This wonderfully scenic suiseki is from the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum‘s current calendar of events (see below).
A first for us
This is the first time we’ve featured viewing stones on this so far exclusively bonsai blog. If you are a die hard bonsai lover who doesn’t care about the connection (it’s all about displays – see below), please don’t worry, we won’t do this very often. Otherwise, enjoy! And have Happy and Prosperous New Year while you are at it.
In their words…
The following is straight from the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum’s calendar:
Asian Tradition of Stone Appreciation Exhibit and Lecture
Exhibit: December 26-February 7, 10:00am-4:00pm
Lecture: February 7, 1:00pm-2:30pm
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
For centuries in Asia, certain stones have been revered and appreciated as natural works of art. Members from the Potomac Viewing Stone Group, a regional organization dedicated to stone appreciation, present an exhibit of Chinese and Japanese stones from their collections. A member of their group offers a lecture on traditional stone appreciation on Sunday, February 7, from 1:00-2:30pm in the Lecture/Demonstration Center. Free.
This Chrysanthemum Stone is called Moon Night. It’s from Neodani, Gifu Prefecture, Japan and was donated by Tanekichi Isozaki, as a gift from Nippon Suiseki Association to President Gerald Ford. It’s larger than it looks in this photo (almost two feet across – 58cm). You can see just how powerful it looks in person at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. Photo by Joe Mullan. Go here to see more photos of the museum’s viewing stones
Bonsai and suiseki living in harmony. This shohin display by Caroline Scott appeared just a couple posts ago right here on bonsaibark. Stay posted for more on mixed displays.
Hi Wayne… Thanks for sharing news on the first of two exhibits by Potomac Viewing Stone Group (PVSG) continuing to March 28, 2010. I hope visitors will forgive stones replacing bonsai in the heated exhibit space during the deep winter season.
The present PVSG exhibit includes one of few suiseki designated “Important” by Nippon Suiseki Association. Another suiseki was collected by Nippon Bonsai Association’ great photographer & international bonsai friend Kazuya Morita. Two Chinese stones arranged in the premiere position of the Museum’s exhibit space deftly communicate. It is a unique exhibit for PVSG in separating stones from different cultures. In the present exhibition, Chinese stones are separated from Japanese stones. On February 13th (Chinese New Year’s eve), a PVSG exhibit devoted solely to American stone appreciation will open to replace the present exhibit ending on February 7th.
The club typically presents a mix of worldwide stones in its annual exhibit. A set-up separating Chinese from Japanese appreciation is surprisingly different. In addition to adding grist for the presentation on February 7th, the arrangement of stones separated by origin reveals biases in presentation. It is revealing to experience their differences & consider our own limits & biases.
Thanks for fleshing this out Chris. Sounds good. I encourage our readers to visit if they have a chance. The Museum is a wonderful resource for bonsai and suiseki lovers.