Next MeetingSunday, July 9th
Room 101, Casa del Prado, Balboa Park Program: This month we have Kathy Shaner. Last month I wrote a few things about Kathy, and now here is a bit more. Kathy Shaner’s bonsai story began in the early 80’s. She studied under many reputable bonsai instructors throughout California over a ten year span. At some point she was drawn to, and was accepted by, Yasuo Mitsuya of Toyohashi, Japan for a 5 year internship that would begin her career as a bonsai master. She was the first American, and woman to become a certified bonsai professional recognized by the professional bonsai growers branch of the Nippon Bonsai Association. She has been a highly respected and sought after professional for thirty years and has provided more than just practice following the "rules" of bonsai. Kathy loves working on whatever tree a club member wants to work with. She can fine tune a tree for world class exhibition, or bring into focus a trouble maker and give it a new life. Kathy is the Curator for the GSBF Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt (BGLM) and sensei for the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society (REBS). She teaches, cares for peoples bonsai, conducts classes and workshops, headlines conventions, all of this across the country. Supported by all of her experience, the following sums up where she is today in a quote from the Puget Sound Bonsai Association, "I feel freedom; I am not constrained as we were years ago. Our training gave us great information, but now I can follow nature. I am more interested in how nature would have influenced the tree. For years Bonsai culture was about no change. Now we can focus on what makes them healthier, how I can be influenced by what is natural to their species." This month she will be styling a prostrata juniper originally grown by John Voss. The tree was purchased for the purpose of this presentation and then to be donated by the club to the Huntington Garden for their annual Bonsai-A-Thon fundraiser benefitting the Bonsai collection. There are workshop times still open for Sunday morning and afternoon, and also for Monday morning and afternoon. This a terrific opportunity to learn from one of the best instructors in the country; she knows trees and infinitely understands bonsai. For those of you who have seen Kathy in action, you know what I mean. You can email me at chasmosse@gmail.com or call 619- 851-7187 to reserve a time. Cost for Sunday is $25 (1/2 hour) and $40 (50 minutes) for Monday. If a time slot remains open, then anyone who has already signed up can pay for an extra time slot. Joan Holiday has offered to have the Monday workshop at her house where Kathy will be staying during her time here in San Diego. More info about Monday will be sent to those signed up for that day. |
Agenda
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Casa del Prado
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