Suiseki in California

CC ALIFORNIAALIFORNIA A A ISEKIISEKI K K AIAI Volume 37, Issue 4 April 2019

[In February I told you that I wrote a series of 24 articles for Aiseki Magazine which were translated into Japanese for the benefit of the primary audience. This month I will continue sharing those articles. The following was published in March 2013.]

Never Stop Searching

April Program

Recently we got an email from Carol Mortensen requesting information about the existence of a video tape of Mr. Sudo’s lecture on the subject of Kei-Do. Although we were unfamiliar with the tape, we were in attendance in 1992 when Mr. Sudo made that presentation so we contacted Bill Valavanis who had produced the event. As it turned out there were 2 VHS tapes, although they are not Mr. Sudo’s lecture, but Bill was kind enough to send them to us. With his blessing, we had the VHS tapes converted into DVDs. On April 24th we will show Volume 2 of the DVD called “Kei-Do, The Way of Display and Appreciation” by Ichiu Katayama (who was the founder of the Kei-Do school and Mr. Sudo was his student). It includes an English translation. There is more about suiseki in this volume than there was in volume 1.You will not want to miss this program! (For more about Kei-Do, see page 11.)

Stone of the Month

continued on page 5

Doha ishi are lovely landscape stones with a flat open space that suggests a field or a plateau. If you have Matsuura’s Introduction to Suiseki, turn to page 36. He notes that “Some have what resembles a distant mountain located on one side, while others may have more gently sloping hills off in the background.” On page 40 he states that although there is some overlap with danseki, a doha typically has just one flat surface.

Wherever we travel, my wife, Nina, and I are always looking for interesting stones. Here in California, on the Eel River for example, we expect that, of the thousands of rocks we see, we will usually find one (or more) of suiseki quality on each trip. We are planning a trip to the Eel before this summer so I will let you know if our good luck holds true. We are lucky. For example, in 2011 we were in Japan and took a raft ride up a river, somewhere north of Tokyo. While other visitors where looking up at the scenery I was looking down. And I found a near perfect stone, a doha, that is now in our collection (at bottom, left). Each November, we spend some time on Kauai, one of the Hawaiian Islands. Kauai is the perfect place to relax and our favorite of the 6 inhabited islands. It is the oldest of the Islands, created by volcanic activity about 5 million years ago. Kauai is a magnificent place. It is lush and fragrant. It is relaxed and warm. It is beautiful in every way. But something near and dear to our lives is missing on Kauai, finding viewing stones! While igneous stones are common, metamorphic stones are rare in Hawaii, at least, so far as we have found. What is in abundance is lava; there are places along the shore, where small pieces, 6” to 12”, of lava have been tumbled in the surf 24 hours a day for millions of years, creating smooth surfaces and perhaps classic shapes. Each year we return and feel the urge to look for stones, just in case something very odd occurred in our absence. The benefit of this effort is - the search takes us to some areas on the island we might not otherwise visit where we can see monumental waterfalls and grand landscapes as inspiration. On this last trip, November 2012, we travelled deep into the mountains along narrow and sometimes unpaved roads looking for creeks on the upper branches of some of

Larry Ragle, 7.5 x 3.5 x 4, Ichinoseki city’s Geibikei Gorge, Japan, Satetsu River. The proportions are better than the patina. You take what you can get. Al Nelson made the daiza which we think perfectly cradles the stone.

The 1 inch wide inner m

argins are designed for use with a 3 hole punch.

VOLUME 37, ISSUE 4 CALIFORNIA AISEKI KAI

We are not sure what happened this month but a half dozen stones were without daiza or suiban. We make exceptions when the stone was from a recent collecting trip because we know you are anxious to show them. This month that was not the case. Please people, let’s show our viewing stones to best advantage. A stone on the table is just a stone. To be displayed, it requires a daiza or suiban to be a suiseki or a viewing stone. Imagine how much better your stones would have looked had you done that in March.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: We thanked Jack Levy and Marty Hagbery for our totally amazing collecting trip to the Yuha Desert. Those who missed it will not want to make that mistake again! (See pages 6-10.)

Stone of the Month: Stones suggesting snow. Measurements are in inches, w x h x d

Warren Haussler 5 x 2.5 x 3.5 (China)

Linda Gill: 7 x 4.5 x 5.5

Marty Hagbery: 4.5 x 2.5 x 2.5 (Dominican Republic)

Jack Levy: 9 x 4.5 x 7 (Thomas Creek)

Kyra Haussler: 6 x 3.5 x 3 (Eel River)

March Meeting Notes

Jack Levy 4 x 3.5 x 2.5 (Yuha Desert)

CALIFORNIA AISEKI KAI VOLUME 37, ISSUE 4 PAGE 3 CALIFORNIA AISEKI KAI

Ann Horton 2.5 x 2.5 x 1 (New Zealand)

Janet Shimizu 8 x 5 x 4 (China) Janet Shimizu: 4.5 x 3.5 x 2 (Wrightwood)

Ann Horton (the reverse)

