Gualala Arts Promoting public interest and participation in the arts since 1961
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The Gualala Arts Center is offering a unique opportunity for enthusiasts and novices alike to delve into the ancient art of bonsai with a two-day workshop led by renowned instructor Bob Shimon. Scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, November 12-13, from 6-9 pm at the Gualala Arts Center, participants will immerse themselves in the history and techniques of bonsai, from styling and wiring to pot selection.
The workshop, priced at $100 for GAC members and $130 for non-members. In addition there is a $50 materials fee payable to the instructor. Prospective students are encouraged to register by November 5, either online via GualalaArt.org or in person at the Gualala Arts Front Desk.
During the course, Shimon will guide attendees through a comprehensive lecture on bonsai’s origins, its evolution from the Chinese Penjing, and the critical techniques for creating these living sculptures. The hands-on segment will allow students to apply their new skills, practicing wiring branches and beginning the styling process on a tree they will take home.
This workshop promises to be an educational experience, both a lecture and practical application for developing the skills to cultivate bonsai trees.
Materials List for Students
Whatever bonsai tools students may have. If not, then garden clippers and/or scissors, wire cutters, and pliers. Also, a notebook and pen.
About Bonsai
The art of bonsai originally started in China several thousand years ago and is called Penjing. Penjing creations tend to be landscapes with trees, rocks, water, and figurines.
Bonsai (bone-sigh) is a Japanese term, and the literal translation is tree in a pot. Bonsai in Japan started about 1,200 years ago and are either single trees or forest plantings. Wiring bonsai began in Japan around 1910 to place branches in the desired location and is critical in developing good bonsai.
About Instructor Bob Shimon
Bob Shimon’s journey into the world of bonsai began in the mid-1960s as a college student, guided by the first Sunset book on the subject. However, his passion was put on hold when he was drafted in 1968. It wasn’t until 1985, after spotting a poster for the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society in Santa Rosa, that Shimon rekindled his interest and has since remained an active member. Under the tutelage of Mas Imazumi and later Kathy Shaner, Shimon honed his craft, participating in workshops with renowned bonsai masters such as Mr. Mitsuya, Mr. Tokita, Mr. Tanaka, Marco Invernizzi, and Peter Tea. His dedication to the art form led to his collaboration with Ryan Neil, focusing on Sierra junipers, and currently, he is part of a study group led by Adam Toth.
Shimon’s expertise was recognized nationally when one of his redwoods received the “Finest North American Native Species Bonsai” award at the 3rd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition in 2012, and another was showcased in the Artisans Cup exhibit in Portland in 2015. In 1997, he co-founded Mendocino Coast Bonsai with his son Zack, specializing in California natives, particularly redwoods, and offering a selection of bonsai-related products through their website, mcbonsai.com.
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