Interview with Bill Valavanis

At the 2018 U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition, Ryan had the opportunity to sit down with the founder of the show, Bill Valavanis. Listen to two of bonsai’s most prominent practitioners discuss notable exhibitions, the growth of bonsai practice in the United States, techniques they’ve learned over time, and the evolution happening in bonsai as an art form.

[@BonsaiTalk]

Beeing a content creator myself for Bonsai, we have also aimed for the interaction between creators and enthusiasts, i must say this is a DAMN GOOD interview, probably one of the best out there in a long time, So what does that tell us? We need MORE people too share their thoughts about this modern bonsai community, this is they key to strengthen and enlighten the community.. Thumbs Up lads!

[@paulmesi3958]

this interview could have easily been three hours and I would have been on the edge of my seat. great production Bill and Ryan and crew.

[@TonyTickle]

Without doubt one of the most important conversations concerning bonsai ever.

[@dismian7]

Real quality interview. Great short questions and to the point answers ranging a wide range of topics while very indepth. This teaches a whole lot about the bonsai culture, but also about interviewing. Absolutely love it!

[@snox7320]

This is beautiful . The passion , enthusiasm and commitment shines through . Regardless of the subject matter it shows how important it is to have a passion 🙏

[@taterbug429]

What a treasure trove of bonsai knowledge! Thank you Bill & Ryan.

[@ryanfitzalan8634]

I've heard of Bill many times since i first became acquainted with Bonsai, i knew he was the known Bonsai Artist from Rochester who organized the shows i went to as a kid when i first got interested. Only just now did i realize we live on the same side of town maybe five minutes form each other. I've probably passed him in the grocery store or at the public market or something without even realizing it. In the next year ill be buying a new home with the intention of doing exactly the same thing in my backyard as he has. Maybe one day they will call this the "Rochester Bonsai Village" area.

[@dankoefoed917]

Thank you for this interview. I don't think we can fully appreciate the value of this until 15 years down the road when we will all look back and say, "I'm so glad Ryan did this interview before it was too late and the opportunity was no longer there." THIS IS GOLD!

[@laughingman1221]

This is amazing. I really dig this high-level discussion of bonsai in general and macro trends in the art as a whole. I'd love to see more content like this. Thanks!

[@BoyKnitter]

took a class from him one time. super, super guy! very supportive of people who are new to bonsai. Great video.

[@TxCwby]

Bill and Ryan, thank you! What a wonderful interview. Just a great collection of thought, questions, answers. From a long lived newb, this was fascinating content, and some connections made i am not privy to, yet, but ALL good stuff! Rich conversation, gents.

[@WanderingBobAK]

Great interview. Interesting man and Ryan is an exceptional interviewer.

[@Fredunio19]

this is my favourite interview in all world :P im litening it for the 100 time already and cant get enough

[@garlanddavidson6845]

I’ve been doing bonsai going on 7 yrs & these last yrs & on, etc my enthusiasm and knowledge & love for Bonsai has Dilated something fierce!-it’s really all I think about (all day every day) 🌳this is Very interesting discussion On the politics between countries on bonsai, Across the table between two professional bonsai enthusiast.

[@vpreef]

Fantastic interview, best bonsai related one i have seen. Well done and thank you for bringing this to us

[@MrYoumitube]

Excellent and insightful video, always interested to learn the politics of Japanese Bonsai. I like how Bill is upfront and does not worry about hurting feelings as Ryan was well aware in regard to being a Kimura "apprentice" not a friend.

[@jaumetormo9107]

Thank you very much. I have really enjoyed the interview. Inspiring.

[@Maxbeanbag]

This is a phenomenal insight in Bonsai, Japan & in the west.

[@markwillems1245]

great interview, love to see Amerika becoming great and developing their own style, with Bill and Ryan leading the way ! btw....I’m from Europe Netherlands. I hope to see more of these in dept quality interviews, Ryan. well done.

[@t3dwards13]

What an awesome interview!

[@markmondrinos7721]

This was awesome. Very inspirational. Thank you.

