained mature Brazilian Raintrees. Participants have a choice of material approximately 21" or 27" in height, selectable at time of registration, each with its own respective fee. Materials are of limited quantities and are first-come-first-served.