Page 8 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2014Q1

belongs to Bill in the literal, figurative and legal sense,
he truly lives it and owns it!
International Bonsai has been the most anticipated
magazine to be received 4 times per year for over 35
years by Bonsai lovers in 50 countries around the
world. Each magazine is a treasure trove of photos,
educational ideas and special features. They are a re-
source that one never tires of and are referred to many
times over the years. Looking back it is interesting
to see how they continue to improve just when you
think they can’t get any better! Behind the scenes,
there is a tremendous effort, including many “up all
night” sessions, to produce this superb publication.
Bills passion and affection for bonsai has sprouted
in many directions. As an artist, he has won many
awards but even more importantly, he has created
bonsai of unparalleled beauty and refinement. His
new book, Classical Bonsai Art: 50 years of Bonsai
Passion, illustrates the development and exquisite
refinement of a selection of 100 masterpiece bonsai.
Always true to his mission of bonsai education, Bill
shares the details of his thoughts, techniques, history
and development for each tree. During a recent sem-
inar at the International Bonsai Arboretum, Yasuo
Mitsuya said that he has noticed an emphasis on new
techniques that are focused on doing things faster. He
lamented that the focus was not on doing things bet-
ter, just faster. Bill’s focus is on achieving excellence
and provides a welcome alternative to quick and easy
techniques offered on the Internet. Online it is easy to
be fooled about the quality of trees. The opportunity
to view a Valavanis tree in leaf and with bare branch’s
clearly confirms that his methods and affection for
his bonsai create the excellence he seeks.
As an author, contributor and publisher, his work has
expanded, diversified and refined over the year. These
works serve to further illustrate both a dedication to
excellence and a tireless desire to improve.
Bill has the most extensive personal library of bonsai
Top; Mr. & Mrs. Kyuzo Murata books, magazines, journals and photographs likely
with their daughter in law at in the world. In his library is every issue of BCI
Kyuka-en Bonsai Garden in
Omiya, Japan, are comment- Bonsai & Stone Appreciation, Bonsai: Journal of the
ing on photos of Bill’s bonsai in American Bonsai Society, and International Bonsai as
June 1985. well as many Japanese and European periodicals. On
Middle; Yuji Yoshimura and Bill his shelves are almost every Kokufu-ten exhibition
Valavanis worked together to albums and many, many, rare old Japanese books
give many educational pro- and other exhibition albums. He has dedicated an
grams. During this program,
guidelines for evaluating clas- entire room and half of another with floor to ceiling
sical bonsai were presented shelves that serves as an ever-expanding resource.
at an International Bonsai In his archives are over 70,000 images and he draws
Symposium in the early 1990s. from both for his many educational programs,
Bottom; Corin Tomlinson presentations and articles. Several years ago Bill’s
formally apprenticed with house was destroyed in a fire. His mother was the
Bill Valavanis for several years
at the International Bonsai only one home at the time and was safely evacuated
Arboretum in Rochester, New by a neighbor. When Bill arrived home, the fire
York, as part of his horticultural was raging and flames were shooting out. Once he
degree program at Merrist learned his family was safe, he thought of his beloved
Wood College in England.
books and raced into the burning house to rescue

6 | BCI | January/February/March 2014