Hanne Povlsen 3 x 3 x 2

Larry Ragle: 10 x 2.5 x 4.5 (Eel River) BJ Ledyard 6 x 2.5 x 3.5 (Tacopa)

Hanne Povlsen 6 x 6 x 3 (Eel River)

VOLUME 37, ISSUE 4 CALIFORNIA AISEKI KAI

PAGE 4

Jesse Krong: 4.5 x 2.5 x 1.5 (Yuha Desert)

Phil Chang 6 x 6 x 3.5 (Wrightwood) Phil Chang 7.5 x 2 x 2.5 (Wrightwood)

John Mortensen: 9 x 3.5 x 4 (Eel River)

Karen Higgins 8 x 1.5 x 3 (Stillaguamish River, WA) Karen Higgins 2.75 x 1 x 1 (Kodiak Island, Alaska)

Carol Mortensen 6 x 2.5 x 2.5 (Eel River)

Carol Mortensen 8.5 x 3 x 2.75 (Eel River)

~Larry Ragle

CALIFORNIA AISEKI KAI PAGE 5 VOLUME 37, ISSUE 4

Suiseki in California continued from page 1

John Mortensen 7 x 4.5 x 3 (Kern River)

Nina Ragle 3 x 1.5 x 1.5 (A gift from Claude Joseph)

David Melitz 5 x 2 x 3.5 David tells us that in Wisconsin the snow can turn to ice in a minute and then that can melt and finally return to ice… His display of a stone in an ice filled suiban tells us that David is having more than his share of the fun with us. It also tells us that David has created a display that clearly reminds him of a scene with which he is quite familiar.

John Mortensen 9 x 4 x 4 (Clear Creek)

Karen Higgins: Real snow on a mesa! Karen lives in Bend, Oregon. This was taken on the one sunny day after our snowmageddon - most snowfall in 24 hr in 118 yrs. and the weeks of snow after - over 4', of which 2' are still on the ground due to sub-freezing temps.

Kauai’s many rivers. (Kauai receives over 400 inches of rain each year. It is one of the wettest places on Earth.) On our last day on the island we located a new area worth more searching. Because we are the eternal optimists, next year we will be better equipped to do a little digging.

If we look on the shore, there is an added challenge, avoiding the crashing waves as you scan for keepers. It’s fun and the water is always warm. We may not find anything but we will never stop looking.

[Ed Note: David’s non-traditional display reminds me of something Wil wrote. To paraphrase Wil, stone appreciation is an exercise in allusion. Suiseki is an appreciation of nature… it is only there in nature that one can learn its ways. (For context, please see CAK newsletter Vol 35, issue 7, page 10.)]

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Saturday evening we gathered for our wine and pizza party. Of course, everyone pitched in so there were plenty of choices on the menu. New members became acquainted with the old timers and some displayed their best finds of the day. On Sunday, a slightly smaller group returned to the field and they were delighted that they did. Some serious treasures were unearthed.

On March 16th, 27 Aiseki Kai members gathered for a sensational weekend of collecting and camaraderie. There were 8 first timers all of whom caught on quickly and enjoyed great success in the field. Marty Hagbery led the group to Jack Levy’s “Happy Hunting Grounds” and it certainly was. Midway through Saturday, Aaron Finkbiner provided grilled hotdogs and Jack added the chili. Chili dogs!

Yuha Desert Collecting Trip

Among these happy hunters you might notice a few new faces. (1)Geoff and Nicky Twilley (Los Angeles), (2)Lyle and (3)Neal Sistek who drove down from San Luis Obispo, (4)Butch Buddingh who flew in from Kauai, (5)Nils Schirrmacher (Los Angeles), and (6)Robert and (7)Cathy Ragle who flew in from San

Luis Obispo. Robert is Larry’s son and yet, he was a first timer! There is a good chance we will see some of these folks again. Many reported that they had a wonderful time, found stones that make them happy and hope to join us on another ever so fun trip out to the desert in the future. We will look forward to that!

1 2

3 4 5 6

7

VOLUME 37, ISSUE 4 CALIFORNIA AISEKI KAI

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Nicky and Geoff Twilley

Nils Schirrmacher and Jon Reuschel

Ann Horton and Lyle Sistek

Uyen Truong, Marty Hagbery, Robert Ragle and Jack Levy

10 large pizzas went fast!

Aaron, Ann, Richard, Neal, Cathy and Robert view the finds

(right half) Aaron Finkbiner, Robert Ragle and Marty Hagbery

Treasures to discuss from the day

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Peter Bloomer and Mary Mulcahy-Bloomer

David Melitz and Debra Mauzy-Melitz

Butch Buddingh

Linda Gill and Jon Reuschel

Richard Turner

Janet Cass and Aaron Finkbiner

BJ Ledyard and Nils Schirrmacher AiLan and Uyen Truong

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Marty Hagbery A tree!

Wanda Matjas Nils Schirrmacher

Janet Cass A hole in one!

Larry Ragle Janet Cass

Uyen Truong

Wanda Another hole in one!

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While we were collecting stones, there was an abundance of wild life enjoying the spring weather. There were bees, painted lady butterflies, sphinx moths, Hyles lineata caterpillars, white lilies, sand verbena, lizards and more. Thank you Wanda and Jack for your photos. There were many more but we ran out of space!

