Page 31 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2018Q1

important addition to the world of bonsai. How did snap decisions. In essence, they ask the tree “What Top; Figure 9
this happen? Fundamental to the impact of this truly background would do you justice?” Ficus natalensis/natal fig
evocative book is its creativity. The psychoanalyst, In Training, in a fundamental way, was made In training since 1976
Rollo May, has written very convincingly of the foun- possible by the collegiality of the bonsai community.
dational role that courage plays in creativity. May’s It was funded through Kickstarter, which is an online Bottom; Figure 10
point is that creativity does not come easy. We must platform for “crowd-funding.” In essence, artists are Juniperus californica/California
all be grateful that Stephen Voss had the courage and able to secure funding for projects through a public juniper
openness to allow bonsai to ignite his creative spirit. appeal. Products are offered to potential investors, in In training since 1985
We must also be grateful that he had the resolve this case, signed copies of the book. A target is set that
to carve out time for this project and the energy is sufficient to produce the work. The funding proceeds
to bring it to fruition. It wasn’t a solitary journey.
Stephen speaks of the generosity of his family. Jack
Sustic, curator of the National Bonsai and Penjing
Museum, recalls that he couldn’t help but notice
this young man photographing the collection and
conversation commenced. Stephen recalls Jack as a
generous mentor and a consummately companionable
guide over the nine months and over thirty visits he
made. A work of the aesthetic quality of In Training
requires collaborative effort. The artists at the design
firm, Polygraph, worked collegially with Stephen to
design and print the book. The result is a work that
is physically worthy of the images that it holds, the
design, layout, the aesthetic choices, and the quality
of the printing magnify the images in a way similar
to the way that Michael Hagedorn’s afterword does.
Figures 5 and 6 present two views of a buttonwood
against a bronze background. The background choice
is felicitous. It is just right. Such judgments are not

January/February/March 2018 | BCI | 29