• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Bonsai Tonight

An educational website about bonsai development

  • Blog
    • How-to Guides
  • Podcast
  • Shop
    • Bonsai
    • Books
    • Soil
    • Soil (wholesale)
    • Supplies
    • Tools
    • Video Consulting
    • Northern California Bonsai Resources
  • About
    • Workshops

New American Masters – Michael Hagedorn

October 2, 2012 by Jonas Dupuich

My recent visit to Weyerhaeuser’s Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection coincided with a special exhibit, New American Masters, featuring the work of Michael Hagedorn and Ryan Neil. The pairing is fitting – both have returned from bonsai study in Japan in recent years, they together founded the Portland Bonsai Village, and next year they are mounting what is looking to be America’s most ambitious bonsai event, the Artisans Cup of Portland Bonsai Exhibition – an event about which I’ll have more to say next week.

Below is a biography of Hagedorn and some of the displays he prepared for the event.

Michael Hagedorn has a background in fine art with a Masters in Ceramics from The New York State College of Ceramics. His interest in bonsai has had several transformations – a hobby as a teenager, a professional potter making bonsai containers in the 1990’s, and then traveling to Japan to apprentice with master Shinji Suzuki in 2003.

On Michael’s return from Japan in 2006 he settled in Portland as a professional bonsai artist, where he creates, teaches, writes about bonsai. Shortly after returning he set up the Seasonal program for those willing to travel to study bonsai in Portland. In 2008 he authored an anecdotal book of his apprenticeship, Post-Dated: The Schooling of an Irreverent Bonsai Monk. He has a couple more books in the works, and blogs weekly.

Michael is a founding member of the Portland Bonsai Village. His efforts with the Village are focused on promoting excellence, forming a viable professional network and bonsai showcase, and inspiring bonsai enthusiasts nationally and internationally.

Engelmann Spruce - 20 years in training

Engelmann Spruce – 20 years in training

Engelmann Spruce

View from the left side

Moss

A nylon board serves as a pot – nice moss-work

'Chojubai' Japanese Flowering Quince - 40 years in training

‘Chojubai’ Japanese Flowering Quince – 40 years in training

Accent plants

Accent plants

Mountain Hemlock - 2 years in training

Mountain Hemlock – 2 years in training

Moss

Moss and nylon board serve as pot – check out the roots growing through the moss!

Subscribe to Bonsai Tonight

New Posts Delivered Every Tuesday and Friday

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by Kit

Filed Under: Excursions Tagged With: Pacific Bonsai Museum

Previous Post: « More from the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection
Next Post: New American Masters – Ryan Neil »

Footer

Follow Bonsai Tonight

Subscribe

Instagram ● Facebook ● Twitter
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Shop
  • About

P.O. Box 6560, Alameda, CA 94501 · 510-915-2025 · jonas (at) bonsaitonight (dot) com

© Copyright 2009-2025 Bonsai Tonight · All rights reserved · Privacy · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. You can opt-out if you wish. Accept Decline Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT