rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Warren Hill, former curator of the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum from 1996-2001 died a day or so ago. He was one of those early stand out bonsai people. He started bonsai in the 1960's and learned from John Naka and Yuji Yoshimura-the twin towers of American bonsai and others.
I talked to Warren occasionally at the arboretum. Didn't know him well, but he was always up to talk about bonsai what worked, what didn't, etc. I also blame him for my obsession with bonsai pots. One year, I helped one local potter enter one of the bonsai container competitions Warren held back then. The potter wanted to see actual bonsai pots after I tried to gently tell her what she was making weren't all that great. I had brought a few pots up to the PBA show one Saturday to show her. We were talking in the parking lot and Warren walked by. "Hey, you wanna see some REAL bonsai pots? Come with me..." he said with a grin. We followed him to the arb's pot storage area. There were dozens, possibly a lot more (i was too dumbfounded at the time to count), in the room. Warren pulled several off the shelf explaining what they were, who donated them (Japanese and Chinese master potters mostly--one worth $100,000--according to Warren) and some of the details of their history. Some containers were hundreds of years old. Some were new. Fell in love with Nick Lenz's pots that day after seeing and holding onto a few. Warren also showed me the most valuable pot in the collection--not one you'd think.
With a wink , he told us not to tell anyone about the visit, since we "civilians" really weren't supposed to be back there. One of the best bonsai afternoons I've ever had. Memorable. Will miss his passion and eye for bonsai. A great loss for everyone.
jeffersmortuary.com
I talked to Warren occasionally at the arboretum. Didn't know him well, but he was always up to talk about bonsai what worked, what didn't, etc. I also blame him for my obsession with bonsai pots. One year, I helped one local potter enter one of the bonsai container competitions Warren held back then. The potter wanted to see actual bonsai pots after I tried to gently tell her what she was making weren't all that great. I had brought a few pots up to the PBA show one Saturday to show her. We were talking in the parking lot and Warren walked by. "Hey, you wanna see some REAL bonsai pots? Come with me..." he said with a grin. We followed him to the arb's pot storage area. There were dozens, possibly a lot more (i was too dumbfounded at the time to count), in the room. Warren pulled several off the shelf explaining what they were, who donated them (Japanese and Chinese master potters mostly--one worth $100,000--according to Warren) and some of the details of their history. Some containers were hundreds of years old. Some were new. Fell in love with Nick Lenz's pots that day after seeing and holding onto a few. Warren also showed me the most valuable pot in the collection--not one you'd think.
With a wink , he told us not to tell anyone about the visit, since we "civilians" really weren't supposed to be back there. One of the best bonsai afternoons I've ever had. Memorable. Will miss his passion and eye for bonsai. A great loss for everyone.
Warren Hill Obituary (1938 - 2024) - Greeneville, Tennessee
Warren was born on November 27th, 1938 and passed away on June 10th, 2024 at the age of 85
jeffersmortuary.com
