Arthur Skolnik

Born in 1953, Arthur grew up in Quebec City, Canada, and has an educational background in biology and psychology. When he was between jobs in 1980, he saw a (life altering) display of newly-imported bonsai from Japan at the Montreal Botanical Gardens. That experience inspired him to read everything he could find on the subject. He took a workshop, practiced a lot, then opened a bonsai business in Montreal. He has imported trees from Japan, Taiwan, China and the U.S., and is spreading his passion for bonsai to many people.

In 1984, he was invited to live and work with a bonsai grower in Shikoku, Japan. His video, "The Growing Art of Bonsai," is considered by many well-known and respected sources as being the best English-language video on bonsai in the market. Currently, he has several more projects in development.

Arthur has lectured on and demonstrated the arts of bonsai, viewing stones and Japanese gardens to local and international bonsai and horticultural societies, television and radio stations, both in English and French. He has contributed articles to many international publications, including "International Bonsai," "Bonsai Magazine" (BCI), "The North American Viewing Stone Society," "Bonsai" (the British Bonsai Magazine), and the Journals of the Swedish and Belgian Bonsai Societies.

Arthur has won many awards for his outstanding bonsai creations, including the Rosade "Excellence in Design" award for his Shohin bonsai display (BCI 1996); second prize from Mr. Kimura in the masterpiece display for his Ficus retusa(M.A.B.A. 2000); third place in the 2000 Millennium Bonsai Contest for his Shimpaku juniper. Both times he has submitted photographs of his trees to the JAL (World's 100 Best) Contest, they were accepted. Three of Arthur's viewing stones are now in the permanent collection of National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the U.S. National Arboretum.

Among his many roles in the bonsai community, Arthur has served on the Board of Directors of Bonsai Clubs International, as a Director of the Montreal Bonsai Society, and as Vice President of the Toronto Bonsai Society.