Our guest presenter for November is Angelica Ramirez, currently working on a six-month bonsai internship at the Chicago Botanic Garden.  She will share her extensive knowledge of bonsai pot artists’ from around the world.

She has compiled an extensive database of the bonsai ceramics community together and made bonsai pottery easily accessible.  The potters of all skill levels, from amateur to professional, in all populated regions. You might also discover potters who don’t make “bonsai pots” but rather make unique pots that may suit as accent or nontraditional style pots. This database includes active potters, archive potters (coming soon), retailers, and resources about bonsai ceramics.

“I love bonsai pots! I have spent countless hours online, researching and finding potters worldwide. I want to make bonsai potters and their work easily accessible to everyone. My goal is to bring the global bonsai potter community together, support them, and in doing so help the whole bonsai community grow long term.”

Angelica’s website can be viewed here.

Angelica began learning bonsai in 2019 from online videos, books, and Feng (Gary) Gu of Penjing Bonsai Garden in Malabar, Florida. Later that year, Angelica attended a one-to-one class with Peter Chan at Herons Bonsai and was invited to continue her studies with Peter. Angelica returned to Herons Bonsai in May 2022 for a week-long course and will return in February 2023 for a month-long internship. As a member of the Bonsai Society of Brevard, Angelica competed at the 2021 Bonsai Societies of Florida Convention Scholarship Competition, earning second place; encompassing a scholarship to continue her bonsai studies and named a guest artist for the 2022 48th Annual BSF Convention. Angelica was honored to display her bonsai at the 2022 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival and at the Chicago Botanic Garden later that same year.

In February 2022, Angelica launched ‘Discover Potters,’ a free online database of active bonsai potters worldwide, which includes direct links to over 300 potters, bonsai pot retailers, auctions, and bonsai pottery resources.

Meetings are held on the first Wednesday from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at The College of Dupage campus in the TEC 1038b.

The college address is 425 Fawell Boulevard, Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

Members who are unable to attend in person may join via ZOOM.