Saturday, October 21, 12-4 p.m.

The art of bonsai is the fusion of what nature provides in the trunk, roots, branches, and leaves of the tree with the guidance and vision of the bonsai master who seeks to expose the essence of the tree.

Learn more about this ancient art at The Art of Bonsai at the Taft Museum of Art on Sunday, October 21, from noon until 4 p.m. This display and all activities are free and open to the public.

Members of the Bonsai Society of Greater Cincinnati will present an artistic display of bonsai, the ancient art of reproducing natural tree forms in miniature, accompanied by appropriate companion plants, figurines, and art. There will also be a display of the materials and tools used to create and nurture bonsai.

Associated with the arts of Japan, bonsai originated in China. In this creative form of expression, trees are styled to reflect age, naturalness, and simplicity. These same values can be observed in the Chinese porcelain scholars’ objects in the Taft Museum of Art collections.

Don Brown, Dave Radlinski, and Mike Scheid from the Bonsai Society will be on hand to answer questions, lead tours, and provide background about the trees. In a special demonstration at 1 p.m., they will turn a shimpaku juniper into a bonsai.

The Art of Bonsai also includes hands-on craft activities for all ages, a learning station to experience the beautiful objects that a Chinese scholar would have had on his desk in times past, and a gallery exploration to find out more about the life of a Chinese scholar.

Founded in 1964, the Bonsai Society of Greater Cincinnati is among the oldest bonsai societies in the United States. Its purpose is to foster the study and appreciation of bonsai and bonsai-related arts.

The Taft Museum of Art is located at 316 Pike Street in downtown Cincinnati. For more information, visit www.taftmuseum.org or call the Taft Museum of Art at (513) 684-4515. For more information about the Bonsai Society of Greater Cincinnati, visit www.cincinnatibonsai.com.