Bonsai Mirai: Asymmetry

Life is what you make it. For Craig and Kendra Pearce moving into the wilds of Bone Island off the coast of British Columbia was a gesture of intention to change the way they interact with the natural world and to slow down from the frantic pace of urban living. The daily reminders of the world around them and the necessity to interface with nature enhanced the way Craig and Kendra lived. Over tim...

The garden team’s time playing with rocks has officially come to an end. Brandon, Brock, and Ryan sit down in the studio to discuss the finale of the garden build extravaganza that, like many other projects at Mirai, became something much bigger than a simple landscaping project. From boulders and trees to the discovery of cutting-edge bonsai stock, and a lot of meandering discussions about life a...

Ryan recently sat down with apprentice Brock Arvesen to reflect on the unanticipated chaos that has followed Mirai's post-repotting garden build. There’s a therapy and acceptance of reality that comes with ambitious undertakings at Mirai and no better place to work through the frustrations of operating a bonsai nursery while chasing artistic ambitions, than with the people who are in the trenches...

Thomas Nevar is one of the most brilliant and powerful creatives Mirai has had the pleasure of working with. Through his graphic design, sculpture, and painting, Thomas has not only inspired projects at Mirai, Thomas’s work has had a direct impact on Mirai as a brand, compositions within the garden, and the spaces people at Mirai interact with.  During one of his visits, Thomas and Ryan discussed...

Austin Heitzman has made an indelible mark on bonsai, and put his stamp on the art form in North America. Beyond the technique and engineering that have allowed him to make some of the most gravity defying and cutting-edge designs in the bonsai realm, Austin’s passion for the unseen, never-before done, and the assumed impossible make his work something that stands alone. Ryan and Austin sat down o...

In the world of being a bonsai professional at Mirai the end of repotting season makes the beginning of another very exciting and dramatically different scope of work. Think of the season for garden building and landscape work as a palette cleanser for the long season of watering and bonsai madness that awaits once trees enter the post-flush phase. Every year, Ryan takes time to celebrate a job we...

The longstanding question of how to get more people involved in bonsai has been asked and pontificated about since the beginning of bonsai clubs in North America. This obscure art form has so many barriers to entry and at times seems impossible to expand due to its intricacies and nuances. However, Tim Arsenault and his team at Bonsai BAR found a common past time to pull beginners into the art and...

Repotting season is always a journey filled with highs and lows. Each year, when all is said and done there is much to reflect on. At Mirai, repotting is the technique Ryan and his team practice the most. With that, a single season of repotting feels like a lifetime. These recaps are more of a documentation of progress than anything else. Join Ryan, Brock, and Brandon as they relax for a moment be...

Kindness. Humility. Generosity. These are words anyone discussing Harold Sasaki would use to describe this gentle giant of a man. But those of us who have been personally impacted by Harold know there is a tenacity to our teacher, a hunger for knowledge, a curiosity for what’s possible, and a glean of motivation in his eye that propelled him to be one of the greatest trailblazers and pioneers of b...

Speaking with creative people about their medium and process is one of the greatest aspects of Asymmetry. To know how other artists view the world and express themselves through their work inspires and informs the tools we all summon to bring beauty through art into the world. Stephen Voss is a D.C. based photographer whose work we have admired at Mirai for over a decade. We initially were exposed...

From youth education in bonsai to elite alpine instruction where people’s lives are on the line, Joshua Stewart is an educational psychologist who is applying his expertise to a multitude of projects and disciplines. Even though we’ve been working with Josh for several years now it took sitting down with him on the podcast to fully understand what exactly he does. Ryan and Josh discuss the process...

On a recent cold rainy morning prior to the start of the 100th Kokufu exhibition fellow bonsai professional Andrew Robson joined us to discuss the potential for expansion of display opportunities at the next Pacific Bonsai Expo. This show has rapidly risen as the premier exhibition of bonsai in North America, and the efforts of Eric Shrader, Jonas Dupuich , and Andrew Robson to create a destinatio...

It might be an American thing to try and define how culture impacts bonsai, or it might just be a reality of this very deep artform we all love. Aarin Packard, curator of the Pacific Bonsai Museum in Federal Way, Washington, joins Ryan to discuss the subject and interviews Ryan about his thoughts for an exhibition the Pacific Bonsai Museum is working on in conjunction with this year’s World Cup. A...

