Join Us for the 2012 Pacific Northwest Bonsai Clubs Association Conference

September 14-16, 2012  - Hilton - Vancouver, Washington

HOSTED BY THE BONSAI SOCIETY OF PORTLAND

Welcome to "Imagine & Create," the PNBCA 2012 Bonsai Convention hosted by the Bonsai Society of Portland. "Imagine & Create" is an invitation to expand your vision and dexterity. Whether a beginner or seasoned bonsai artist, you’ll find many activities to engage your imagination and hone your skills. Learn to see a tree’s possibilities from internationally recognized bonsai masters, improve your techniques and turn your vision into reality. Join us for the most important bonsai event in the Pacific Northwest!

Our goal in planning this convention is to offer featured artists who are new to the PNBCA convention circuit. We have recruited two out-of-country artists: Marco Invernizzi from Italy and Peter Warren from the UK. We also went to California for the renowned Ted Matson, and are introducing our own Scott Elser, two-time winner of the Most Outstanding Conifer at the US National Bonsai Show.

PNBCA 2012 will give double-the-pleasure in the demo hall, with all-day demos. On both Friday and Saturday, two artists will take turns on the stage. This will avoid the down times of tedious jobs like wiring and trimming. With the artists on stage all day, registrants can take a half-day workshop and still catch half the demos. The artists will also have more time to detail their creations, which will be auctioned Saturday night.  Demos will consist of some exciting collected conifer material, as well as a set of three deciduous trees.

Each headliner will lead a private critique of the bonsai exhibit. The critiques will be limited to 20 participants each to assure everyone has an opportunity for personal interaction with the artist.  We have 12 half-day workshops of varying prices, ranging from small to large trees. Workshop sizes will be limited, with no more than 6 to 8 participants maximum. Extra trees are available for each workshop, which will ensure all participants a good choice of material. 

But what about all this great talent in our own back yard?!  We have so many highly talented local bonsai artists in the Pacific Northwest, we asked them to join us too.  We’ve planned a series of cameo appearances: David DeGroot, Michael Hagedorn and Joe Harris III will join us for special half-day workshops.  As an added treat, California artist Jim Gremel will take some time out of the marketplace to lead yet another half-day workshop.

Another goal for PNBCA 2012 is to introduce new people to the enjoyment of attending a bonsai convention.  To accomplish this we have scheduled a number of short introductory events. These take the form of 1½ hour long workshops, lectures and demos. These mini-events will be led by experienced BSOP members on Saturday.  Tree material for the mini-workshops is geared toward the beginner, with the expectation they will be used for practice and learning basic techniques. Short lectures will cover important information for the novice as well as the more experienced bonsai enthusiast, such as how to protect your trees from pests and diseases and how to create the illusion of age with use of jin and shari. You can also make your own turntable!

The convention will feature a world-class bonsai exhibit, spotlighting the finest trees from the Pacific Northwest. Each club will be invited to bring their best trees. The convention will also boast a large marketplace, bringing together vendors from throughout the West Coast featuring a variety of plant material, tools, stones, pots, books...a rare occurrence and an excellent source for whatever your heart may desire to improve your bonsai experience.

In addition to workshops, demos and lectures, numerous other events are planned for your entertainment.  As always, the popular benefit raffle will run the full weekend.  Remember, the quality of the raffle depends on YOUR donations, so start looking around for those items you no longer need or want.

We will have auctions, both oral and silent, throughout the weekend. These will be for the demo trees and excess workshop trees, as well as some of the high-end benefit drawing donations. 

There will also be a work lab and meeting place where you can meet friends, grab a beverage, work on a tree that didn’t quite get finished in the workshop or get help with a new tree you just purchased at the marketplace.  You might even get a foot massage!

We are also introducing convention logo apparel. Great values in tee shirts, sweat shirts and polo shirts.  The short sleeved tees will be charcoal grey, heavy weight 100% cotton featuring the logo screen printed in 6 colors on the back and a small 2-color print on the left chest. The sweatshirts are crew necked, navy blue, made of 50/50 cotton/poly, with a screen printed 6-color logo on the front. Polo shirts are short sleeves, 65/35 poly/cotton pique also in navy, with the logo patch embroidered on the left chest.

Friday evening will be a special event, beginning with a no-host social leading to a buffet dinner. The focus of this evening will indeed be social, greeting old friends and getting acquainted with new ones. The evening’s entertainment will be the Saikei Challenge, where teams are formed to create miniature landscapes. Registrants who do not participate on the teams will be encouraged to roam and observe closely, offering suggestions and comments. Materials will be provided, including trees, pots, soil, etc., but you will need your own basic tools. Each convention registrant will be given a raffle ticket with which to vote for your favorite (additional tickets may be purchased). The saikei with the most tickets will win a prize. The tickets will then be drawn to determine the new owner of each creation. (Everyone has a chance to win!)

Saturday evening will present the usual banquet, a dressy casual affair with a plated dinner, benefit raffle and auction of the demo trees.

Sunday morning we will gather for Visions of Excellence.  All four headliners will be on stage to investigate various aspects of the bonsai exhibit.  Each artist will select particular features of the exhibit they wish to discuss.  When possible, the objects will be brought to the stage, and all headliners will share their varied perspectives.

Last but not least, full registration includes ALL MEALS beginning with continental breakfast Friday morning and ending with brunch on Sunday.  No need to go looking for that restaurant, hoping you can make it back in time.  All events are on the main floor of the fabulous new Hilton Hotel located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, Washington.  This is the site of the 2007 convention, easily accessible from the I-5 freeway. There is an on-site restaurant and lounge, a coffee bar, fitness center and underground parking, to name just a few of their amenities.

As you see, this is a busy convention.  There are enough activities that you may be forced to make some choices.  If you want to relax, come a day early or stay a day late.  But if you come to these conventions to learn, PNBCA 2012 “Imagine & Create” is your golden opportunity.

Presented by The Bonsai Society of Portland
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