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Display Your Bonsai!
This year we are planning on changing the show format to a semi-formal display. The tables will be sectioned into individual spaces for two point, three point, and four point display.
Italian artist Marco Invernizzi is a talented young bonsai artists that has quickly become one of the most sought after artists in the western world. Marco started his bonsai education under the tutelage of Salvatore Liporace. Later, Marco traveled to Japan and undertook a 3-year apprenticeship with world renowned artist, Masahiko Kimura. Marco has received many accolades, including several UBI awards, and his articles as well as photos of his bonsai work have appeared in both American and European magazines. In 2003 Marco published his first book in Italian describing his experiences in Japan.
Boon Manakitivipart began bonsai in 1989, studying under as many teachers as he could find in California. In 1993, the Golden State Bonsai Federation awarded Boon a Teacher Development Scholarship; two years later, he received the Ben Oki International Design Award for styling a Sierra juniper. In 1995 Boon traveled to Japan where he studied bonsai for one year as an apprentice with Yasuo Mitsuya. Following his apprenticeship, Boon returned to Japan twice a year to continue his study with Kihachiro Kamiya, until his passing in 2004. In April 2000, Boon won the Grand Prize in the Kindai Bonsai Styling Contest in Japan. He was the only non-Japanese contestant. He has also been recognized among the world's top 100 winners of the World Bonsai Contest in 2000, 2001, and 2002. In 1998 Boon founded and became the teacher of Bay Island Bonsai, and started his business, Bonsai Boon.
Suthin Sukosolvisit has been a bonsai artist since 1970. He is mostly admired for his remarkable shohin bonsai tree designs. Over the years he has won various awards for his bonsai work. He lectures all around the world, and at some of the biggest bonsai conventions here in the States and is the owner of Royal Bonsai Garden in Stoughton, MA.
Shane Cary was born and raised in Northwest Louisiana. His first encounter with bonsai was in 1990. By 1992, he would be practicing bonsai as a full-time occupation and president of two local bonsai clubs. While performing a demonstraation at the Lone Star Bonsai Federation Convention in 1995, his work was recognized by the American Bonsai Society and he received their Rising Star of Bonsai Award. From 1998-99 Shane had the opportunity to work with Atshushi Fukishima, a longtime apprentice of Mr. Kimura. He has won two Chase Rosade Excellence in Design Awards and in 2005 founded Shane's Bonsai Studio.
Howard and Sylvia Smith are the owners of the BosnaiSmiths, a bonsai nursery located in Dallas, Texas. The Smiths have been in the bonsai business since 1996, but have been seriously studying with Boon Manakitivipart since 2001. Howard and Sylvia are the first two graduates of Boon's three-year intensive course and continue to study with Boon in his independent study intensives. Howard has placed in the top 100 of the world Bonsai Contest in 2001 and 2003 and has received a Best in Show award at the BIB show in Hayward, California. Both have served as president and vice-preseident of the Bonsai Society of Dallas, as well as convention charirmen.
John Miller has selflessly given of his time to the Dallas Bonsai Society as well as to LSBF and almost every other bonsai society in Texas for over 30 years. He is Director Emeritus of the Dallas club and Vice President of the LSBF. He most enjoys sharing his bonsai knowledge through his monthly column, "John's Musings," or during demonstrations and worlshops.
Mike Hagedorn is known to most of you as one of the premeier domestic bonsai potters, as well as an author of educational articles in Bonsai Today magazine. His trees have also placed in the top on hundred of the World Bonsai Contest. From 2001 to 2003 he was a student of Boon Manakitivipart, where he developed a strong foundation in the techniques of bonsai artistry and refinement. He is now just returning from a three-year apprenticeship with top Japanese bonsai master, Shinji Suzuki (who has won three prime minister awards). Under Shinji Suzuki's guidance, Mike worked on (trimmed, wired, styled, etc…) trees that not only were accepted into Taikan-ten, Sakufu, and Kokufu, but had a tree that placed first in each of these prestigious events! As this bio goes to press, Mike plans on settling in the Oregon area.
