The Basics

The MABA 2010 Convention will be held from Friday, June 25 through Sunday, June 27 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan, hosted by the West Michigan Bonsai Club. There will be a large bonsai exhibit (judged and non-judged), a suiseki exhibit, individual tree critiques, workshops (including one for children), demonstrations, raffles, auctions, a banquet, and vendors from around the midwest and beyond.

Registration for the MABA 2010 Convention is now open. Full registration is currently $195 per person. (You save $40 by registering now.) After June 15, registration will be $235. Full registration includes one (1) ticket to the Saturday night banquet. Single-day registration is $95 for Friday or Saturday, $50 for Sunday. (A banquet ticket is not included in single-day registrations.) Additional banquet tickets can be purchased for $50. (See the registration document at the end of this page for complete information.)

Guest Artists

Kathy Shaner, Headliner: First non-Japanese and first woman certified by Nippon Bonsai Kyodo Kumaii, the professional bonsai grower's branch of Nippon Bonsai Association; curator of the Golden State Bonsai Collection-North at Lake Merritt in Oakland, CA; resident bonsai master at the El Dorado Bonsai School in Placerville, CA.

Pauline Muth*: Owner of pfm bonsai studio in West Charlton NY, in bonsai for 35+ years, extensive experience with national and international bonsai organizations.

Andy Smith*: Owner of Golden Arrow Bonsai in Deadwood SD, contract forester and collector in the Black Hills.

Frank Mihalic*: Second generation owner of Wildwood Gardens, Chardon OH, author of books and CDs on bonsai, including Bonsai for Kids Made Easy.” Founded first Internet bonsai magazine.

Jack Douthitt: Bonsai enthusiast for over 40 years, very active in local, national and international bonsai organizations, has trees in both the National Arboretum Collection of American Bonsai in Washington DC and the Weyerhaeuser Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection in Tacoma WA. Author of Bonsai – The Art of Living Sculpture.

Steve Pilacik*: Owner, Matsu Momiji Bonsai in Charlotte, NC, known as the American Pine Master, the most experienced grower of Japanese Black Pine in the United States, specializing  in Japanese Black Pine and Japanese Maples since 1977.

Scott Yelich*: Owner of Eagle Creek Bonsai in Indianapolis, specializes in tropical bonsai, particularly ficus and collected buttonwood.

*Will also be vending.

Bonsai & Suiseki Exhibits

The bonsai exhibit will be located in the Imperial Ballroom on the lobby level - 1st floor at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. There will be both judged (max. 2 trees, $35 fee per tree) and non-judged exhibits. Open to full registrants, bonsai entered in the judged exhibit can win one of three cash prizes:
* First place winner will receive $300.00 (Three hundred US dollars).
* Second place winner will receive $200.00 (Two hundred US dollars)
* Third place winner will receive $100.00 (One hundred US dollars)

See the registration document for complete rules. Also, a People’s Choice Award, judged by the general public, will be given. All trees will automatically be entered in this category. Winner will receive a ribbon. The suiseki exhibit will be on the Mezzanine level of the Imperial Ballroom. (No awards for suiseki will be given.)

Demonstration and Workshop Schedules

Demonstrations

Friday, June 25
8:00 AM-Noon, Kathy Shaner - Japanese Weeping Willow
9:00 AM-Noon, Andy Smith - Ponderosa Pine
7:30-9:30 PM, Kathy Shaner & Andy Smith - Side-by-Side Shimpaku Junipers

Saturday, June 26
9:00 AM-Noon, Pauline Muth - Blended Mame Planting
9:00 AM-Noon, Steve Pilacik - Japanese Black Pine Small Forest

Sunday, June 27
9:00 AM-Noon, Kathy Shaner - Species TBD

Additional on-going demos will also be presented throughout the convention in the registration hallway.

