April 24, 2017 - Michael Ryan Bell - Japanese Bonsai Pots

We are pleased to announce Michael Ryan Bell as our guest lecturer for the Monday April 24th general meeting! The meeting will take place from 7:00pm to approximately 9:30pm in the NHS Hall at the UW Center for Urban Horticulture. Ryan will be covering bonsai containers and their identification. In lieu of a demo tree, we will have many sundries for the raffle including a fine Japanese container generously donated by Ryan himself. 

Ryan Bell is America's foremost expert on Japanese bonsai pots and also recognized as one of the top experts outside Japan. Ryan has devoted himself to the study of bonsai ceramics since 2011 and now travels across the US to lecture at various clubs and conventions. Ryan's stated mission is to "encourage appreciation of the art of bonsai pottery through accurate information, images, and history." In keeping with this goal, Ryan has developed the premier English-language resource for information on bonsai containers in the form of his website, www.japanesebonsaipots.net. Ryan's blog is centered around profiles of various potters, all of which feature copious images. He has also compiled the world's largest database of Japanese and Chinese kiln and potter marks relevant to bonsai. This incredible resource is available for free on his website and is constantly expanding and improving. His database currently consists of nearly 800 different marks and ranges from kilns over 200 years old to contemporary potters. Ryan is also in the process of developing a similar database for Western ceramicists. By definition, the pot is an integral part of the art of bonsai. Those who wish to elevate their bonsai to the highest levels must learn to discern high-quality pots from their lesser counterparts. We hope you will join us for an evening of information on this topic!

[photo credit: Eric Schrader]