April Contributors: Larry Ragle. Mailing: Flash Partch Editor: Nina Ragle

Contact People

PAGE 11 CALIFORNIA AISEKI KAI VOLUME 37, ISSUE 4

Newsletter Committee

We hope you will participate. Please send any submissions to ragle@cox.net no more than 10 days following our monthly meeting. Thank you!

California Aiseki Kai meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 7:30 pm at the Nakaoka Community Center located at 1670 W. 162nd St, Gardena, CA. Second floor. We do not meet in Nov-Dec.

Programs: Larry Ragle 949.497.5626 crimescene@cox.net Treasury/Membership: Nina Ragle 949.497.5626 ragle@cox.net Annual Exhibit: Jim Greaves 310.452.3680 jimgreaves@avsrc.org Exhibit Set Up: Marty Hagbery 909-257-9559 Refreshments: Janet Shimizu 310.822.6012 janet.shimizu46@gmail.com Beverages: Jack Levy 626.794-4572 jnlevy@earthlink.net Historian: Ray Yeager 760.365.7897 ryeager890@aol.com Webmail: Chris Cochrane 804.918.4636 sashaichris@gmail.com

One needs no costly bonsai or suiseki, nor expensive tools and accessories to accomplish Kei Do. An atmosphere of elegance calls only for simplicity and modesty. Yet to create such a world, correctness and dignity can be achieved only through the conventions and rules of Kei Do.

Play of Space

The word ‘space’ (ma) has a very special meaning for Japanese people. Space is not only that which we occupy, but also it is a rhythm, a time, a distance and a void. When we talk, we even value the physical space between people as well as the silence between words. Space is a necessity of our daily lives. In the world of arts and crafts, space has always been a topic for discussion and the goal of a quest for adequacy. The school of Kei Do puts emphasis on space for the very same reason. Kei Do not only discourages the meaningless placement of items, but indicates the rank of items to be displayed, by designating the principal and separating subordinates through the use of space. We strive to elevate space itself as a beautiful element of the whole.

We showed Volume 1 of The Way of Display and Appreciation, by Ichiu Katayama, the founder of Kei-Do. Rather than summarizing that program, we will republish what was printed about Kei-Do on the 1994 calendar from Mr Sudo’s nursery, Chikufuen, in Japan.

Kei Do: A definition

Literally translated, Kei Do means the Way of Viewing. The school of Kei Do teaches the long-time traditions, conventions and disciplines which have brought bonsai, grass planting, suiseki (viewing stones) and the art of display to the confines of a room, specifically the tokonoma, or alcove.

The Spirit Of Display

The significance of the art of display is to give status to the one’s creation or collection, and on the other hand, to exhibit cultivation technique as well as the innate aesthetics of the scene. Connecting a small natural setting to the great outdoors within a limited space allows the viewer’s imagination to capture the limitless universe. Thus the zest and charm of life itself unfold before the viewer. We often hear the word staging in relation to Kei Do. The word staging may put undue emphasis on the act of producing the display, while the intent of bonsai and suiseki is one of grace, taste and elegance. They highlight not the host, but his or her refinement, taste and devotion to the art. To display them effectively may require a staging. But the method is never the goal. Artistry and quality are.

March Program Notes

[Ed Note: As we pointed out at the meeting, although the March program on Kei Do discussed tokonoma display and quite a bit of the program showed bonsai, the same principles apply to our table top displays of viewing stones.]

Ragle P.O. Box 4975 Laguna Beach CA 92652

Coming Events

Leaves no stone unturned

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

aisekikai.com

Thank you Naomi Yoshida for the sushi, Janet Shimizu, BJ Ledyard, Mika Breyfogle and the Ragles for the March calorie spread. April appetite appeasers will be provided by Phil Chang, Jesse Krong and Linda Gill. Whenever you sign on for refreshments, we understand that sometimes life gets in the way of being able to attend. Please let Janet know if that happens.

Always check Golden Statements Magazine Calendar section for additional coming events

Stone Sales Ken McLeod 209-605-9386 or 209 586-2881

suisekistones.com

Freeman Wang 626-524-5021 Suiseki-Viewing Stone Sale

stores.ebay.com/thestoneking

SAN DIEGO BONSAI CLUB 54th Annual Spring Show, April 27-28, Balboa Park, Casa del Prado, Room 101, San Diego, 10-5. Sales. Demos at 11 and 1. Free. For more info: email bunjin54@yahoo.com

Refreshments

DAI ICHI BONSAI KAI 34th Annual Bonsai Exhibit, “Serenity through Bonsai”, May 4-5, Nakaoka Community Center, Gardena, Sat 10-4, Sun 10-3. Demo by Frank Goya, Sun at 1:00. Sales area. For more info contact Doyle Saito: 310.539.9265

SANTA ANITA BONSAI SOCIETY 55th Annual Show, May 25-27, at the L.A. Arboretum, 301 N, Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. 9:30-4:30. Demos at 1:00 each day. Sales. For more information: sabonsai.org