JICC, Embassy of Japan
When:
July 14, 2016
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Where:
JICC
Embassy of Japan
1150 18th St NW Suite 100
Washington DC 20036
Bonsai

Celebrating 40 years of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the JICC (Free Event) 
Opening Event | July 14, 2016 | Thursday, 6:30 pm
Exhibition | July 14, 2016 - September 9, 2016 | M-F | 9:00 am- 5:00 pm
Bonsai Photography © 2016 Stephen Voss Photography
 
The Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC), in partnership with the U.S. National Arboretumand the National Bonsai Foundation, is delighted to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Japan’s gift of 53 bonsai to the people of the United States. The public can view this bonsai in the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, which is located on the U.S. National Arboretum grounds. 

To honor this significant occasion, the JICC will host an opening event to introduce a new eight-week exhibition, "In Training", of magnificently detailed bonsai photography by Stephen Voss. During the opening event, Stephen Voss will provide a short presentation introducing his interest in bonsai and how his career led him to this fascinating project. Jack Sustic, Curator of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, will also provide an introduction to the museum, highlight some of the museum’s most important bonsai, describe arrangement techniques, and present a hands-on wild bonsai demonstration.


WHAT IS BONSAI?
Bonsai or “tray planting” is the art of a styled tree in a pot. The framing vessel complements the tree in shape, texture, and color. Over time, each branch and twig is carefully shaped and trained into a chosen bonsai style, and then maintained and improved through a constant regimen of pruning and trimming. Although often outliving their original caretakers, each bonsai plant constantly remains “in training”.
 

STEPHEN VOSS
Stephen Voss was born and raised in New Jersey. He now lives in Washington, DC with his wife and their two children. He has been recognized by Photo District News Photo Annual, American Photography Annual, Communication Arts Photography Annualand The White House News Photographers Association. His work has been published by National Geographic, New York Magazine, Vanity Fair, Politico, Time, Stern, Wired, Outside, The Atlanticand National Public Radio, among others.


JACK SUSTIC
Jack Sustic is curator of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, located at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC. His interest in bonsai began in the mid 1980s while serving in the Army in South Korea. In 1996, Jack was selected as the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum's first intern, and in 2002 was appointed curator. Jack has received bonsai training from masters in both the United States and Japan, and currently serves as advisor to the National Bonsai Foundation.




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