Select Sponsor: Joshua Roth Limited

Joshua Roth Limited was founded in 1980 by Joshua Roth. As a fine woodworker he fell in love with the high quality of Japanese woodworking tools. These tools were virtually unknown and unavailable except to a select few in the States. Those that had access to these high quality tools coveted each tool they owned. Not wanting to compete with his close friends in the woodworking industry, Joshua felt that high quality Japanese-made gardening tools would be welcomed in the US. After much research, he decided to sell only tools from Japan - the country renowned for its originality and pride in gardening and horticulture. Joshua was dedicated to providing not only the best quality tools but also quality customer services. This remains the focus of Joshua Roth Limited today.

COMPANY NAME:  
JOSHUA ROTH LIMITED
 
PRODUCT /SERVICE:  
Whole distributor of a wide range of quality Japanese bonsai tools and supplies
 
 COMPANY SLOGAN OR MOTTO: 
Tools to shape the dream
 
WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED:
Albany, Oregon

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN YOUR LINE OF WORK: 
After selling my hardware business, I wanted a business that would allow me to use my business skills as well as allow us to concentrate on customer service. Working with the bonsai community as a wholesale provider of high quality bonsai tools has not only allowed me to do this, but it has also been exciting to work with so many people dedicated to this art form. 

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BUSINESS CURRENTLY THAT EXCITES YOU: 
We are seeing many new and younger enthusiasts. It is so great to see these up and coming artists. 

WHAT DO YOU WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR WORK: 
We want them to know that customer service really is our number one priority. We care about our customers and we want them to have the best experience they can have when dealing with our company. We also want them to know we stand by our products and want to deliver quality tools that they can use in the development and care of their art.
 
WHY SHOULD PEOPLE CARE ABOUT AMERICAN BONSAI:  
Japanese bonsai will always be the standard by which all others are judged but there is no reason that American bonsai artists cannot thrive and continue to grow the art form here in the United States. 
 
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO SPONSOR THE ARTISANS CUP: 
The American bonsai art form continues to grow and mature and we are delighted to have the opportunity to have some small part in its continued development. We want the bonsai community to know we believe in them and want to be a part of what is to come.

Collaborator: Chris Hornbecker

Chris Hornbecker is an award-winning photographer specializing in environments, portraiture, and sports for clients such as Nike, Eddie Bauer, Pendleton, Time Magazine,  Adidas, and the Portland Timbers. He has travelled all over the world shooting everything from pro athletes to everyday people to empty parking garages. Chris was the first person who came to our minds when looking for a photographer that would perfectly capture bonsai as a true art form, and we’re excited to have him along with us for the ride. We sat down with him to ask a few questions about his background and how bonsai has influenced what he does. Here’s what he had to say.

What do you do?
As a photographer, I am driven by my passion to capture those small fleeting moments that have a kernel of honesty.  It’s that feeling that you get when you recognize something about a person or place and are able to capture. A little connection that draws you in for a closer look. It's these moments of enhanced reality as seen through a different lens that drew me into photography. 

How did you get started?
I've always found ways to bring my creative outlook to the things that I do in life.  It's your creative fingerprint that you put on whatever you do. I started with photography in high school and then focused on making skateboard videos, skateboarding, DJing and art. It wasn't until later in life that I discovered how to turn that passion into a profession in the photography industry. I stumbled into photo assisting in 1998 and worked on learning as much about photography as I could before starting to shoot full time. 

What excites you most about The Artisans Cup?
For me creativity is a way to remix ideas. I see the artisan cup as a way to remix people’s notions about what bonsai is.  It represents a way to bring together craftsman and showcase their unique perspectives on presentation. It shows that you don't have to live within a boxed set of notions and that you can grow beyond and to wherever your mind wants to take things. 

What initially drew you to The Artisans Cup? What made you want to partner with us?
I met Ryan Neil and was instantly taken by his craft, his approach to his craft, his dedication, his patience, and passion that he has for not only bonsai but art and the processes of getting there.  I've always been attracted to shapes and forms and here was a chance to stop, study, and immerse myself in these beautiful living sculptures. When they asked me to help on this project there was no hesitation in jumping on board. 

