An Exhibition
of Extraordinary Bonsai
NOVEMBER 12 – 13, 2022
I am delighted to announce that I have been accepted to vendor at the upcoming Pacific Bonsai Expo. I’ll be working the rest of the summer and fall to bring some new looks, shapes and glazes!
Here’s some info about this wonderful event:
The upcoming Pacific Bonsai Expo scheduled for November 12-13 in Oakland, CA is the vision of Jonas Dupuich, and Eric and Dory Schrader. This inaugural event will be held at the historic Bridge Yard venue and will feature 75 of the nation’s top bonsai. The entries have been juried by none other than Bjorn Bjorholm, Ryan Neil, and William N. Valavanis. The task given to these esteemed jurists was to select trees that reflect outstanding time-based techniques and encompass a wide variety of species.
The exhibit promises to be exceptional on a number of fronts. The show not only provides a platform to showcase some of the nation’s outstanding bonsai, but it brings this much needed caliber of event to the west coast.
Awards include Best Large Conifer, Best Large Deciduous, Best Large Broadleaf Evergreen, Best Medium display, and Best Shohin display, with a total of $10,000 in cash prizes awarded to the winners of these categories. In addition, one of the winners of the category prizes will also take home bragging rights as “Best in Show.” A Saturday evening banquet and awards ceremony will reveal the winners! (Tickets available separately – see link below.)
While the criteria for acceptance into the exhibition is based on the highest standards, artists have been given some leeway to express their artistry through their respective traditional displays. Each exhibitor is given a 2.5” x 6’ space to fill as their personal vision dictates. Trees will be grouped by size to ensure that small trees do not go unnoticed. An additional limited number of spaces have been reserved for non-traditional displays. “The exhibit is about showcasing bonsai as it is practiced in the U.S. today,” states co-expo creator Jonas Dupuich.
A learning experience.
In the run-up to the Expo, Jonas has been working on the scoring system for the judging panel and is giving his readers a chance to test the current approach. Using the expo as a learning tool Jonas is offering judging guidelines and practice opportunities via his Bonsai Tonight blog. “We want to provide as many opportunities for the viewer to engage in the trees as possible,” states Jonas. “Providing tools for people to critique the trees themselves helps them understand bonsai principles better. We hope people take advantage of the pre-exhibit learning opportunities so they can get even more out of this event. This is an incredible opportunity to study such outstanding bonsai.”
The Venue
The Bridge Yard venue was selected for its location, and historical and architectural significance. Once a maintenance facility for the Bay Area’s ubiquitous street cars, this mostly glass warehouse still resonates with its past industrial purpose. The award-winning restoration of this historic building features a light-filled exhibition space with panoramic waterfront views of Oakland and San Francisco. “We are delighted to be holding the first Pacific Bonsai Expo in this unique venue,” states Eric. “It provides another layer of history and interest to the event.”
The organizers hope is to make this a biannual event which would be organized in alternating years from William Valavanis’ US National Exhibition which is held in N.Y. every other year. Thus, providing outstanding bonsai events on both coasts.
Tickets and resources
Tickets for day passes are $30, weekend passes $50, and banquet tickets $55. Admission tickets are offered at a $5 discount if purchased online before the event date. Event attire is also available on the website. A commemorative album will be available for purchase on the event site soon.
- More information
- Directions and planning your trip
- About the organizers
- Support the Expo
- Club resources (To promote this event)
VENUE:
210 Burma Rd. Oakland, California
The Bridge Yard is part of the Judge John Sutter Regional Shoreline, an East Bay Regional Parks District Facility.
Additional Resources and postings can be found on Instagram and Facebook: