Mahogany Row Studio

About

Posted by Rob Kempinski on Jan 08 2007

Bonsai are like potato chips – No one can have just one!

Welcome to Mahogany Row Studio - where bonsai trees, pots and stands flourish in Melbourne, Florida under the care of Rob Kempinski.

Check back often as I add material to this blog.

Thanks for spending some time. Hope you found it interesting and perhaps enjoyable.

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My Bio

Bonsai are like potato chips, no one can have just one. Unfortunately I found this out too late. Now my yard in my home in Melbourne, Florida is full of potato chips, rather bonsai trees. It started innocently enough when I first spied bonsai trees in person in 1982 at the Seoul House in Korea. The small microcosms of nature planted a seed, but I was a US Army officer then and couldn’t pursue the art. Years later after starting a family and working closely with the Japanese Space Agency, I got acquainted with Japanese language and culture. The seed finally sprouted. My first was a Live Oak acorn that had sprouted in my yard. Years later it is still alive and in a bonsai pot although due for a major restyle to fix some errors made way back then. Many other trees have joined the oak as I have seriously pursued the art.

Rob as an US Army officer at the Seoul House in Korea. See the bonsai in the background.

Neighbors frequently spy me working by flashlight in the dark on my trees as I spend my daylight hours as a Director is CSC Business Development Department. The tranquil pruning and shaping of bonsai serves as a perfect antidote to the business induced stress of proposals.

Living in central Florida, USA, my collection is a mix of tropical and temperate trees that can take the heat of our summers and very mild winters. I especially like Buttonwood, Japanese Black Pine and Willow Leaf Ficus trees. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively around the US and the world visiting bonsai gardens and exhibitions. Lately I have been traveling sharing my knowledge and approach to bonsai, which as you can tell from my opening is both light hearted but earnest.

When the opportunity arises I show my trees, as I enjoy sharing my art. I’ve had trees on display at the World Bonsai Show in Washington DC in 2005, at the BCI Conventions in Saint Louis 2004, and Orlando 2002, at the American Bonsai Society Show in Saratoga NY in 2006, at the first ever North American Bonsai Exhibition in Rochester, NY, and at several Bonsai Society of Florida Shows. For the past many years I have displayed trees at the Walt Disney World EPCOT Bonsai display. The trees remain at the display for several weeks and as a result millions of people see the bonsai next to the Japan and China pavilions. I also enter trees at our local club show and serve as curator for the Bonsai Society of Brevard permanent exhibit at the Brevard Zoo. Judges have seen fit to grant my trees several awards including three times having trees selected in the JAL/WBFF Annual Top 100 Trees in the World Photograph Competition, winner of the American Bonsai Society 2002 North American New Talent Competion and runner up in the BCI Ben Oki award. I’ve provided several articles to bonsai magazines and have published an introductory book about the art of bonsai.

Due to my career I have had lots of leadership experience and have applied that to various bonsai organizations. Presently I am the 1st Vice President of Bonsai Clubs International. It is my desire to apply professional business acumen to improve BCI operations and subsequently the value of BCI membership. In doing so BCI will be able to help promote and elevate the art of bonsai across the globe.

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