Applications Open: National Bonsai Apprenticeship

Description

The U.S National Arboretum is offering a unique opportunity for an individual to receive advanced bonsai training at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum located in Washington DC. The purpose of this national apprenticeship program is to prepare aspiring horticulturists with the knowledge needed for a career in bonsai collection management. The successful applicant will be involved in the day-to-day care of a storied collection of historic bonsai, some of them in training for hundreds of years; and will receive one-on-one instruction from bonsai museum staff to develop skill in the styling and maintenance of bonsai.

This training opportunity is typically from March through mid-November each year. The position has a 40-hour work week of five days per week and does require weekend work. This apprenticeship is funded with a stipend by the National Bonsai Foundation*. Stipend amount can vary depending on the training period and funding.

This apprenticeship provides the applicant access to one of the largest bonsai collections in the United States, bonsai literature and scholarship, as well as access to a network of professional bonsai practitioners from around the world. Many of our past apprentices are now curating bonsai collections in private and public gardens.

Qualifications
Applicants should have an active interest in the art of bonsai and a basic understanding of plant care. While coursework is not required, candidates that demonstrate commitment to the art of bonsai are desired. Background in horticulture, life sciences, or visual art is a plus.

Duties
The bonsai apprenticeship will prepare individuals for bonsai collection management. As the applicant’s knowledge and abilities develop, and skills are learned and demonstrated, supervised work on the bonsai will be offered. These responsibilities will include seasonal bonsai care such as, repotting, pruning, wiring, de-wiring, and other maintenance as needed throughout the year. The apprentice will assist with educational programs offered to the public by helping to teach classes and bonsai demonstrations.
As an integral part of the U.S. National Arboretum, the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum serves over 700,000 visitors each year. Courteous and helpful interaction with visitors is essential. Daily tasks related to museum operations include keeping gardens and bonsai displays clean, opening and closing the museum, weeding, and watering. The applicant will frequently be requested to safely lift and move heavy, but fragile, trees around the museum. Much of the work is performed outdoors in all weather conditions,
including hot, cold, and wet.

The selected apprentice will join other U.S. National Arboretum staff and interns on field trips to public gardens in the Washington, D.C. area. The apprentice will be assigned an independent study project related to bonsai design, developed in collaboration with the Museum Curator. The results of the study project will be presented to staff of the U.S. National Arboretum and the National Bonsai Foundation.

Applications

Applications will be accepted August 12 through September 16 each year. Interviews will be scheduled thereafter with the final candidate selected by the end of October. Please email a cover letter including your personal background in bonsai and your long-term career plan to USNA.Internships@usda.gov. Describe pertinent talents and life experiences that you bring to this position. Also include your resume, references, and transcripts (unofficial are acceptable). If you have any questions, please call the National
Arboretum’s Coordinator at 202-245-4529.

Welcome Isiah White, 2024 National Bonsai Apprentice!

Isiah White, 2024 National Bonsai Apprentice

We are pleased to introduce the 2024 National Bonsai Apprentice, Isiah White! He joins us as we send our best wishes to the 2023 Apprentice, Angelica Ramirez, who is now serving as the Bonsai Assistant at the Chicago Botanic Gardens.

Isiah comes to the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum after four years of learning at Superfly Bonsai, a local bonsai supplier in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, the business had to close, but there was a silver lining: Isiah had the opportunity to apply for the nation’s premiere bonsai apprenticeship, which is funded by the National Bonsai Foundation.

The purpose of the National Bonsai Apprenticeship is to train a new generation of American bonsai artists to ensure the future of the art of bonsai. Each Apprentice in the renowned program receives immersive education with expert curators and caretakers, hands-on experience with America’s national bonsai and penjing collections, and daily opportunities to hone horticultural and artistic talents.

Isiah brings five years of experience to the role. He has grown and maintained a wide variety of live tree stock, managed collections and nurseries, and nurtured hundreds of specimens professionally and personally. “The feeling of seeing plants successfully grow brings me a lot of excitement and joy,” he said.

Studying with renowned bonsai artists has helped to further hone his craft. He has learned from experts such as Chuck Harris, Chase Rosade, and Hugo Zamora. Every artist has a unique approach to this fascinating medium, and which has influenced his philosophy and deepened his understanding of the art form.

Isiah’s bonsai journey began in earnest in 2017, but his interest in art started much earlier.

