Page 42 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2014Q2

Figure 12: A pleasing display
of small stones. The impact of
each stone in this harmonious
display is greater than its
impact in isolation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Michael was beyond generous. She and Tom also presented tre- stones each have there own personality but they par-
Collins-McIntyre is a Canadian mendous insight into the culture of stone appreciation ticipate in a larger personality of the collective in a way
professor, psychologist, and and its role in the larger culture of China. So we have that recalls a particularly playful and eccentric group
writer. He is a Contributing in this work the documentation of a singularly won- of scholars from the Qing Dynasty. The larger mean-
Editor of BCI Bonsai and Stone
Appreciation. His articles derful collection by one of the world’s greatest nature ing does not derive simply from the sum of the spirits
appear quite regularly. photographers. These wonderful images are wonder- of the eight stones. Point must have counterpoint. The
fully printed in a size (the book measures 15.7 x 12.6 whole is indeed greater than the sum of its parts.
inches) and on paper that do them justice. Abbeville I was quite satisfied with this ending until I had a
Press responded to the power of the images with all conversation with Jonathan. He had stated that he
its resources and its commitment to the printer’s art thought that this was his best work, certainly the most
giving our community a prepossessing vehicle for personally meaningful. I asked him why that was, fully
this historic resource. The images are supported by expecting him to talk along the lines of a unique col-
the authority and passion for stones of two of the great laboration and extraordinary material. He thought
authorities on viewing stones, on spirit stones working for a while and then said: “you know for Kemin that
today. Synergy indeed. In deciding how to conclude, they are not just stones—they are family, beauty, love,
I decided to use the collection of stones presented in heritage, and art rolled into one.” He went on to say:
Figure 11. Each of the eight stones is beautiful and “…for this book, I got to photograph a love story.”
moving. Each can stir the spirit: yet, together they
do more. The poetic name of this grouping is “Eight
Eccentricities of Yangzhou.” The eight Three Gorges

40 | BCI | April/May/June 2014