Who has had the biggest influence in your career (living or dead)?
For me, I see influence as the collective whole. I take little bits from everything I see, the good and the bad.  Beautiful composition taken from an inspirational image or even something from a really bad image, then taking a little nugget of lighting or posture or emotion.  There's inspiration in all of it.  Getting to see Mark Gonzolas skate in person, walking around giant chunks of ice on the black sand beach in Jökulsárlón Iceland, Nadav Kander, Richard Avedon, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Gregory Crewdson, Christo and Jeanne-Claude to name a few.  But I would say skateboarding has probably the biggest influence.  It taught me the subtle nuances of how each person does the same trick in their own way.  The dedication and the amount of practice to achieve that goal. It's a combination of the technical, the artistic, and the energy that’s all put into the one moment of doing a trick solely for the sake of doing that trick and nothing more.  It's like life.  It comes and it goes in the blink of an eye.  So stop, take a look, and enjoy it. 

Tell me about your creative process.
I take an idea and I try to see it from different angles and approaches and assess the overall feel. I spend a lot of time revisiting ideas, slowly changing and refining them over time. I keep an ongoing list of ideas that keep getting rearranged and slowly developed.  I go over the shoot in my head and try to visualize all of the details: how does the lighting feel, what would it look like in these other environments?  I'm always looking for ways to merge several different ideas into one shot. It boils down to the remix.  Everything has been done before so how do I take those same elements and mix them up?

Where do you find inspiration?
Inspiration comes in many forms for me.  It's in the subtle things that people walk by every day and never notice. Trying to find a different angle on the familiar subject. It's the intuition to follow a certain path just to see what's there.   A lot of times I glance and think I see something, then upon closer inspection it's not what I thought I saw at all, but it inspires an idea, shape or technique.

Does your work often involve collaboration? What’s your perspective on collaboration?
I really like what collaboration with other people brings to the table.  A lot of times there's a simple solution right in front of you that someone from a completely different background might see right away.  I like the bouncing back-and-forth of ideas as a way to evolve what's behind the idea and elevate the project on the whole. 

Have the principles of the art of Bonsai influenced you since working with The Artisans Cup? How?
It's given me a greater appreciation for "time" and how that is such a huge part of the creative process that doesn't always get the attention it needs or deserves. In this fast-paced world we forget that it takes time for the ideas to grow and cultivate. 

See more of Chris’ work

Follow Chris on Instagram

Sponsor Feature: Pacific Bonsai Museum

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO SPONSOR THE ARTISANS CUP? 
Pacific Bonsai Museum is a vanguard in the advancement of the art of bonsai. We are dedicated to the American bonsai movement, to bonsai as an art form and to fostering a vibrant community. What better way to demonstrate our commitment than by sponsoring the Artisans Cup. 

AMERICAN BONSAI IS
While the concept of “American bonsai” is not new, what is new is it's rejuvenation over the last five years to the front of our collective conscious. American bonsai is moving away from an adherence to traditional Japanese aesthetics to contemporary American designs, from plant art to fine art. American bonsai is no longer conceptual but tactile. It’s grown from an idea, into a movement. 

Pacific Bonsai Museum
2515 S 336th Street
Federal Way, WA 98003
Phone: (253) 353-7345

Get outside. Be surprised. Connect with living art.

Feature in Portland Monthly

The Artisans Cup is the lead story in the September issue of Portland Monthly Magazine! 
 

“Unless you’re totally numb to the natural environment, there’s something to identify with. Trees are an inherent part of civilization.” 

Read the article at Portland Monthly

PATRONS OF AMERICAN BONSAI: CATHY & MARK EDGAR

Cathy is retired after a career in information technology and Mark works in the area of pharmaceutical drug development. They have lived in San Diego for the last 20 years, but have resided in many places such as Arizona, the San Francisco Bay Area, Colorado, Bahamas, and France. Besides their active participation in the San Diego Bonsai Club, Mark and Cathy belong to the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, and collect and repair antique clocks. It turns out that many bonsai people have old clocks that need to be repaired, which they gladly do. However, these days they prioritize bonsai over clocks. They also volunteer at the San Diego Bonsai Club’s bonsai pavilion at Safari Park, which has an extensive collection of bonsai.

