4th British Shohin Association Exhibition

The 4th British Shohin Association's Annual Exhibition was held during the weekend of Saturday 28th February & Sunday 1st March 2009 at Willowbog Bonsai. Following the huge success of last year's exhibition, there was again favourable weather, a fabulous atmosphere and even more bonsai on display. Honoured guests Marco Invernizzi and Peter Warren selected the very best displays, and along with BSA Chairman John Armitage provided informative and interactive sessions throughout the weekend.

As with the previous BSA exhibitions, the show was staged at Willowbog Bonsai near Hexham with this year's event promising to be bigger and better than before - visitors to the show were certainly not disappointed with what proved to be the best display of shohin and chuhin bonsai in one place.

Winners from the 4th BSA exhibition >>   |   Image gallery from the exhibition >>

Over 70 quality shohin, chuhin and mame exhibits made this year's show the biggest ever BSA exhibition. Started from modest beginnings in January 2006, the BSA show has soon grown to become one of the UK's ‘not to be missed' exhibitions – and this year's show proved to be an amazing success with the standard of display surpassing previous years. The quality level of the exhibited trees have improved year on year, with tables, accent plants and scrolls carefully selected to bring the out the beauty of the bonsai to an even greater appreciation. This year, to allow the trees to be seen more prominently, the number of tokonamas and exhibition spaces was increased, giving exhibitors an even better display area for this special exhibition.

In addition to the displays of shohin and chuhin compositions and individual tree exhibits, eight of the best bonsai Potters from the UK exhibited ranges of their beautifully designed shohin and accent pots. The potters kindly donated their pots on display for a silent auction, which proved to very successful fund raising opportunity for the association – greatly appreciated by all.

A regular feature of the BSA show, and great learning experience is the show critiques, led by Marco Invernizzi, president of the BSA. These were very popular and Marco entertained and informed in his usual enthusiastic manner. Marco explained every detail behind the compositions, what worked well, what could be improved as well as answering concisely every question thrown at him.

In addition to the show critiques by Marco, were two hugely entertaining and informative talks by Peter Warren on the evolution of bonsai display and shohin display. Peter, a former apprentice with Kunio Kobayashi in Japan, shared his illustrated talks with the capacity audience from his extensive studies in Japan, and featured many rare and unique insights into this fabulous aspect of the art of bonsai display.

John Armitage , BSA chairman, gave a very well received illustrated talk – ‘Life as a bonsai student in Japan' - John's return visit to Taisho-en, one of Japan's top Shohin nurseries under Nobuichi Urushibata.

The Saturday evening event was well attended and again featured good food, good conversation and camaraderie – followed by a hugely entertaining auction by Marco of high quality bonsai pots, stands and scrolls kindly donated by members and friends of the BSA. Marco's promotion and selling techniques were stretched to the limit in order to raise as much as possible for the BSA - all gratefully contributing to the production of the special book of the BSA exhibition.

6 beautifully crafted trophies would make the weekend even more special for a few lucky exhibitors - with many certificates of merits being awarded due to the high standards of the show.

Winners List from the 2009 Show

Exhibition book

If you were not able to attend the event you can see all of the trees in an special book of the exhibition, featuring images of the displayed trees taken professionally by Paul Goff of ‘Bonsai Presentations' which is now in production - due to be published in late Spring. The first ever book to be published of a UK exhibition – this professionally designed full colour book captures the quality and beauty of the displayed trees. The book will be available for all BSA members who exhibited and also to buy online and at the nursery from Willowbog Bonsai later in the Spring – don't miss your copy!!

Thanks for the support!!

There were lots of favourable comments on the standard of the show throughout the weekend, and we would like to thank all the exhibitors, potters, traders, helpers and not forgetting the visitors for their support. The show is truly established as a National event with participants from across the UK coming together to make the BSA show weekend a truly unforgettable event!

Thanks to Marco and Peter Warren, who gave their time to the show free of charge. Marco's enthusiasm and passion for the art remains an inspiration to us all! Thanks also to John Armitage who has worked tirelessly over the last year leading up to the show – his little van nearly worn out travelling the highways of the UK all in the name of the BSA and bonsai!

A special thank you is made to Peter and Jean Snart of Willowbog Bonsai, who again for the 4 th year have worked tirelessly in supporting the BSA and allowed the exhibition to be staged – it is only with the support and commitment from the BSA members and Willowbog Bonsai can the BSA show be realised.

The BSA exhibition will return again during the weekend of the 27th & 28th February 2010 - put it in your diary now!!

Image gallery from the 4th BSA Exhibition...

Outstanding Chuhin Itoigawa Juniper	Outstanding Chuhin Itoigawa Juniper
Shohin Composition - image from the Exhibition Book	Marco Invernizzi during a show critique
Shohin Composition	Chuhin Elm
Shohin Composition	Shohin Composition
Saturday evening auction	John Armitage
Chuhin Privet	Peter Warren
Chuhin Itoigawa Juniper	Shohin Composition

BSA Exhibition Book

The first ever book to be published of a UK exhibition is now in production – this professionally designed full colour book captures the quality and beauty of the displayed trees. The book will be available for all BSA members who exhibited and also to buy online and at the nursery from Willowbog Bonsai later in the Spring – don't miss your copy!!

5th BSA Show Report - 2010

4th BSA Show Report - 2009

3rd BSA Show Report - 2008

2nd BSA Show Report - 2007

1st BSA Show Report - 2006

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