Wallscroll Made for Bonsai Artist

This scroll was made for a bonsai artist that submitted their tree to the 2018 US National Bonsai Exhibition. (2018 USNBE) The USNBE is put on by Bill Valvanis, one of the premier bonsai artist's in the US.

The bonsai artist that owns this tree sent me two Sumi she had done of some scenes inspired by Canyon de Chelly in Arizona. This area is located on Navajo lands. As a result I wanted to use cloths and symbolism for this area in the mounting.

The red chuumawashi (intermediate) cloth has a phoenix motif, but felt it would also translate into the Navajo legend of the thunderbird. The red color is also muted to match the sandstone in the area as well. It is hard to see, but the jikusaki are ceramic with deep earth brown and streaks of red to match the intermediate cloth. The light golds of the ichimonji and Ten/Chi were also used to accentuate the colors you would see in this geographical location.

I appreciate it when bonsai artists allow me to work with them on their displays. If you would like to have a scroll custom made for a display please contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com

昨夜一声の雁 Sakuya Issei no Kari

This is the last scroll made for this Autumn themed phrase/poem. It is written by Yoshimi Yamada Maples. The picture was drawn by a third party....
Yes, it is probably better to just have the calligraphy, but most Americans like the visual.
The Purple cloth could possibly go well with a Susuki or Japanese Maple. I just wonder if the color of the scroll would interfere with the colors of the plants.

Full meaning of the poem is below:
Excerpt translated from pg. 330 of the Zengo Kichigo Jiten 禅語吉語字典 published by the Japan Calligraphy Society 日本書道協会.


昨夜一声の雁

Sakuya Issei no Kari (Last night I Heard the Wild Goose Honking)

Subtitle: There Were Small Predictors of Change

The seasons change a little at a time. But because of the nature of these small changes we are not aware of the transition, until the new season is upon us. This is similar to what happens in our personal lives.

After this verse there is an extended line in the poetry which reads, 「清風万里秋」Seifuu Banri Aki. This means that after you wake up in the morning after hearing the goose honking to begin the migration you feel the crisp autumn wind on your face and are reminded that fall has arrived.

As autumn approaches the wild geese gather into flocks and begin to fly South. That honking is an indicator communicating to our hearts the fall season. The Issei in the verse is expounded to teach us that it only takes one goose to sound the honk to gather the birds into a flock. They gather quickly in the evening, begin the migration, and by the morning all that remains of their presence are the crisp autumn winds in your face.

Another deeper meaning of this verse is that through one act alone all things can begin to move. It reminds us that through the honking of only one goose, we can feel the effects of the fall wind. It is this one act that reminds us that the season, predicted to transform is actually already surrounding us in its entirety and only now have we become aware.

Dimensions

Name in Kanji Name in English Size in Bun Size in Millimeters Size in Inches

天 Ten 115 348.45 13.72

上一文字 Ue Ichimonji 11 33.33 1.31

紙本の幅さ Artwork Width 69 209.07 8.23

紙本の長さ Artwork Length 107.5 325.725 12.82

柱 Pillars 20.5 62.115 2.45

下一文字 Shita Ichimonji 6 18.18 0.72

地 Chi 80 242.4 9.54

掛け軸の幅さ Scroll Width 110 333.3 13.12

掛け軸の長さ Scroll Length 319.5 968.085 38.11