2025 North American Bonsai Pottery Competition

[Gabler]

We are discussing a bonsai POT competition. The pot is the whole point of this particular contest

That begs the question, what would a picture frame competition look like? Imagine a gallery of empty frames. It would be surreal.

 

[Shogun610]

Sara tearing into a Mirai fanboy is what I want to see

Me too , but shhhh theres a bunch on here.

 

[shohin_branches]

That begs the question, what would a picture frame competition look like? Imagine a gallery of empty frames. It would be surreal.

Mirai already did that. They don't have a lot left though. I can't find the original gallery photos.

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[Colorado]

That begs the question, what would a picture frame competition look like? Imagine a gallery of empty frames. It would be surreal.

Well…I would think that such a competition would be entered by folks who are interested in picture frames, and judged by folks who are experts in making picture frames. Lol!

Look, there are lots of folks out there that are interested in pottery. This competition seems to be an opportunity for those folks to get together and have a nice time making pots and viewing pots made by others. I just think that the folks who are declaring which pot(s) are the “best” ought to be potters.

But at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter who the judges are, since @NaoTK is going to win regardless

I am sure the selected judges will do a fine job and that everyone participating and attending will have a great time. I think it’s a great idea for an event. I would love to see something like this added to the Pacific Bonsai Expo.

 

[NaoTK]

Well…I would think that such a competition would be entered by folks who are interested in picture frames, and judged by folks who are experts in making picture frames. Lol!

Look, there are lots of folks out there that are interested in pottery. This competition seems to be an opportunity for those folks to get together and have a nice time making pots and viewing pots made by others. I just think that the folks who are declaring which pot(s) are the “best” ought to be potters.

But at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter who the judges are, since @NaoTK is going to win regardless

I am sure the selected judges will do a fine job and that everyone participating and attending will have a great time. I think it’s a great idea for an event. I would love to see something like this added to the Pacific Bonsai Expo.

No way, anybody can win this thing, that's why the results will be a random shotgun blast. I could see Ron or Sara favoring a western approach and aesthetic. Jonas and Roy are more traditional but neither are experts in unglazed pot making.

 

[pandacular]

Obviously the format of this is all wrong. We should do it Top Chef style, where the contestants are shown a tree and given design requirements and have to do it on the fly.

 

[Ruddigger]

Obviously the format of this is all wrong. We should do it Top Chef style, where the contestants are shown a tree and given design requirements and have to do it on the fly.

I’d watch that tbh.

 

[Sansokuu]

They have a FB but I am still waiting to see if anyone local is going.

Nao and I will be vending, I would be happy to take your entry if you don’t mind a small transport fee.

 

[Sansokuu]

I am ok with pottery exhibitions and learning events, but I think a competition is premature in this country

I personally talked to Angelica about this, as she has taken over spear heading this event. The people that handed her the reins already labeled it as a competition though she is completely in agreement the preferred format is an exhibit, like how bonsai shows are not competitions, but exhibitions. “Winning” should not put the maker on a pedestal of any sort, but recognize the pot itself for whatever merits it exhibits well. The same goes with the judges, she was not able to have an initial say in who they were. She is doing the best she can (and it is a ton of work), and considering that this has not happened in a decade, we should be kind with criticism, but generous with feedback after the fact.

 

[Sansokuu]

FWIW. A potter who has command of glazes and clay but no bonsai experience is mostly worthless. A bonsai pot is built for a function not just for art. If it doesn’t drain is the wrong clay for applications or has wonky angles that complicate repotting even they’re “ cool” looking or avante garde they aren’t great bonsai pots

Lol I feel called out.

 

[Sansokuu]

Speaking of Hagedorn, he would have been a great choice, being a professional potter at one time and now a professional bonsai artist.

Omg you are so right. Well, suggest it to Angelica Ramirez who has taken on the responsibility of running this. He would be a great judge for next time.

 

[rockm]

Lol I feel called out.

For sure wasn’t referencing you. I was remembering a few potters from way back that I had tried to get interested in bonsai pots. They were making art pots and features that made repotting an adventure in “do I break the pot to get the tree out?”

 

[michaelj]

For sure wasn’t referencing you. I was remembering a few potters from way back that I had tried to get interested in bonsai pots. They were making art pots and features that made repotting an adventure in “do I break the pot to get the tree out?”

In the studio where I do my work, I've seen so many really cool looking forms that would make an awesome looking bonsai pot, but they'd be a massive pain when it comes time to repot. There can be a place for some of them for accents, or for just the right tree, but it's pretty limited.

 

[Wood]

I’d watch that tbh.

Especially if they fire it Great Pottery Throwdown style. Power dry the pot and bisque + glaze fire in a day or two, then get on your knees to pray, self-flagellate and sacrifice a goat so it doesn't crack. Results are carted out before a crowd under cloth and the potters' reactions to the reveal are shown live to everyone. Brutal

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Perhaps all the back and forth in this thread is evidence that its good that they are incorporating judges with different perspectives and backgrounds on the pots. My only peave is that they dont have three judges for the finals...

 

[Kanorin]

I think the fact that people are talking about this is a good thing. And based on the discussion here, it seems both potters and bonsai artists who utilize many pots can probably offer some valid critiques - perhaps from slightly different points of view. I think they did a decent job of picking some judges from each category. It would be very difficult to design a different slate of judges that made everyone happy.

 

[reddog]

YES. The Shohei Ohtani of bonsai

I doubt hagedorn has any idea who Shohei Ohtani is. I've spoken to him a few times and bought him lunch but sports never came up as an interest of his...he used to do a little ball room dancing.

 

[Sansokuu]

So, who’s entering?

 

[Ruddigger]

So, who’s entering?

I’m in. Can I use Sculpey?

 

[Sansokuu]

I’m in. Can I use Sculpey?

Honestly I've been seeing a lot of instragrammers use sculpey and a resin gloss. Looks exactly like real ceramics until you pick it up in person lol. You can probably do it but have to disclose materials in the artist statement.