FAVORITE BONSAI-RELATED QUOTE
We have been studying bonsai for only five years so our favorite quote relates to our relatively short experience with bonsai and the challenge in choosing good material: “It will never be a bonsai”. Someday, we hope to have skills good enough to prove that statement wrong.

FAVORITE TREE SPECIES
Since we are still experimenting with various species we have not settled on a favorite species yet. Some of the more interesting trees are different types of junipers, sweet gum, coast live oak, and trident maple. Part of the fun of bonsai is to learn how different trees grow in our environment and how they respond to training.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN BONSAI? 
We were looking for someone to trim the seven black pines we have in our yard and eventually we were introduced to the San Diego Bonsai Club and Fred Miyahara who later became our teacher.

WHO HAVE BEEN YOUR MOST INFLUENTIAL MENTORS IN BONSAI?
We have several good teachers including Gary Ishii, Fred Miyahara, John Jackson (curator of the San Diego Bonsai Pavilion at Safari Park), and most recently Ryan Neil. All of these teachers have taught us the basics and helped us improve our skills, but more importantly they make bonsai fun and they are our friends.

WHY ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT BONSAI?
It is interesting to see how design and style perspectives change as technical skills improve. A tree that was difficult to style becomes easier as experience is gained. The more people we talk to and learn from the broader the perspective becomes.

THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON WE’VE LEARNED THROUGH PRACTICING BONSAI IS
Patience in design and the importance of developing healthy trees.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF BONSAI?
For us bonsai is a hobby, an all-consuming hobby, but still a hobby. We want it to be fun. We hope that good teachers and suppliers of bonsai material will continue into the future so that others can have the same type of opportunities we have had so far.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO BECOME A PATRON OF AMERICAN BONSAI?
It is very simple. We have taken some classes from Ryan and we have seen how hard Ryan and Chelsea work to make bonsai the best that it can be. We felt we had to contribute to that type of dedication and work ethic.

ANNOUNCING THE ARTISANS CUP EXHIBITORS

We are thrilled to announce the 70 finalists selected by the Jury to be exhibited at The Artisans Cup. Receiving over 300 submissions, competition was fierce, and we are humbled by the artistry displayed in our field of finalists. We couldn’t be more excited to see what happens this September when the real competition begins!

