April 8 – 9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Museum of Art and History • 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai is a local club devoted to promoting and teaching bonsai as an art form. The beautifully exhibited trees may be seen from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days and are the product of many years of horticultural development and artistic creativity.
A bonsai is actually a living sculpture and an art form that dates back at least 3000 years.
The highlight of the show will be at 2 p.m. each day, when Bonsai Masters, Eric Schrader on Saturday April 8, and Sensei Katsumi Kinoshita on Sunday April 9 will demonstrate the techniques of creating an artistic tree from common nursery stock.
The newly created bonsai tree will then be offered in a raffle drawing along with other trees and items donated by club members. These trees have been cared for, designed, wired, and potted in bonsai pots so individuals winning the tree/s can begin enjoying this art form immediately.
Other activities: Watsonville Taiko performance, Saturday 11 a.m. and Carolyn Fitz, calligraphy and ink painting artist, will demonstrate Sumi-e Japanese Ink Painting on Saturday only at 12:30p.m. Santa Cruz Todo Kai martial arts performance, Sunday 11 a.m. Origami crane demonstrations on both days at 1 p.m.
Additionally, there will be sales of bonsai and pre-bonsai trees. Sales area will have new trees each day. Alan Jalkut, Owner of Tuklaj Productions, will create a DVD of this year’s show and will have DVD of previous shows for sale. Door prizes, as well as, free tea and cookies are also offered at the show.
Entrance to the bonsai show and the Museum is $5.00 per person; well worth the investment.
Regular meetings of the Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai are held at 9 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month at the Live Oak Grange Hall, 1900 17th Avenue, Santa Cruz. Visitors are always welcome.