Comprising a Life

To John
The things I've never said to you.

John, do you remember that demonstration you gave in Atlanta in 1973? Up there on that stage, assisted by Ben Oki and Frank Goya you introduced to all present a new performing art, “The bonsai demonstration”. Never had I been exposed to such drama, energy and surprise captured in the transition from matrix to work of art. I was later to realize that the warmth I felt coming from that stage had nothing to do with the intensive lighting required in those days for video recording. You always made me feel special even when you gently let me know I was designing a piece of material from its back. My exposure to your warm humorous, teaching style led me to divide my bonsai efforts into two periods, pre and post exposure to John Naka.

I recall a particularly profound epiphany I experienced with you if one evening in 1978 in my bonsai garden. We were sitting chatting in the approaching twilight when suddenly you became aware of a katydid’s trill. You suggested that we try to hunt down where the sound was coming from in hopes of seeing it. And sure enough we found it. Upon seeing it my first feeling was one of disappointment. I was expecting to find one of those brilliant light green ones but instead it turned out to be just a dull brown color. However the first words out of your mouth were "isn't it beautiful". And from that moment on, I realized I was in the company of a man whose depth of awareness and appreciation of true natural beauty were beyond my casual comprehension and you made me determined to look deeper at everything from that moment on. I love you John as we all do.

Vaughn Banting (New Orleans, Louisiana)