Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society
Dedicated to the art of bonsaiArchive for Shows
MHBS Bonsai Show at Albany Center Gallery 9/21 and 9/22
Before Impressionism, Cubism, Pointillism, Surrealism and Pop Art—there was Bonsai.
That’s why this year’s annual MHBS bonsai show will take place in an art gallery. Examples of the ancient art of bonsai will be on display at The Albany Center Gallery, 488 Broadway, September 20-21. Viewing hours will be Saturday from 12 to 5 and Sunday from 12 to 4. There will be ample free parking available at nearby parking garages.
Bonsai in all stages of development will be on display, shown by members of the Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society. There will be bonsai demonstrations in the park next to the gallery and visitors are invited to bring in their bonsai for free advice. The club will also have bonsai available for sale.
To learn more, contact:
Albany Center Gallery: Tony Iadicicco, Executive Director
518.462.4775 | director@albanycentergallery.org | albanycentergallery.org
Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society: Pauline Muth
518-882-1039 | pauline@pfmbonsai.com | mohawkhudsonbonsai.org
Annual Bonsai Tree Show
The Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a free bonsai event on Saturday and Sunday, August 25-26. All are invited for free workshops, free consults, starter trees, and gorgeous bonsai displays at pfm bonsai, 7 Western Avenue in West Charlton, NY.
See bonsai trees in all stages of development. Attend free bonsai workshops and demos. Bring your trees and get free advice from Dr. Bonsai. Stock up on starter trees and supplies, pots, tools, slabs and soils. Enter free raffles.
You can even create your own bonsai each day at 1:00. The $40 fee for this workshop includes a nursery-grown Portulacaria Afra bonsai tree, expert styling, PLUS an annual MHBS club membership (a $40 value).
“If you’ve ever been interested in these little trees but don’t think you can keep one alive, this event is for you,” says bonsai master and club member Pauline Muth.
This is also a great opportunity to meet club members. Founded in 1968 by a group of local enthusiasts including TV personality Earl Pudney, the Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society has become one of the leading bonsai clubs in the northeastern United States. In recent years, MHBS has hosted a “Who’s Who” of bonsai masters including David Knittle, Mark Argpag, Ted Matson, Jim Doyle, Colin Lewis, Mauro Stemberger, Mary Madison, Juan Andrade, Tony Tickle, Frank Mihalic, Martin Schmalenberg, Young Choe and Pauline Muth. For more information about the 50th anniversary event or the club, call Pauline at 518-882-1039 or email her at pauline@pfmbonsai.com.
July and August with MHBS
On July 22nd, MHBS does accent plants with guest artist Young Choe. Great timing for our club show on August 25th and 26th. Be sure to sign up. Young will not be bringing any materials for her lesson so gather together containers and plants for the meeting.
On July 29, the club visits Martin Schmalenberg’s studio in New Jersey. If you haven’t signed up for the car caravan yet, do it quickly and plan on bringing a picnic lunch to share. Martin will have some trees for sale.
On August 25 and 26, MHBS will celebrate its 50th Anniversary with a club show at pfm bonsai in West Charlton (note the change of venue). All are welcome for displays, material, free advice and workshops, including a “create your own bonsai” workshop. Club members, start prepping your show trees.
And mark your calendar for the U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition, September 8 and 9 in Rochester, NY. Not to be missed!
NEW June Club Events
The planned June collecting trip has been postponed to a future date, so here’s a late entry for June.
On Sunday, June 24, at 12:00 noon, the Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society will host a demonstration and lesson
on bonsai techniques to develop great bonsai. Pauline will demonstrate a number of techniques that will help you develop your trees over time, and one of the demo trees will be raffled. The demonstration and lesson will start after lunch and a brief meeting. Club members, please bring something to contribute for the lunch.
We’ll also hold a Club Garage Sale and Exchange—a great opportunity to obtain, swap or sell trees, pots, tools, whatever shows up. Bring your extra trees and pots for the club garage sale to sell and/or exchange . We’ll set up tables in the parking area for this and if you have things to bring you may come early to set up. Email pauline@pfmbonsai.com if you will be selling items.
Preview: In July, we’ll do accent plants with guest artist Young Choe on the 22nd. Young will not be bringing any materials for her lesson so gather together containers and plants for the meeting.
Then on July 29, the club will visit Martin Schmalenberg’s studio in NJ. We will do sign ups for this car caravan at the June meeting. Check your calendars now. Martin will have some of his trees for sale. Plan on bringing a picnic lunch to share.
And on August 25, it’s a special one day bonsai show at Proctors Theatre in Schectady. All are welcome!
Summer and Fall Doings
In the photo, MHBS members join fellow diners during the recent club trip to Japan and Asia. On the domestic front in July, MHBS will host guest artist Young Choe and a presentation on bonsai accents, and the club will visit Martin Schmalenberg’s Garden and Nursery. August 25th is a one-day MHBS club show at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady, open to all, and a great time to view bonsai and ask questions. In September many club members will head to the National Bonsai Exhibition in Rochester, highly recommended. And in October, we’ll create some bonsai rock plantings.
Miliea Chiem Rocks Bonsai and Other News
Guest Miliea Chiem seeks negative space in her demo tree at MHBS’s September club meeting. Ms. Chiem, a student of Colin Lewis, hosted a workshop as well and helped select club trees for the upcoming MABS event.
In coming months, MHBS is looking forward to brush painting with guest artist Linda Schultz in February, a March visit from Mark Arpag with bonsai material, an April event with guest artist Tony Tickle from England. Plus Young Choe, bench making, rock plantings and more. Download the latest MHBS TWIG newsletter here.
MHBS Annual Show This Weekend
Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 12-4 at the Saratoga Springs Public Library, 49 Henry Street. Stop by for trees and talk!
August TWIG and Fall Show
Download the August TWIG newsletter HERE to learn about MHBS’s upcoming annual bonsai show in Saratoga Springs, plus a workshop YEW won’t want to miss (okay, I couldn’t help it).
On August 28, David Hodgetts—who some years ago visited America from across the pond and refuses to go back—will hold a demo and workshop with some well-trunked yews selected from Mark Comstock’s fabulous nursery. The demo and lesson starts at 10:00, followed by a pot luck lunch and afternoon workshop, nicely priced at $100 per person. The workshop is limited to six people and one lucky person will have their workshop fee refunded in a raffle. Register now with Pauline at pauline@pfmbonsai.com or 518-882-1039. Observers are welcome to watch and learn.
Then comes our really big annual bonsai show, September 24-25 at the Saratoga Springs Public Library, Saturday from 10:00 to 4:45 and Sunday from noon to 4:00. All are welcome to browse aisle after aisle of MHBS club bonsai trees in every stage of development. Club members will be on hand to answer questions and generally chat about bonsai. If you’re curious about bonsai, this is the place to be.
Reminder: club members should start choosing and prepping trees now for the show.
August 30 Club and Estate Sale
Bring your wallets to the August MHBS meeting at PFM Bonsai when our Club and Estate Sale starts at 10 AM. Three estates worth of bonsai pots and books will be on sale—cash, check or charge—along with member trees needing their next home. Club members, remember to bring your trees and other sale items by 9:30 AM, clearly priced.
After lunch Pauline will conduct a Shitakusa and Kusamono Workshop—work with Pauline’s hand made pottery and accent material or bring your own. It’s great timing for putting together your displays for the club show in October. It will help to bring a list of trees you hope to display. Register by email: pauline@pfmbonsai.com.
See you Sunday!
Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society 