THANK YOU FOR A GREAT FESTIVAL !
2024 Japanfest Exhibition and Bonsai Classes
We’d like to offer our sincere thanks for the many, many volunteers and attendees who made our 2024 Japanfest a truly special event. We had a lovely “mini-exhibition” of bonsai, taught bonsai classes for ninety-six students, who all got to take home their own tree, and added a new group of members to our ranks!
Best of all, we had a great time sharing our love of bonsai with all 22,000 attendees of the festival. It really was a great time and we hope you will join us again in future years.
2024 Schedule
Oct. 9th, 2024
Beginner’s Meeting
Join us on October 9th, at 7:00pm in the Library in the main house at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, for our beginners meeting.
These sessions depend on you! Please bring your tree or trees with you and our instructor will answer any questions you may have about your plant and help you establish the future direction for your tree.
Our instructor is local hero and bonsai teacher Rodney Clemons of All Good Bonsai. There is no one better suited to take on the task of teaching how to grow bonsai in Atlanta, as Rodney has been an active grower and resident of the area for over 30 years.
During our October session we will take on the topics of Fall Work, and the unique opportunities it affords, as well as addressing any plant material that our participants bring in.
Register to bring a tree to this session here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-bonsai-with-rodney-clemmons-tickets-796493993977
October 19th, 2024
Club Meeting
On October the 19th, at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center beginning at 9:00am we have a member led club meeting focusing on the topic of bonsai display. We’ll meet in the Retreat building, which is the stone cottage located behind the parking lot, greenhouse and past the amphitheater.
We’ll spend the morning exploring the topic of bonsai display and enjoy the time together while discussing how to “tell stories with your trees”. In addition to a presentation, we’ll have bonsai, display stands, accents, scrolls, and suiseki on hand for all of us enjoy and explore
At 12:00 we will all enjoy a light lunch together.
In the afternoon, we will have an open club workday. So bring your trees, bring your tools and the club will provide wire. We will spend the afternoon merrily working away together on our various plant based projects.
November 2nd, 2024
Club Meeting
Featuring Guest Artist Sergio Cuan
Our November Meeting is a little different! It comes a little early in the month, on Saturday November the 2nd at 9:00am. We are going to do a Sergio Cuan workshop double header! Register for either a morning workshop, the afternoon workshop, or why not both? We will once again be at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. Sergio is not just an accomplished bonsai artist, but a formally trained visual artist as well. His thoughts on design, proportion and development are truly worth hearing. Sergio approaches tree design with sensitivitey and grace, something we can all learn from.
In both the morning and the afternoon, Sergio will facilitate a workshop in the “Bring you own tree” format for up to eight people.
9:00- 12:30 Club Meeting and Morning Workshop
12:30 – 1:30 Lunch
1:00 – 4:30 Afternoon Bring your own tree workshop
Register Here for the Morning Session: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sergio-cuan-bonsai-workshop-tickets-797995705637
Register Here for the Afternoon Session: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sergio-cuan-bonsai-workshop-tickets-797997290377
December 21st, 2024
Holiday Party & Annual Meeting
We’ll have our annual holiday party on Saturday December the 21st at 11:00 am. The club will provide lunch and you provide your favorite appetizers and desserts. This is always a nice time, to simply sit and visit with our fellow club members.
We will also conduct the club’s annual meeting, consisting of elections, the treasurer’s report and publishing the next year’s schedule.
Annual Club Events
The club has planned calendar of events each year. Each Spring the club will sponsor an annual bonasi exhibition at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. In late Summer the club hosts an auction fundraiser each year. This is the club’s primary fundraiser. All proceeds go directly back into the club to support our monthly activities. For the remaining months of the year the club focuses each month on a seasonally appropriate topic, usually presented by a professioanl bonsai artist. Past Topics have included: Repotting techniques, how to judge a bonsai exhibition, how to care for tropical bonsai, accent plants and moss balls, seasonal work for pines, seasonal work for junipers and fall seasonal work for decidious trees.
Bonsai Workshops
We offer novice workshops led by a local bonsai professional and advanced workshops led by various guest artists. Since bonsai have needs based on the calendar our workshops are seasonal in nature.
Depending on artist demand, we may have more than one workshop session per weekend, so check the events page for times as the monthly meeting approaches. Please remain flexible with whether you can take morning or afternoon workshop. The cost of each workshop session is currently $75 for at least 3 hours, unless we are including tree or other materials, which may be extra. The club will provide wire to use at workshops and meetings; everything else you may need should be brought by workshop participant, including tree and tools.
Recent Guest Artists
- Young Choe
- Rodney Clemons
- Adam Jones
- Kenji Miyata
- Kathy Shaner
- Tyler Sherrod
- Jerome Kellerhals
- Sergio Cuan
- Eli Akins
Membership
ATLBS Online