THE EXHIBITORS

Mike Andrews, Pinus flexilis (Lebanon, PA)
Marc Arpag, Sasanqua camelia (Rochester, NY)
Marc Arpag, Mixed Shohin Composition (Rochester, NY)
Amy Blanton, Juniperus scopulorum (Murfreesboro, TN)
Bonsai Garden At Lake Merritt, Juniperus californica (Oakland, CA)
Linda Breeden & Doug Bradley, Tsuga mertensiana (Seattle, WA)
Linda Breeden & Doug Bradley, Pinus parviflora (Seattle, WA)
Greg Brenden, Pinus strobiformis (Milwaukie, OR)
Loren Buxton, Carpinus turczaninowii (Lincoln, NE)
Troy Cardoza, Punica granatum (Portland, OR)
Lee Cheatle, Pinus ponderosa (Tigard, OR)
David Crust, Larix (Brainerd, MN)
Jonas Dupuich, Carpinus turczaninowii (Alameda, CA)
Jason Eider, Juniperus communis (Seattle, WA)
Scott Elser, Fagus sylvatica (Portland, OR)
Scott Elser, Pinus ponderosa (Portland, OR)
Anthony Fajarillo, Tsuga mertensiana (Maple Valley, WA)
Michael Feduccia,Conocarpus erectus (Plant City, FL)
Melvyn Goldstein, Ulmus parvifolia (Euclid, OH)
Melvyn Goldstein, Shohin Composition (Euclid, OH)
Howard Greisler, Juniperus scopulorum (Portland, OR)
Jim Gremel, Juniperus chinensis ‘Kishu’ (Occidental, CA)
Gary Grunow, Pinus densiflora (Dodgeville, WI)
Huntington Library Bonsai Collection, Olea europaea (San Marino, CA)
Konnor Jenson, Punica granatum (Salt Lake City, UT)
Konnor Jenson, Pinus parviflora (Salt Lake City, UT)
Peter Keane, Pinus parviflora (Salem, MA)
Bob King, Tsuga mertensiana (Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada)
John Kirby, Juniperus californica (Colchester, CT)
Randy Knight, Sequoia sempervirens (St. Helens, OR)
Randy Knight, Juniperus scopulorum (St. Helens, OR)
Mike Lebanik, Jaboticaba myrciaria cauliflora (Davenport, FL)
Louise Leister, Pinus thunbergii (Palm Coast, FL)
Michael Levin, Juniperus horizontalis (Littleton, MA)
Stephen Liesen, Pinus parviflora (Quincy, IL)
Ram Lukas, Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’ (Roseville, CA)
Ram Lukas, Acer palmatum ‘Kashima’ (Rosevilla, CA)
Scott Lee Luke, Juniperus chinensis ‘Kishu’ (Lincoln, NE)
Ned Lycett, Juniperus occidentalis (Forestville, CA)
Ted Matson, Juniperus chinensis ‘Foemina’ (Pasadena, CA)
Greg McDonald, Quercus chrysolepis (Diamond Springs, CA)
Pacific Bonsai Museum, Pinus thunbergii (Federal Way, WA)
Pacific Bonsai Museum, Fagus crenata ‘Fuji’ (Federal Way, WA)
Pacific Bonsai Museum, Taxus cuspidata (Federal Way, WA)
Pacific Bonsai Museum, Hydrangea petiolaris (Federal Way, WA)
Pacific Bonsai Museum, Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’ (Federal Way, WA)
Doug Paul, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Kennett Square, PA)
Paul Pikel, Conocarpus erectus (Orlando, FL)
Mike Pollock, Pinus sylvestris ‘Beuvronensis’ (Pound Ridge, NY)
Mike Pollock, Chamaecyparis obtusa (Pound Ridge, NY)
Tim Priest, Juniperus occidentalis (Grand Rapids, MI)
Michael Roberts, Quercus suber (City of Industry, CA)
Dan Robinson, Tsuga mertensiana (Bremerton, WA)
Dan Robinson, Tsuga mertensiana (Bremerton, WA)
Eric Schikowski, Tsuga mertensiana (Solon, OH)
Todd Schlafer, Picea pungens (Denver, CO)
Eric Schrader, Juniperus californica (grafted with Juniperus chinensis) (San Francisco, CA)
Seiji Shiba, Juniperus californica (Monte Sereno, CA)
Seiji Shiba, Juniperus californica (Monte Sereno, CA)
Bob Shimon, Sequoia sempervirens (Point Arena, CA)
Roger Snipes, Carpinus tschonoskii (Spokane, WA)
Cheryl Sykora, Pinus ponderosa (Hudson, WI)
John Thompson, Juniperus californica (grafted with Juniperus chinensis) (San Jose, CA)
William Valavanis, Acer palmatum ‘Shishigashira’ (West Henrietta, NY)
William Valavanis, Acer palmatum ‘Koto Hime’ (West Henrietta, NY)
Dennis Vojtilla, Betula pendula (Newburg, OR)
Dennis Vojtilla, Acer palmatum (Newburg, OR)
John Wall, Taxodium distichum (Charlotte, TN)
Robert Wofford, Ulmus (Cork Bark Elm) (Keizer, OR)
Carl Wooldridge, Taxus cuspidata (Indianapolis, IN)

ALTERNATES
Linda Breeden & Doug Bradley, Acer palmatum (Seattle, WA)
Eileen Knox, Pinus sylvestris (Portland, OR)
Paul Krasner, Rhododendron ‘Kinsai’ (Portland, OR)
Dan Robinson, Callitropsis nootkatensis (Bremerton, WA)
Roger Snipes, Pinus ponderosa (Spokane, WA)