[@alphavinebonsai6586]

Great wealth of knowledge. I think the community will drink this kind of content by the gallon.. please consider more like this.

[@ellwoodbonsai]

A TOTALY EPIC INTERVIEW THANK YOU FOR SHARING .

[@gregpeterson8270]

Great interview. One thing to consider when comparing West Coast versus East Coast bonsai (and particularly Southern California bonsai) is that it is difficult / impossible to keep many cold-hardy and deciduous species in Southern California. It gives the Southern California shows a distinctly different feel - even when you compare them to shows in the center of the state.

[@jamesthacker1605]

Spellbound. Heart and Respect. Thank you

[@BenBSeattle]

Ryan being modest: "My limited knowledge of Japanese bonsai".

[@SuperPeleke]

Ryan did a good job interviewing Bill, he's not an easy guy to interview. Lol. A real firecracker even at his age.

[@douglash3345]

So much knowledge. Thanks.

[@invertevision4757]

Outstanding...absolutely outstanding!!!

[@oldwaysbonsai376]

Very enlightening.

[@MegaBonsaiMan]

Fantastic interview!!! Great information!!!

[@stewpidaso1024]

There was no money in it until folks started watching it on the internet. I'm interested to see how this unfolds. All it would take is one or two shows to take hold on network television and bonsai could experience the same level of growth that my industry (tattoo) experienced. There is no reason that bonsai practitioners are not making every bit as good of a living as a tattoo artist. It's every bit as challenging as applying a solid tattoo, possibly even more challenging. I'll have to see after a couple of seasons of taking care of little trees in pots. Super interesting to get a little insight as to the inner workings of this world. It like most art forms is full of drama , passion, hard work and competitiveness. Don't get me wrong bringing something to the masses has its down falls. Sometimes I wish tattooing never made it as mainstream as it did, but looking back it really raised the level of the art form. At the end of the day I didn't get into it for the money and still don't do it for the money, but it sure is nice to get paid for all the hard work I put into it. I hope bonsai professionals or future bonsai practitioners can do this and make a comfortable living at it.

[@josephdaly7102]

Great interview, I’m with Bill on the collected, Pine, Juniper, issue, that it may in the future be all their is on the show stands, to the detriment of the Deciduous trees. It is getting that way now that there are people selling Yamadori that will need 10 to 15 years before they become showable for the same price as a tree that has come from Japan and had 60 + years of nurturing, and is ready or not far off ready for the local shows, or even Nationals.

[@entyropy3262]

Awesome Interview, he has an impressive personality !

[@steveanacorteswa3979]

Hopefully someday we can have more shows for field grown/seed grown trees, Japan mountains are barren now per Bjorn, I have not visited the Bristle Cones, I would hate to think of a future where all the 500 year old trees were collected and nobody gets to see a 5,000 year old tree. I grow JBP+ and enjoy the science of creating something quickly, hopefully that will get better.

[@BONSAIART]

Great interview!

[@ScottGuilfoyle]

I think the culture growing in the US is just the next step in its evolution.

[@nature337]

I know this is an older interview now but ill hop in on "why is bonsai growing in the west". I'm getting interested in bonsai because a.) North American nature is insanely inspiring, b.) Being able to experience that nature is getting a bit harder with urbanization/work culture shifts. This makes capturing the essence of a forest in a way that reduces stress through a hobby accessible in the suburbs/city really exciting. That and the internet and yea bonsai seems like something I want to pursue.

[@kokoronobonsai2005]

Amazing content, thanks.

[@aaronkSlater]

Amazing thanks !!

[@maplejapanese9375]

Fantastic interview

[@steventolley9243]

Informative and fascinating!

[@TejaJaensch]

Love this!

[@jliebs7218]

what a great interview. and I am just a beginner in NJ!

[@NimrodTargaryen]

Thanks Ryan!

[@veegee49]

Wow information you couldn't find in a book strictly fantastic

[@banjopete]

Well done , super interesting.

