News & Events 2003-2004

“Bonsai by Martin Schmalenberg” on Exhibit in Romano Gallery

The public is invited to a closing reception for “Bonsai by Martin Schmalenberg” on Friday, September 12, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. in the Romano Gallery in the Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts at Blair Academy. The exhibit runs from September 5 through September 15.

According to Schmalenberg, “Bonsai is the art of cultivating trees in dishes as miniature forms of their large counterparts in the wild. For the Chinese and Japanese, the first exponents of the art of bonsai, these small trees are seen as expressions of the harmony between heaven and earth, man and nature. Bonsai are living works of art. They cannot be compared with any other art form. A painting or a piece of sculpture is complete once the painter has put down his paintbrush or the sculptor his chisel. A bonsai can never be a finished work of art in this sense because it will always be a living piece of nature, continuing to live and grow. It is not enough simply to admire the beauty of these miniature trees. The admirer ought to be able to gain from them something much more fundamental: an awareness of the laws of evolution and growth, the realization that we are all, man and nature, bound together in these laws, a harmony which becomes apparent when empathy is achieved with the process of all growth and development. There could surely be no more fitting example of this than the cultivation of bonsai.”

He added, “The word ‘bonsai’ is formed from two words, ‘bon’ meaning tray or dish and ‘sai’ meaning tree or plant. The lover of bonsai will take time to care for and examine his trees. Through them he experiences anew the rhythm of the seasons, and nurtures within himself the power of creativity as he shapes and miniaturizes his little trees. Cultivating a bonsai tree requires much care and attention, but as its reward it brings tranquility to the mind, a feeling of being refreshed and of inner composure. Today the art of bonsai is practiced all over the world for the relaxation it affords as a practical hobby, but also for the deeper understanding of nature which it allows us.”

Martin Schmalenberg is the director of Asian Studies at Blair Academy in New Jersey, where he teaches Japanese and Chinese history, culture and religion. Marty has been involved with bonsai and stone appreciation for over 25 years and has been traveling extensively throughout Asia, where he has studied with Japanese masters. He has spent over 15 years designing and building Japanese and Chinese gardens. Martin has a substantial bonsai and stone collection; he is an avid collector of native material for bonsai and has also been collecting and researching stones from all over the world for over 20 years. He recently opened Stillwater Studio where he teaches bonsai and sells trees and stones.

The Romano Gallery is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and by appointment. Please call (908) 362-6121, ext. 5692 for more information.

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