FEATURE PRESENTATION

What if bonsai could do more than represent nature—what if it could tell a story?

In May 2025, the Bonsai Societies of Florida challenged long-held conventions with a bold multimedia exhibition that reimagined bonsai as narrative art. Exploring themes of love, grief, history, science, and beauty, the show transformed trees into powerful storytellers and left a lasting impression on everyone who experienced it.

At our February meeting, we are pleased to welcome Rob Kempinski on Zoom—the organizer and art director behind this groundbreaking exhibit. Rob will share insights from bonsai display traditions around the world, what inspired him to push beyond the expected, and the extraordinary effort it took to unite artists, collections, clubs, and sponsors across 14 bonsai societies to bring this vision to life.

With more than 30 years of bonsai practice, an international teaching and exhibition record, and a professional background as a rocket scientist and mechanical engineer who worked with NASA contractors, Rob brings a rare blend of technical rigour and artistic depth. His story—and his approach to display—promises to challenge how we think about bonsai, presentation, and our own creative potential.

This is a meeting not to miss for anyone interested in elevating their trees, their displays, and their understanding of bonsai as a story-telling medium.