September 2024 Japanfest Exhibition and Bonsai Classes
Join us on September 21st and 22nd at the Gas South Convention center, in our return to Japanfest! for 2024. The club will host a mini exhibition and introductory bonsai classes.
Here is a link for the festival itself: https://www.japanfest.org/
And if you would like to volunteer please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0A4FABAB2EA4FC1-absjapanfest#/
We’ll need up to twenty volunteers per day to staff our space, so if you are interested, please do sign up for a spot or two!
We always need a number of generously sized, exhibition quality trees for this event. If you are interested sharing one of more of your trees on display please email bcurrey@curreyco.com
The club will host workshops hands on bonsai workshops for up to 96 people during the two days of the event. The workshop costs $45.00 and includes a small bonsai that each participant will take home that day. If you’d like to register for the workshop you may do so here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/o/atlanta-bonsai-society-35349374543
October Beginner’s Meeting
On October the 9th at 7:00pm – 9:00pm at the Callanwolde Conservatory, we will continue our beginners series, featuring local hero and bonsai teacher Rodney Clemons of All Good Bonsai. There is no one better suit 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.
Our format for these sessions is simple: Anyone may attend, but to bring a tree (or trees) we ask that you reserve a ticket.
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 participents 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 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 spend the morning making several displays and enjoy the time together while discussing how to “tell stories with your trees”. We’ll have bonsai, display stands, accents, scrolls, and suiseki on hand for all of us to play with.
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 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 2024 Holiday Party and 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
