After a four-month spell, Newstead’s own resident bonsai master is back offering to teach others the ancient art with the return of his backyard bonsai classes.
But this time round local bonsai practitioner and teacher, Barry Lacey will have a PA to assist him in running the popular monthly classes – in the shape of fellow local, Jan Duncan.
“It gets you hooked,” says Barry who embarked on his own journey of mastering the intricacies of bonsai more than two decades ago.
He brought to the time-honoured practice some of the same elements that also served him well in his other complementary disciplines of tai chi and karate – both of which he has taught for many years.
“Like tai chi and like karate, bonsai is a discipline. It’s a way of living,” muses Barry whose background includes acquiring a black belt, third Dan, in Shotokan karate.
“When I started doing bonsai I had three plants, and the other day I counted 150,” he says.
Last September some health issues forced Barry to take a break from offering his monthly bonsai classes.
But from the first Saturday in February he – and accomplice Jan – will be bringing the classes back for all who are interested in beginning or continuing their own bonsai journey.
“For me it’s creative and is expressive. It slows me down,” says Jan who caught the bonsai bug after attending one of Barry’s bonsai classes about two years ago.
Barry’s approach to teaching the art of bonsai includes explaining the basic principles and demonstrating as necessary, but also making sure his students waste no time in getting to work on a tree themselves, to craft their very own living bonsai project.
“Anyone who comes to the class gets a tree to work on,” he says.
“The Chinese started it first and the Japanese modified it and there are many styles – like formal upright trees, informal upright trees, windswept, cascading….
“And what you do is never wrong.”
Barry’s bonsai classes happen on the first Saturday of the month and cost $10 to attend with half of the proceeds donated to the Newstead Men’s Shed, and the other half going to cover the cost of the necessary materials.
More info is available on 0417 581 808 and participants need to pre-book and must be at least double vaxxed.
