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2002 New Talent Bonsai Competition


APPLICATION

Many years ago, I was very forThe New Talent Bonsai Competition is an annual competition to recognize and promote new bonsai talent in North America. First prize is a round trip ticket to Japan on Japan Air Lines. It is a two-stage competition. The first stage is a preliminary judging of photographs of previously designed trees. The second stage will be the actual production of a bonsai from pre-bonsai material during the Milwaukee 2002 - ABS Symposium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 27 - 30, 2002.

Eligibility requirements

Any person who lives on the North American continent is eligible. He or she must have been involved with the art of bonsai for less than ten (10) years.

First stage submissions

Each contestant shall submit photographs of at least three bonsai that he or she has personally styled. More than one picture of each bonsai is preferred. The photographs do not have to be of publication quality, however they should show the talent of the artist to the best advantage.

All of the photographs submitted shall be enclosed in a single presentation folder with the photos enclosed in clear plastic sleeves. A brief description of each bonsai shall also be enclosed. Taped to the back inside cover of the folder shall be an envelope with the completed application form below. There should be no identification on the photos or on the outside of the enclosed envelope. Mail all entries to:

Jack Douthitt
Competition Chairman
P. O. Box 170445
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53217

Several hours later the group decided it was time to carry what we had already collected back to the vehicles. With 5 trees tied to my back pack and a tree in each hand, I slowly began the walk back to the van. I remember how excited I was. Having already walked successfUlly across the inland lake several hours before, I began walking through the water without a care in the world. After rounding a peninsula I could see the shoreline and the mixed forest that led to the cars. Suddenly and without warning, just 20 feet from dry land it happened. The innocent looking mud grabbed hold of my front boot, and then, as luck would have it, my back boot also became stuck. Now beinFirst Stage Submissions must be received before May 15, 2002. Entries from artists whose photographs indicate the most promise will be selected to participate in the second stage of the competition. Contestants selected for Stage Two will be notified prior to June 1, 2002.

Stage Two

Each contestant selected for the second stage of the competition must come to the Milwaukee 2002 Ò ABS Symposium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Each contestant must pay his or her own expenses to the Symposium, although a reduced registration fee of $100 (US) has been negotiated with the Symposium. The competition will begin at 8 AM on Saturday June 29, 2002.

Each contestant shall:
Be provided with pre-bonsai material by the Competition.
Furnish his or her personal tools.
Be given an eight (8) hour time period in which to style the material into a finished bonsai.
There will be a one-hour lunch break. The competition will be concluded at 5 PM.

Judging

The six headliners of the Symposium Ò John Biel, Cheryl Manning, Gary Marchal, Larry Ragle, David Rowe and Harold Sasaki - will judge the completed bonsai. In addition, all full registrants at the Symposium will be able to vote for their personal choice. The Ïpopular voteÓ is worth one vote. The bonsai artist with the greatest number of the seven votes will be awarded the first prize. The winner will be announced Saturday evening at the Banquet.

Questions may be email to Jack Douthitt at:
HYPERLINK mailto:jackbd@mindspring.com jackbd@mindspring.com

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I understand that upon submitting this application to the New Talent Bonsai Competition that the application and all accompanying documents and photographs become the property of the Competition and cannot be returned. I further understand and agree that if I am selected for stage two of the Competition, I will register and appear at the Milwaukee 2002 - ABS Symposium to compete in the Competition. It is further understood and agreed to, that if I am selected to participate in stage two of the competition that the Competition has the exclusive right to photograph and publish photographs of any of the bonsai created in the competition. I hereby certify that I have been involved with the art of bonsai for less than ten years. _________________________ ________________________________

Signature.....................................Date



Members are encouraged to attend and participate in the "American Bonsai Society New Talent Competition". Our own John Biel is one of the headliners at the event; David Rowe, former vice president, is another. Several other club members are already committed to attend as well.

If you have been a member of the TBS for 10 years or less, you are eligible to participate in the competition. To foster such participation, the "Toronto Bonsai Society" will support financially members who are accepted by the ABS for the competition.

TBS support means the following:

  • If one member is accepted by the ABS, the club will provide $400 (Canadian) to help meet expenses; if more than one member is accepted by the ABS, the club will pay a total of $600 (Canadian) to be split among the successful entrants.
  • The TBS will help you prepare your photo presentation: Reiner Goebel has agreed to have a photoshoot at his place one Sunday afternoon in order to prepare the necessary pictures.

Please give some serious thought to becoming a participant in this competition.