Are you ready for something different in a bonsai learning experience? GSBF Convention XXXVI — "Bonsai Artist Studio: OUTSIDE THE BOX" will deliver on October 31 through November 3, 2013, at the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel & Convention Center. As you can guess from the theme, co-chairs Bob Hilvers, Ted Matson, and their crew of volunteers looked at the traditional schedule and added some very exciting new twists.

It starts right with the nature of our activities. GSBF Convention XXXVI will introduce a new concept called the "Bonsai Artist Studio: OUTSIDE THE BOX."

The idea is to showcase the full range of our headliners' talents, skills and knowledge in a series more intimate and focused interactive activities that offer greater learning opportunities for participants. And, Dave DeGroot, Suthin Sokosolvisit and Peter Warren, our headliners, are truly outstanding and each brings something very different to the program.

Over the course of our weekend, each featured artist will have a "room" where they will conduct morning and afternoon sessions. These will include both open and closed workshops (with material provided and also BYO tree consulting/work sessions), seminars (covering relevant topics related to technique, horticulture and bonsai culture as each artist determines), and critiques (detailed analysis of select trees from the convention display, as well as participants' trees).

Convention XXXVI: October 31st through November 3rd, 2013 at the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel & Convention Center

The schedule is set so convention registrants may choose to stay with one artist for multiple sessions, move between open sessions by different artists or select a mix of sessions with the different artists.

Even our featured demonstrations will have an added twist in that we will stage them as part of our dinner entertainment. On Friday evening, our featured artists will outline their design concepts to launch our dinner service. As another twist, we're moving all GSBF and convention "business" to our lunches, so our evenings are devoted purely to entertainment — e.g., the demo and raffle. The following day, each artist will fulfill those design concepts in their own studio setting. This will allow more thorough, detailed work, along with added opportunities to watch the artist up close.

Now, while the spotlight is on our headliners, we also plan to offer a number of additional workshops, spontaneous demos and interesting seminars, with the goals of providing the highest quality materials and useful learning opportunities. We are very fortunate to be able to feature some extraordinary talents in these added activities, including Italian bonsai artist, Mauro Stemberger, Kathy Shaner, Dr. Tom Elias, and Sean Smith. Not only will there be chances to add a great piece of stock to your collection, you'll also have a chance to refine some important skills through classes on wiring by John Doig, soil science by Ryan Nichols and others.

In addition to all this, GSBF Convention XXXVI will also feature exhibits, a super bonsai vendor bazaar, critiques, styling competitions, collecting trips for California junipers and desert viewing stones, free days at The Huntington Botanic Gardens and a Halloween costume party on a party bus tour of Hollywood Macabre. We have a beautifully updated and — at $99/night — very affordable setting at the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel & Convention Center (so it's very convenient for fly-in attendees). And, only steps away, we'll have the spacious Convention Center completely to ourselves for everything, including all social functions.

We hope you're ready for something new and exciting in a bonsai convention. Join us for "Bonsai Artist Studio: OUTSIDE THE BOX!"