 |
Michael Hagedorn
Prior to his apprenticeship under Shinji
Suzuki of Nagano, Japan, Michael Hagedorn was well known
for his bonsai pottery. His artistic background ranges from
painting and drawing to ceramic sculpture and installation.
He earned his Master’s Degree in ceramic art at the New
York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University after
which he made bonsai containers for nine years. Michael’s
bonsai work appeared in Kokufu during 2004, 2005, and 2006
while he was an apprentice under Mr. Suzuki. As an apprentice,
he was honored to wire two trees. These trees won a Kokufu
Prize and a Prime Minister Award. Michael currently lives
near Portland. Learn more at www.crataegus.com. |
|
|
Ryan Neil
Ryan Neil was born and raised in Colorado where he was
fascinated with the wild and tortured nature of the trees
on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. So much so
that he decided to major in horticulture and came to California
to study at Cal Poly. His introduction to bonsai came during
his studies when he was given a copy of Bonsai Today which
had an article on the styling of a cascading juniper by
Masahiko Kimura. He was hooked. After learning much with
bonsai people in Northern and Southern California, he knew
he wanted to study in Japan and make this his life’s work.
He met Ben Oki and through him was able to attain the chance
of an apprenticeship with Mr. Kimura. He used a grant from
GSBF to help pursue his study and, upon graduation from
Cal Poly, he went to Japan to begin a journey of transformation
in his apprenticeship with the master. There was a tearing-down
before the building-up in his early time with Kimura. By
persevering and accepting the humbling parts of his training
he began to build up not only his knowledge and technique
in bonsai but developed a mind set and disciplined approach
to both life and bonsai.
He has completed his apprenticeship and says he will always
be open to learning new ways to improve his art form. He
is now located just outside of Portland, Oregon and is
devoting himself to teaching and advancing the level and
knowledge of art of bonsai in America. |
|
|
Peter Warren
On a trip to Japan to watch the World Cup, Peter went
on a bonsai tour where he fell in love with the art of
bonsai. For 4 1/2 years he lived and worked as a traditional
bonsai apprentice under renowned bonsai master, Kunio Kobayashi,
and earned the honored position of head apprentice. In
2007, Peter began working for himself, writing articles
for Bonsai Focus magazine and conducting workshops and
lectures across the United Kingdom. His first trip to the
United States also occurred in 2007. Then in 2008, he served
as one of the judges for the 1st National Bonsai Exhibition
in New York. Over the last few years he has travelled in
Europe, Japan and the US which has allowed him the opportunity
to work on many wonderful trees. Peter has been known to
say that his favorite style of tree is one with a slender
old trunk that has lots of character and a natural feel
to it. He says “the pot is a very important aspect of bonsai
for me and I have a great interest in antique containers.”
Peter is located in the U.K. You can learn more at his
website: www.saruyama.co.uk.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|