A good friend and very creative artist, Jack Lardis, created the Oil Drum Art Movement. He's been bugging me for years to create a sculpture which involved both an oil drum and Bonsai. For more on his vision see www.oildrumart.org. Or, websearch Oil Drum Art for related links showing some of the fabulous sculptures and exhibitions created by many talented artists and sponsored by various organizations.
Nick Lenz was here at Sanctuary Bonsai for a weekend event in Spring 2008 and I asked permission to change the aspect of his "Root Over Melted Transistor Radio" from semi-cascade to an upright posture. This piece is also part of the Sanctuary Bonsai Collection. I did a quick sketch and explained my intent to display it in the Oil Drum Art Movement show at Hartford Artspace in Spring 2009. Nick approved!!!
We changed the tree to an upright, leaned it back vs. bonsai training and planted the tree in an oversized mica pot and it has prospered. Nick warned that the tree has always been weaker due to the leaching of metals from the radio. The larger soil space has increased it's vigor tremendously.
What you see here is the display as shown in July at the 28th Annual Exhibition for the Bonsai Society of Greater Hartford, 2008. The tree still needs development as it's whole aspect has changed in just one season. By Spring it should be better suited to an upright style. Lily and I are working it properly and expect it to be less "fluffy" and more refined by next Spring.
After the local show at Artspace it will travel and exhibit as a framed, full sized print. The tree obviously needs to stay here and be tended as a Bonsai. Travel would only jeopardize this important American Bonsai.
Interestingly, so many of the public asked, "How does that tree exist without any soil?!?"
I'm very glad it was the talk of the show. Many were not as interested in the tree as the items scattered about. A license plate from 46 and a pill bottle from the 50's, making everyone feel this was a very old tree that somehow triumphed over Mankind's wastefulness for decades.
Enjoy this art. We welcome your comments.
Be green. Mother Nature will always prevail.
