Speakers & Workshop Leaders
2026 Fall Fruit & Foliage Bonsai Exhibition
Find workshop and lecture times and details the Event Schedule page.
Presenters
Bill Valavanis – Lecturer & Workshop Leader
Bonsai Artist & Educator. William N. Valavanis became interested in bonsai and horticulture at age eleven and pursued his interest by studying Ornamental Horticulture at SUNY Farmingdale and Cornell University. He has made over 50 trips to Japan and apprenticed with Kyuzo Murata and Kakutaro Komuro in Omiya Bonsai Village in Japan. Additionally, a 30-year study and association with Yuji Yoshimura combined with his formal horticultural degrees, apprenticeships in Japan and his artistic talent provide Bill with the solid background to promote and teach Classical bonsai art around the world.
Sean Smith – Workshop Leader
Sean Smith is a bonsai artist who has trained in furniture and bonsai display table construction, suiseki daiza carving and bonsai, both in the United States and Japan. With an extensive background in construction, he combined it with his passion for bonsai and started his Custom Oriental Woodcraft business (bonsai display tables, suiseki daiza and Japanese rooms) and now his Three Mountain Bonsai Studio- Sanzan Bonsai Gakkou (bonsai instruction, bonsai display and Japanese aesthetics.) In Marysville, PA. While in Japan, he studied with the foremost artists and authorities on aesthetics and display with Seiji Morimae and Mr. Negishi. His suiseki daiza carving teacher and mentor was Koji Suzuki.
Danny Coffey Mason McNair Mark & Becky Hanner Eric Newton
Danny Coffey, Lecturer – A passionate bonsai enthusiast turned pro. His skillset and expertise have earned the trust of several private collections and countless students. As an instructor he offers a down-to-earth approach. With values such as tree health, understanding the creative process and appreciating the subtle joys of bonsai at the core of every lesson. Encouraging students to focus on growth and progress as bonsai hobbyists. While gaining a solid foundation of technical skills through hands on instruction.
Mason McNair, Lecturer – Dr. McNair is widely recognized for his passion for horticulture, a journey that began in childhood and grew into a career spanning plant taxonomy, botanical garden leadership, and innovative horticultural research. He was recently appointed curator and director of the MSU Horticulture Gardens, where he is helping shape a new vision for the future of the gardens.
Mark and Becky Hanner, Workshop Leaders – The Hanners started their clay journey in the late 90’s, at the Flint Institute of Arts, taking night classes for 7 years, before retiring. Shortly thereafter, they had a studio built out behind theirr house, and worked primarily with functional ware- cups, plates, bowls, etc., before moving into bonsai and accent pots. Their pieces are fired to a hot cone 6, which means they are vitrified, or frost resistant.
Eric Newton, Workshop Leader – As with many people, Eric's first exposure to bonsai was The Karate Kid movie. He was fascinated by the little trees. In 1998, he was gifted two bonsai trees: a ficus and procumbins juniper, then promptly killed them both! However, rather than quitting and declaring, “I can’t grow bonsai, I tried and killed them", he instead dove in headfirst to learn what he did wrong. He began reading everything he could find on the subject, joined the Bonsai Society of Kalamazoo, and started taking workshops whenever possible. He was blessed as Ben Oki was the club sensei, and he visited the club each year for many years. Oki gave Eric a huge confidence boost when he said to the other club members, “He is going to be good, look at the beautiful jin he made!” Another key influencer on his development was Jack Wikle, who was the presenter at Eric's first club meeting. Jack showed the club his beautiful tiny trees (mame size) and was amazed at the details and feelings evoked by such small bonsai. Eric started teaching in the early 2000’s at local clubs and the Michigan All-State Show. He says he was hooked, bitten by the bonsai bug and has enjoyed growing and caring for them ever since. He feels strongly that bonsai is a lifelong learning experience that never stops, and teaching is one of the best ways to learn. He loves to share his knowledge and learn from the insightful questions that come up while teaching.