Workshops

Instructions for care of your new bonsai will be provided in all workshops. Plant material provided for all workshops are of excellent quality and monetary value. Please bring bonsai tools and pencil and paper to all workshops. All workshops will be booked on a first come, first served basis

Friday morning, June 25
#1 9:00-Noon, Scott Yelich - Dwarf African Strangler Fig, 8 participants, Beg, $90
Pruning techniques, repotting and styling of these unusual tropical ficus plants.
#2 9:00-Noon, Jack Douthitt - Two Mame, 8 participants, Int, $95
Choose two small, 3” to 4” trees from among Chamaecyparis, dwarf elms, cotoneaster, pines or shimpaku junipers (all outdoor trees) to style into tiny bonsai.
#3 9:00-Noon, Frank Mihalic - Kids’ Ficus Grove, 10 participants, All, $45
Accompanied by a parent, children from ages 7 through 12 will plant a forest made up of tropical ficus plants.
CR1 11:00-Noon, Pauline Muth - Bonsai Exhibit Critique, All, $35
Learn what makes a great bonsai from this discussion of many exhibit trees.

Friday afternoon, June 25
#4 1:00-5:00, Kathy Shaner - Japanese Weeping Willow, 7 participants, Int-Adv, $295
Trim, wire and style a large, 20” to 30” weeping willow with a 1” to 2” curving trunk, supplied by Brussel’s Bonsai Nursery. We're sorry. This workshop has filled to capacaity and is no longer available.
#5 1:00-5:00, Andy Smith - Ponderosa Pine, 8 participants, Int-Adv, $195
Wire and prune collected ponderosa pine to get them started on their development as bonsai. The trees were collected in May 2009, or before, and average about 75 years old with interesting trunks. Most are between 25” and 30" tall, but will be reduced in height during the workshop. The workshop will focus on designing a tree out of collected raw material and the use of wire in shaping the trunk and branches. We're sorry. This workshop has filled to capacaity and is no longer available.

Saturday morning, June 26
#7 8:00-Noon, Kathy Shaner - Shimpaku Juniper, 7 participants, Beg-Int, $195
These well-branched trees are 8-10 years old, grown in ground 6-8 years.  Their height is 12” to 16", and trunks are ?” to 1. We're sorry. This workshop has filled to capacaity and is no longer available.
#8 9:00-Noon, Scott Yelich - Buttonwood, 8 participants, Beg, $95
Good-sized tropical buttonwoods with many interesting knots and deadwood will be trimmed and styled, but not repotted. These beautiful trees are quite uncommon in this area.
CR2 10-11 AM, Jack Douthitt - Bonsai Exhibit Critique, All, $35
Learn what makes a great bonsai from this discussion of many exhibit trees.

Saturday afternoon, June 26
#9 1:00-5:00, Kathy Shaner - Bring Your Own Tree, 7 participants, All, $95 We're sorry. This workshop has filled to capacaity and is no longer available.
Bring a bonsai from your own collection (or buy one from one of the show vendors) and Kathy will work on it with you, trimming, wiring, styling and care.
#11 1:00-5:00, Pauline Muth - Blended Mame Planting, 8 participants, All, $135
Combine around five very young trees to create one larger, older-looking bonsai.
#12 1:00-5:00, Steve Pilacik - Japanese Black Pine, 12 participants, All, $150
Trim, wire and style a shohin (medium-sized) black pine with the assistance of this pine master.

Sunday morning, June 27
#14 9:00-Noon, Jack Douthitt - Ficus Salicifolia, 8 participants, Int, $145
Tropical willow-leaf figs grow naturally as a large shrub or smallish tree. Participants will trim, wire and style these well-formed plants into beautiful bonsai.

Registering - For More Information

Download the registration form by clicking here: Adobe Acrobat PDF format or Microsoft Word. (PC users, right click and choose "download link". Mac users, right click or option-click.) A separate registration form must be filled out for each person. If you have any questions about the convention, contact Mollie Hollar, info@basicallybonsai.com.

Book Your Hotel Room

Once you've registered for the convention, be sure to book your room at the Amway Grand Hotel. Registrants have been given a very special rate of only $119 (about half-price for the convention dates). Rooms can be reserved by calling 800.253.3590. Be sure to mention that you are with the MABA 2010 Convention.