“I grew up as an artist,” he said. “I was drawing flowers before I knew how to speak properly.” He struggled with learning early in life, but found a creative outlet at the age of 5 when his father gave him his first art set. He continued to draw throughout his school years and attended the Capital Area School of the Arts in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He went on to study biology at Harrisburg Area Community College. His artistic and natural pursuits continue to this day, and they also influence his approach to bonsai.

He discovered his love for plant cultivation after serving in the Army National Guard. During ten years in the military, he dabbled in horticulture as a way to combat depression. When he was discharged, he began to dedicate increasingly more time to his new hobby. He started small, buying a few plants from a home improvement store – and was immediately hooked. After tending to them for several days, he doubled the size of his budding collection, eager to learn how to care for as many new varieties as possible.

“I would sit and study each and every plant.
I would take notes, and spend hours reading and watching videos on the anatomy of plants.”

Over the next two years, he taught himself how to nurture them and keep them thriving. “I would sit and study each and every plant,” he said. “I would take notes, and spend hours reading and watching videos on the anatomy of plants to find out what they like and don’t like, what different colorations meant, and how to treat and prevent ailments.”

Isiah, like many people who grew up in the 1980s and 90s, was first introduced to bonsai through the character Mr. Miyagi in the popular film The Karate Kid. Although he was at first intimidated by the art form, he was intrigued by the challenge of learning it. Realizing that he wanted to be around plant life at all times, Isiah began to pursue a professional career as a nursery manager.

At Superfly Bonsai, he started from the ground up, literally: He began in the soil section of the warehouse, learning about different types of fertilizers, nutrients, and the specific benefits to bonsai trees. Over the next few years, Isiah immersed himself in every aspect of the art, increasing his understanding of tools, pots, and soil, and learning to grow trees from seedlings to live stock to cultivated specimens. He helped to tray thousands of seeds and developed the fledgling nursery into a full-grown bonsai farm.

When the business closed, Isiah was thirsty for more knowledge. He was led to the National Bonsai Apprenticeship by his passion for bonsai and his dedication to digging ever deeper into the art form. Serving alongside the expert curators at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum is the ideal way to continue to develop his skills and expertise. It also gives him a meaningful way to overcome depression, find clarity and balance, and focus on his lifelong ambition.

“Bonsai reminds me
of who I am.”

“Bonsai reminds me of who I am,” he said. “It has done so much for me over the last five years, and I am starting to devote my life to the art of bonsai. I am so thankful to the National Bonsai Foundation for making this role possible, and I’m excited to learn from the incredible curators at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum.”

As the National Bonsai Apprentice, Isiah will continue his journey of self-discovery and will hone his vision for a life of bonsai caretaking. Aside from tending to his personal collection of hundreds of trees, he wants to start a bonsai farm, build a school for bonsai, and create space for people to pause and find themselves through the art form.

Welcome, Isiah! We are thrilled to have you on the team and look forward to all that you will do for the Museum, the art of bonsai, and our community.

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​​NBF is pleased to provide complete financial support for this Apprenticeship, thanks to our generous donors. Without your help, this premiere national apprenticeship that helps to usher in the next generation of horticulturists wouldn’t be possible. Make a tax-deductible gift today to support the future of bonsai artistry. 

Letter from National Bonsai Apprentice Angelica Ramirez

Approaching the end of my term as the National Bonsai Apprentice at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, I feel immense gratitude for the experience, education, and memories I’ve enjoyed at this renowned institution. The responsibility for nurturing more than two hundred historically significant bonsai involves comprehensive daily care to uphold the artistic vision and to cultivate the horticultural health of these living works of art. I have learned something new every day.

As an Apprentice, I had the honor of helping to maintain the museum's garden and grounds, was responsible for the museum's daily opening and closing procedures, and assisted with classes and events. Among the many fulfilling aspects of the experience, sharing my passion and knowledge for the art of bonsai with hundreds of visitors has been particularly rewarding.

My bonsai journey was directly inspired by a photo of “Goshin”, my favorite bonsai at the Museum. This enchanting forest has been an enduring source of inspiration, influencing both my bonsai endeavors and my artistic pursuits as a painter. I've dedicated a significant amount of time to crafting a painting of “Goshin” in my personal time.