[@n6356583]

During the Asymmetry Podcast of this same interview, there's a bit at the end which has been cut out which made me laugh so hard. Bill says he hates Rocky Mountain Juniper because they stink, and you can hear Ryan's heart break as he laughs. I wanted to see it on camera because it was such a ludicrous thing to say, but its unfortunately not here haha. Great interview, enjoyed the lot.

[@NeuralEngin33r]

@Aladdam Actually, He says it at 47:05

[@dracokaiser]

Good point!!! I’ve always wondered why no Japanese trees are ever seen in the American market

[@JuanLopez-tp7hj]

I hope this man comes to Hawaii one day

[@michaelnorman9644]

Wow...that was brilliant....what an interesting man.

[@Scott-ho1sm]

Insightful

[@Homeboyvick]

37:30 this is very interesting... so what ryan's talking about is him not seeing mr kimura as a friend after basically 6 years nonstop of being an apprentice, with little to no personal connection to mr kimura because of bonsai sort of being the only language mr kimura speaks. which you know i can understand it i mean the premice of being a bonsai apprentice is to be just that, only that, and your life outside of the apprenticeship is your deal only... You get what i'm saying?; then on the other hand i see bjorn bjorholm and his master mr fujikawa having this sort of father/son sort of friendly mentor sort of relationship which is so so interesting... All the while this is what i see and hear... i can only go off of the online info... very interesting stuff though.

[@abelarduribemaggi9398]

Hi, i was trying to find a video where you explain what pot and why to use in a tree and you exolain too how to display a bonsai, can you share me that video…??

[@spencer5082]

Great interview but the "Bonsai-En" guy, Josh Hoosen is not in Japan. He is in Australia. That's where his nursery is. Also, I could be wrong but in 99% he is an Australian native. In this interview they said he was an American "staying" in Japan after his apprenticeship.

[@thepaperstaggering]

"Can't fake time", he said. Youth is cute... age is beautiful.

[@PeterRatcliffe]

Very Interesting.

[@paolomh113]

At least Mr Kimura does great rock plantings " for the Chinese, economically driven" which is better than building ''red bridges'' in the garden or just continue doing the same thing... What new style are William and Ryan doing? Good interview, thank you very much.

[@browpetj]

I guess there must be a definitive history book on American bonsai. If there isn't, there should be :)

[@dracokaiser]

So do you think that it may time for the states to start growing “trained yamadori” nursery material?

[@yurigumatay3152]

dracokaiser I think so

[@advertech]

passion is hard to kill

[@dracokaiser]

Where’s he located at? I’m in Bloomington Indiana and Bjorn is so far the closest in my area

[@dracokaiser]

bandit12 Suzuki would love to!!!!

[@whereswalt2716]

#loveforrockymountainjuniper

[@nachtaktiv1]

..no mention of Pius Notter?😢 He was one of the first 'western' Bonsai Masters..

[@hectordehesa2118]

“I just want to see nice trees.”

[@benstork3867]

To be honest I’m a little bit disappointed in Ryan for pursuing the whole comparing bonsai in America to bonsai in Europe. And the reply he got reminded me of how silly we can all be. Great bonsai can be found in any country where the art is practiced.

[@treedaddy4260]

Re: Chinese Pun-tsai being retitled to “bonsai” and that the same ought to happen in the u.s. (30:34) What do you think the name for the new western version of Bonsai ought to be?

[@dracokaiser]

That is completely incorrect! In China there’s a difference between penjing and pun-tsai. Bonsai and pun-tsai and written the same way. I’m part Chinese and speak 3 dialects of Chinese and Japanese fluently.

[@paolomh113]

They are calling it ''America bonsai'' lol some can't even find a good name for their own country....

[@danielpersson7483]

Why cant the same Bonsai win/enter a competition year after year?

[@claudioestrada1671]

It was a good interview and production BUT I think that Bill was a catastrophy to interview. Ryan is allways wonderfull. But Bill gave me a bad impression. What is says in this is something for everybody to aspire for.

[@ipoleiikaikadiaz3]

Minute marker 25:50 fact check I disagree