Vance in his article referred to "American style bonsai". There were several followup comments on this.
I found a 1991 interview of Qingquan Zhao on the 'net in which he addresses the subject. Since Master Zhao is the subject of an AoB profile, I think his comments are doubly appropriate.
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A Chinese Penjing Artist Visits America
At the end of a three-month visit to the United States, Chinese penjing master Qingquan Zhao describes his impressions of American bonsai, his artistic development, and the situation of penjing in today's China.
The interview was conducted by Karin Albert of Lotus International in Athens, Georgia in 1991.
Q: Mr. Zhao, you now have spent three months in America. You were a headliner at the Bonsai Societies of Florida Convention in Naples, and you've done programs with quite a few clubs along the Eastern seaboard. You've also met with some of America's most outstanding bonsai artists and viewed their collections. What impressions of American bonsai will you take home to China with you?
A: First of all, I have noticed that bonsai is developing very rapidly in this country. America has a fairly short history of bonsai. From what I have seen, I can tell that some remarkable accomplishments have been attained in a relatively short period of time. So one can only conclude that in America, bonsai is developing at a very fast pace. Moreover, given the large and quickly growing number of hobbyists, the size of the country and its wealth of natural resources, both trees and rocks, the future of bonsai in America is bound to be promising. Most of the bonsai I have seen in America clearly show a strong Japanese influence. This is, of course, only natural, given the fact that in the U.S., this art has been introduced and taught by Japanese. I have noticed, however, that an American style of bonsai is beginning to emerge.
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The question still lingers. What IS American style bonsai?
Mike
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