From slangin’ exotic plants out of the back of a Lexus to architecting a budding plant-centered design movement taking southern California by storm, the Plant Daddies are a breath of fresh air and inspiration. Leaning on their long-standing friendship and dedication to bringing people happiness through the compositions they create, the trio has rapidly risen in the design world of Southern Califor...

What happens when trees are confronted with rapidly changing conditions in their environment? Do some trees suffer? Do others thrive? What causes this to occur, and can we use this information to create a more sustainable future for our forests and the trees we love?  These, and other questions, are at the root of Meghan Midgley’s research her and a select group of colleagues are doing at the Mort...

Irene Taylor is an award-winning documentary film director known for her intense pursuit of human stories that often push her films and their viewers to the edge of beauty and emotion. Irene’s film Leave No Trace broke open the landmark Oregon court ruling which availed the Boy Scouts’ Perversion Files to victims of abuse creating accountability for decades of misconduct. The film earned the Dupon...

In recent years Hornbeams have grown in appreciation within the bonsai realm. Yet, the more we love them, the fewer we see of them. This, like many topics, has been bouncing around the workshop at Mirai lately. So, on a recent calm afternoon, Brandon, Brock, and Ryan seized the moment to commemorate their thoughts and explore the topic.  What came from their conversation was a breakdown of Hornbea...

There’s getting to know someone for the first time and the unveiling of personal stories and background that come with introductions; call it a familiarization of sorts. And then there are discussions with old friends and familiar faces where you pick up where you left off and continue to evolve the conversation.  We recently had the opportunity to be a guest on one of our favorite bonsai podcasts...

On a recent trip to the East Coast to retrieve the last of the original Kingsville Boxwoods grown for bonsai in the fields of Shanti Bithi, one of the most iconic bonsai operations in North America, we sat down with Jerome and Durdam Rocherolle. Built from the ground up by Jerome and his wife Carol, Shanti Bithi blended beauty, hardwork, and passion into a spiritual existence that opened the door...

There are many podcasts popping up in bonsai but recently Mirai became aware of one in particular whose host brought a different level to the game of bonsai discussion.  The Bonsai Builders Podcast is the brainchild of bonsai addict and passionate practitioner Addison Galambos. Through Addison’s innate curiosity, contemplative wit, and thorough preparation, we found Bonsai Builders to be something...

Jonas Dupuich, co-founder of the Pacific Bonsai Expo, joins us for an in-depth conversation about the evolving landscape of bonsai judging in the Western world. Our discussion began with reflections on recent exhibitions, critiques from the National Show, and updates on the next Pacific Bonsai Expo—but quickly unfolded into a far-reaching exploration of how judging standards are developing and the...

Some conversations are 15 years in the making. Ryan reconnects with Preston Tolbert, whose innovative approach to ceramics first caught his attention after a trip to Japan. As part of the 3rd Wheel Potters collective residency at Mirai, Preston, along with Eli Akins and Rob Wallace, created a remarkable body of work blending tradition, experimentation, and artistry. In this episode, we dive deep i...

Step inside the world of Eli Akins of Waldo Street Ceramics, a rising name in North American bonsai ceramics, as he reflects on the 3rd Wheel Potters artist residency at Mirai. Alongside Preston Tolbert and Rob Wallace, Eli spent two transformative weeks pushing creative boundaries, experimenting with new ideas, and crafting a stunning body of work. In this episode, we explore the friendships, goo...

Join us as we sit down with Rob Wallace of Wallace Woods Ceramics, a member of the 3rd Wheel Potters collective alongside Eli Akins and Preston Tolbert. This past summer, the trio completed an artist residency at Mirai, navigating the challenges of Mount Rainier and exploring new ways to merge ceramics with the art of bonsai. In this episode, Rob shares insights from their collaborative journey, t...

This summer at Mirai was one for the books—long, hot days, intense sun, and plenty of lessons in resilience and proactive care. From keeping trees thriving under extreme heat to experimenting with new techniques and species, we’ve seen what it takes to grow, adapt, and evolve in the garden. Now, as we step into fall, the season brings fresh opportunities and inspiration. And we’re kicking it off i...