As I was working on the real “Goshin” one day during my Apprenticeship, I applied lime sulfur, a substance employed for preserving deadwood, to the trunks. It struck me that this created a tangible connection between my artistic pursuits at home and my professional duties at the Museum. In that instant, I found myself 'painting' “Goshin” in both realms, which is an extraordinary opportunity and a great honor.

Embarking on this Apprenticeship, my dedication to this art was already ingrained. However, it's within the supportive environment of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum that I've solidified a future aspiration: To curate a collection that will inspire others, just as this one has inspired me.

While my journey is far from complete, my experience as an Apprentice has offered a renewed sense of purpose. Caring for these historic bonsai instills a deep sense of responsibility and significance, and each daily task represents a contribution to something far beyond myself. Despite our transient existence compared to their long lifespans, our role as caretakers sustains these bonsai across generations. The opportunity to preserve history and contribute to this incredible legacy fills me with a sense of satisfaction and awe.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported me along the way.

To the curators of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum: Your mentorship and passion have been a source of encouragement and motivation. Your knowledge, skill, commitment, and resilience in curating such a monumental collection is truly inspiring. Your guidance has been invaluable, and I aim to one day reflect your expertise.

To the staff and volunteers at the U.S. National Arboretum: Your shared stories and fellowship have brightened my days. I appreciate your support, which has shaped both my professional approach and personal perspective.

To the National Bonsai Foundation: Your support is what makes this Apprenticeship possible. The funding, guidance, and stewardship of this position is unique in the country and gives up-and-coming bonsai artists a remarkable opportunity to learn, grow, and develop the field of bonsai care and the art form itself. I am deeply grateful that this role exists and that you gave me the chance to serve in it.

To everyone who creates, appreciates, or supports the art of bonsai: You are why we do this work. Please continue to cherish and protect this amazing art form, and know that we will do the same.

It has been an honor to work and learn alongside the exceptional individuals at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, the National Bonsai Foundation, and the U.S. National Arboretum.

Thank you for giving me this incredible opportunity.

Sincerely,
Angelica Ramirez
2023 National Bonsai Apprentice

Welcome Angelica Ramirez, 2023 National Bonsai Apprentice!

Angelica Ramirez, 2023 National Bonsai Apprentice

The National Bonsai Foundation (NBF) is pleased to introduce this year’s National Bonsai Apprentice, Angelica Ramirez – a multi-talented artist. Ramirez steps in as we thank and wish Henry Basile, the 2022 Apprentice, much luck in his next step at the Denver Botanic Gardens as Assistant Curator of the Japanese Garden. Read his thank you note at this link.

The purpose of the National Bonsai Apprenticeship is to educate and train a new generation of American bonsai artists. You can learn more about the Apprenticeship at this link.

Originally from Florida, Angelica Ramirez came to bonsai after years of pursuing and excelling in many interests. She attended the University of Florida for Music Performance and has been a cellist for over fifteen years. She is an accomplished archer, having won multiple championships and breaking multiple state and international records. Angelica started painting as a form of expression, and has a Helicopter Private Pilot license.

These various pursuits in life have led her to the art of bonsai, as she began practicing the art form in 2019 as a way to relax from flight school. She has studied under several teachers including Feng Gu of Penjing Bonsai Garden, Peter Chan of Herons Bonsai, and David Cutchin of D&L Bonsai. She was the first bonsai intern at the Chicago Botanic Garden, where she worked under the Garden’s bonsai curator (and former National Bonsai & Penjing Museum national bonsai apprentice), Chris Baker.

Angelica is the creator of Discover Potters, the global online database of bonsai potters which includes direct links to over 400 active potters in over 45 countries; and includes resources for finding and learning about bonsai pottery. Several of her accomplishments include earning second place at the Bonsai Societies of Florida’s styling competition, which earned her a scholarship to continue her bonsai studies and awarded the opportunity to be a guest artist for the 2022 48th Annual Bonsai Societies of Florida Convention. During that year, Angelica showcased her bonsai at the 2022 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival and later, at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Welcome, Angelica! We are thrilled to have you on the team and look forward to all that you will do for the Museum, trees and community!

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​​NBF is pleased to provide complete financial support for this apprenticeship, thanks to the Foundation’s generous donors. Without your help, this one-of-a-kind apprenticeship that helps to usher in the next generation of horticulturists wouldn’t be possible. Make a tax-deductible gift today to support the future of bonsai artistry.