Videos

Videos recorded by the Midwest Bonsai Society, including when guest artists visit and give a demonstration.


Andy Smith is from Golden Arrow Bonsai, in Deadwood, South Dakota and is one of the finest collector of trees for bonsai in the United States. He has been a regular vendor at our August Exhibition. Andy's saying "if it ain't fun it ain't bonsai" describes what his presentations are like.

Andy has spent many years collecting in the mountains and has a great understanding of how nature styles a tree. In September of 2020 Andy visited Hidden Gardens, in Willowbrook Illinois, where he did this demonstration. In addition to styling a ponderosa pine collected from the Black Hills in 2018, he demonstrates how to core the tree to determine its age.


The Midwest Bonsai Society is happy to host Naoki Maeoka as our 2018 Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition Guest Master.  We sat down with Naoki to discuss all-things Bonsai.


On July 10th, 2017, Bonsai Artist David Martinez-Moreno visited to give last-minute advice to our membership ahead of the 40th Annual Mid-America Bonsai Exhibit that was held the following month.  David also gave detailed advice about Junipers, regarding trunk thickness, bending and shaping, and the right time of the year to do work on trees.


On November 9, 2015, The Midwest Bonsai Society hosted guest master Mauro Stemberger of Italy. Mauro worked on an American Larch tree, including carving, applying rafia, and wiring to perform the initial styling of the tree. Afterwards, the tree was raffled off to a lucky Midwest Bonsai Society member.