Problems with American Bonsai?

Vance Wood posted his article, "The Problem with American Bonsai" at Art of Bonsai not too long ago. I found it a stream-of-consciousness rant that raised being a curmudgeon to an art form. I studiously avoided it until it was printed in its entirety in ABS' Bonsai Magazine. My well-reasoned, well-written, grammatically correct, and all-around brilliant refutation follows:

I was steadfastly refusing to participate in this thread until I saw its spawning ground reprinted in all its glory in Bonsai magazine. I couldn't disagree more with the premise, assumptions, tone, and conclusion of this article.

Its premise: that American bonsai are deficient because a lazy breed of do-nothings fail to give proper respect to their elders and betters, and have "dumbed down" the art to the point of ultimate mediocrity. I say American bonsai has never had a better base to work from. Rob Kempinski and others are in a far better position than I to detail the fantastic and artistic work of so many North American artists who are gathering their own communities and promoting truly artistic bonsai. I have not been able to travel extensively and so visit bonsai masters all over the world, or even all over the country. But I have been exposed to great bonsai. I have worked on them and prepared them for display, and participated in what is arguably the best bonsai exhibit in North America. And this has taught me what photos and articles never could: what makes a great bonsai.

Its assumptions:
A) American bonsai lag far behind European bonsai. No evidence has been offered for this pessimistic, defeatist, and apparently self-loathing view, a view, I might add, that I have heard echoed repeatedly in this bandwidth. Whose bonsai are better? Boon's or Suthin's? Who could possibly care? I don't think Boon or Suthin do. Producers are always thrilled to see another producer. Truly great people recognize greatness in others and are spurred to even greater accomplishment because of it, rejoicing, not trying to overcome.
B) "Several world class masters and gifted amateurs" in Europe "would not exist if it were not for their bonsai communities (sic) desire to excel." Hogwash! Where do those communities come from? Do they spring whole from the mountainside and then elect a master? No, those with exceptional ability and passion naturally draw the like-minded and aspirers to themselves, like moths to the light. The masters make the communities, not the other way around!
C) Arguing that bonsai is not an art is ego driven. Perhaps there is an element of truth there. I would suggest that arguing it is an art has its own share of ego involved. Let him who is without sin...

Its tone: I'm appalled that this article has been held up for reprint in a publication. Its tone is negativity in the extreme, blaming unnamed straw men for all that its writer perceives as wrong with America, bonsai, and his own experience. Americans do everything "half-hearted, half-assed, and lacking commitment." Sir, that is nothing less than an insult. I can't believe you ended your article with it!

I think there is quite a bit that is right with bonsai in North America. Of course I don't think it's all it should be yet, but here are a couple of concrete suggestions that might make it better.

All the so-called "masters," those itinerant bands of nursery stock killers, should get off their high horses and learn some bonsai basics and some bonsai ethics. Quit playing to the mediocrity of "clubs" that want cookie-cutter demos for raffle to members who will kill them. Get into the locals and teach, for goodness' sake!

Every one of you open your eyes to more than one way to enjoy bonsai! If you wish to teach, you should know more than one species. If you want to teach, you should work with more than just collected trees, or just prebonsai stock, or just nursery stock. And if someone prefers to treat their bonsai as a hobby, then, who are you to say that they are wrong? It's their hobby! And as a more pointed aside, the sense of pride that one has never paid more than $XX for a tree is doing as much to spread mediocrity as any whippersnapper who doesn't toe the line.

Move beyond Naka. Teach those you teach to learn better ways to do things, beyond what the local clubs have seen. Learn to wire better. more beautifully, and more effectively. Guy wires only do so much! Encourage your students to use better, more effective soil mixes. And please, please, teach them to feed their trees! In my opinion, horticultural knowledge is truly one of the areas North Americans could improve their bonsai exponentially if they would learn it.

Finally, quit showing all your trees! One real advantage that might be seen from the European point of view, is that Americans seem willing to show almost anything! Compare your trees with the best trees in the world and then you will begin to see how far you may have to go.

The fact is that there are a large and growing number of masters who teach these things on a regular basis, and that's a beautiful thing. I say American bonsai as a culture and art is on the rise.

The response to my passionate and cogent answer was mixed. Attila understood and it was nice to see that he did. Then I got this brilliant response from Vance:

Chris: Maybe you should write an article about what is right with American Bonsai, rather than "#$%&*@!" about my article and voice a lot of assumptions about what I think, what I do, what I feel and why I feel that way. Of course you are entitled to do just that but lets see the evidence that I am wrong....or maybe the America versus Europe photo contest might at least put a spin on it independent of personal agendas.

I allowed as how the door was opened about how he felt when he typed that article. And I am now wondering what his personal agenda must be for such a self-loathing diatribe. We get it, Vance, you don't like the way things are going in the USA, something liberals get slammed for regularly, except they aren't happy about a different set of topics.

Following close on the heels of that loving, respectful, and clear response from Vance came this warning from Will Heath:

Chris Johnston wrote:

I'm appalled that this article has been held up for reprint in a publication.

I am excited that it got published, it rightly deserved to be and obviously those in charge at The ABS Journal thought so too. Congratulations Vance.

This article has been a huge success here, sparking 11 pages of responses so far and 7963 views to date. It sparked the creation of the North American vs Europe Photo Contest that is currently underway here at AoB and that has brought in some absolutely amazing trees so far, some which I believe have never been seen on the Internet before.

Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinions and beliefs, that is what makes this forum so great. However, I will interject here and remind everyone of our posted guidelines which state that "Passionate disagreement is encouraged, but mutual respect is essential to our mission and verbal hostility will not be tolerated." Please keep this in mind as we tend to have a low tolerance for those who push the guidelines.


Will

Silly me, I took that to be a reproof of a lack of respect. Between my response and Vance's reply, which of the two would you think showed more respect? Turns out it must have been directed at me, as I looked closer and saw that Mr. Heath had quoted my one statement, thereby making that the antecedent to his comment on mutual respect.

My reply was quickly deleted:

Mutual respect is as mutual respect does. I wrote a clear, positive, and "passionate" response to Vance's article and got (&(^&*&*)_( in response. Be more specific in your "warnings."

It's obvious to me now. The double standard between those two is stronger than ever. Not sure what their agenda is, but it's no wonder things are as slow over there as they are.