Archive for the ‘Bonsai’ Tag

Bonsai Tree   Leave a comment

Bonsai Tree (The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens) — Image by kenne

There are no borders in bonsai,

the dove of peace flies to palace

as to a humble house,

to young as to old,

to rich and poor.”

— John Naka

 

Bonsai Bose Art and Loneliness   Leave a comment

Bonsai Bose Art — Photo-Artistry by kenne

Loneliness is creeping in on my moments of solitude.
After a busy day, I have always enjoyed those moments of solitude,
an opportunity to relax and ponder existence. But with age,
solitude has become a prison of living day to day with weary pain. 

I was a runner for years, then I became a jogger, now a walker
just trying
to keep my balance. The change over time was slow enough,
allowing adjustments to the aging process. But in recent years,
the decline has begun to move at a hurried pace.

Strenght has disappeared, limbs have grown stiff, and every function 
less accurate with every fiber of my being frail and overwrought with life. 
So, here I am, imprisoned in the last stage of life, soon to become an empty ghost.
Still, I’m reminded, being old is a privilege.

— kenne

First Camellia Bonsai Blossom   1 comment

camellia flower-0743 framed blogFirst Camellia Bonsai Blossom — Image by kenne

 

One year ago October, our friends Kathy and Bob from Winchester, Virginia visited us. They gave us our first camellia bonsai tree. Since then I have been careful to make sure it was watered regularly here in the desert southwest. Although it is typically a late fall blooming plant, the little tree didn’t have any blossoms when we receive it. So, we have been anxiously waiting for it to bloom this fall, wondering if the buds were ever going to open. This image is the first blossom. 

Thanks again, Kathy and Bob for the lovely bonsai.

— kenne

Bonsai Hotel   2 comments

bonsi-hotel-blogBonsai Hotel — Image by kenne

“Remember, when moving, 
There is no place that doesn’t move. 
When still, 
There is no place that isn’t still.

First seek extension, then contraction; 
Then it can be fine and subtle.

It is said,
If others don’t move, 
I don’t move.

If others move slightly, 
I move first.” 

Source: Unknown

camellia-1-of-1-art-blogA Recent Addition from Kathy & Bob, a Camellia Bonsai — Image by kenne

A Bonsai Forest   2 comments

Foemina Juniper (1 of 1) blogFoemina Juniper Bonsai at the Huntington Museum & Gardens — Image by kenne

A bonsai forest

diminutive work of art

with air of calmness.

— kenne

Trees, The Stuff of Myths II   2 comments

Getty & Huntington 2011Bonsai Art — Image by kenne

Trees,

are worthy of reverence,
giving us a sense
of the unknown,
becoming the center
of our fascination.

Trees,

are holders of curiosity,
masked in the name
of wisdom,
facility of spirit,
carrying a person’s mind
past himself.

Trees,

are witness to happenings,
generating the stuff
of myths,
upon which we share
he essence and
power of becoming.

— kenne

Red, White and Blue Bonsai   1 comment

Getty & Huntington 2011Red, White and Blue Bonsai — Image by kenne

don’t be negative
somebody spiked my coffee
a new perspective

— kenne

The Shape Of Bonsai   Leave a comment

Getty & Huntington 2011The Shape of Bonsai — Image by kenne

Little trees, few words.
Every day I nurture each,
Pruning tree and verse.

— kenne

Posted January 13, 2014 by kenneturner in Art, Life, Nature, Photography, Poetry

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Capturing The Moment — Schefflera Bonsai   6 comments

schefflera plant-7913 art blogSchefflera Bonsai Painting — Image by kenne

Schefflera bonsai
Surviving the desert heat
In a small planter.

Indestructible
A full-sized brassaia
In shade with water.

  — kenne

(This bonsai started life in the sub-tropic climate of the gulf coast many years ago. We moved it with us to Tucson where it loss its leaves, but has come back strong. I will be trimming it back and repotting this winter — life goes on in the desert for this indestructible bonsai.)

The Zen Of Visual Imagery — Balancing Passion and Obsession   9 comments

The Zen of Visual Imagery — Image by kenne

I love all facets of making visual imagery, e.g., writing, music, cameras, catching the moment, editing the moment to share my perspective of the experience — I could go on and on. For me, visual imagery is a passion.

In recent years I have been able to spend more time with this love, even getting into digital video and taking on a lot of digital media projects.  However, as with any endeavor, doing it full-time can reduce the love affair to being just another relationship — creativity suffers in the relationship and obsession overtakes passion. To maintain a harmonious balance between passion and obsession, I:

  • Don’t do what I love full-time.
  • Make sure the love is surrounded by other endeavors.
  • Surround yourself with passionate people.

By balancing passion with obsession, we can maintain the thrill in the passion. Georgia O’Keeffe had a passion for the desert, but it was her obsession with how to represent it that led to her imagery of bleached bones. One can have a passion for mountain climbing and have a goal of reaching the top, but as Robert Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance has written, “To live for some future goal is shallow. It’s the sides of the mountain that sustain life, not the top.” Only then will you experience real passion; only then will you indeed be alive.

— kenne

Related articles:

A Bonsai Named Tucson   2 comments

Bob McNeily’s bonsai, “Tucson” named for our new home.

Trees, come big and small

Necessary provider

Needs, bottom and top

kenne

Posted September 6, 2010 by kenneturner in Art, Friends, Life, Poetry

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