June 26 & 27, 2016 - Bob Shimon Workshop and Demonstration

Bob Shimon was our guest artist for the June 27th general meeting and also be conducted a workshop on Sunday June 26th. Bob had several of his nationally recognized yamadori (collected from the wild) redwoods available for use in the workshop and attendees were all very pleased. Bob also styled one of his collected Redwoods at the June 27th General Meeting and a lucky PSBA Member won an outstanding tree in the raffle! 

Bob first became interested in bonsai in the mid 60s while attending college and used the famed book Bonsai: Culture and Care of Miniature Trees as his guide. The 1965 title, written by the Sunset Editorial Staff, figured prominently in the early careers of those who comprised the first generation of American bonsai artists. 

In 1968, Bob was drafted into the United States Armed Forces and his newfound hobby was largely forgotten. Seventeen years later, Bob encountered a poster at a nursery advertising the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society in Santa Rosa, California. Bob joined the club and has been a member ever since. The late Mas Imazumi served as club sensei (respected, veteran teacher) for the REBS and acted as Bob's first teacher. Since then, Bob has worked with distinguished artists from across the country and around the world. Notable examples include Yasuo Mitsuya, Harunobu Tokita, and Junchiro Tanaka, as well as celebrated Western professionals Kathy Shaner, Marco Invernizzi and Peter Tea. Since 2010, Bob has also been working with Ryan Neil, with a particular emphasis on yamadori Sierra junipers. 

In 2012, one of his redwoods won the Finest North American Native Species Bonsai award at the third U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition in Rochester, NY [photo below]. Just two years later, another one of Bob's redwoods was selected for the prestigious Artisans Cup exhibition in Portland, OR. Since 1997, Bob and his son Zack have operated Mendocino Coast Bonsai near the town of Point Arena, CA. They specialize in collected redwoods, but also work with other California natives like pygmy cypress, live oak, and Sierra juniper. To see examples of Bob's and Zack's collected redwoods, please visit www.mcbonsai.com 

[photo courtesy of Kusamura Bonsai Club] 

[photo courtesy of Medocino Coast Bonsai]