The Art of Bonsai Project

Colin said it best I think - "bonsai is... unique". I remember a past president of our club saying to a new member, "Make sure you want to do this because it will change your life." It has a way of doing that independent of currents and critics and the fine points of esthetics.

Agreed.

I also believe that 'art-out-of-a-way-of-life' has not been around in most of Europe for some generations: even the possibility has slipped from view in most places. Coincidentally, that's also where the notion of an 'aesthetic' functions at its best. The point seems worth making, but how? ...

When I was very young, my Mother would admonish me with a wise saying. "Fools names and fools faces are often found in public places".

How very true. As usual, Mother was right.