A Gallery of Trees

Description

Thirty trees. Thirty years. Thirty stories of patience, artistry, and the quiet dialogue between human hands and living wood.

A Gallery of Trees celebrates three decades of Pacific Bonsai Museum's collection through an intimate portrait of 30 extraordinary specimens. This isn't just a book of beautiful photographs—it's a journey into the lives of trees that have been shaped, nurtured, and loved across generations.

Perfect for: Serious bonsai practitioners seeking inspiration, art book collectors who appreciate museum-quality publications, anyone who has stood transfixed before a centuries-old tree and wanted to know its story, gift-givers searching for something truly memorable, Pacific Northwest art enthusiasts, and supporters who want to take a piece of our collection home.

What's inside:

Each of the 30 featured trees receives the attention it deserves—stunning archival photography compiled by Curator Aarin Packard reveals details invisible to the casual viewer, while original essays explore the history, artistry, and significance of these living masterpieces. You'll discover where each tree came from, whose hands have shaped it, and why it earned a place in one of North America's most diverse bonsai collections.

From ancient specimens that began their lives centuries ago to contemporary works pushing the boundaries of the art form, this book captures a moment in time for trees that continue to grow and change with each passing season.

Details:

• 228 pages, full color throughout
• Hardcover with premium binding
• 10.25" × 10.25" square format (fits beautifully on coffee tables and bookshelves)
• Photography from Pacific Bonsai Museum Archives, compiled by Curator Aarin Packard
• Curatorial essays by founding Curator David DeGroot and Curator Aarin Packard
• Book design by Will Hays
• Published 2020 by Pacific Bonsai Museum

Why this book matters:

Most bonsai books show you a tree as it looks today. This one shows you how it grew up.

A Gallery of Trees is unlike any other bonsai book—it's like a childhood scrapbook for each featured specimen. Through archival photographs, you'll see these trees across decades: when they first arrived in the collection, how different artists shaped them over time, and who they've become today. It's a rare window into the long, slow process of bonsai artistry that usually happens out of sight.

Bonsai are ephemeral art. Unlike a painting fixed on canvas, these trees are always becoming—growing, aging, responding to the seasons and the hands that tend them. A Gallery of Trees captures that journey, documenting these specimens as they appeared at a significant milestone in our museum's history while honoring everything that came before.