Mark Meckes
20th July 2001, 02:25 AM
If we lived in an area where bamboo had been utilized throughout the history of our culture, this would be much easier to answer.
Most traditonal cultures use only a few select species that grow locally in their area.
In the USA, only one species (Arundinaria gigantea and a sub-species (A. g. tecta) is indigenous to this part of the continent.
Over the last century, hundreds of bamboo species have been introduced into the USA.
We now have almost all of the most important economic species at hand!
The artist /craftsperson could easily have over 100 (quite different) species available to work with.
And in more southern locations where sub/tropical bamboos can be grown, there's even more species to consider!
Only problem is that in the last hundred years that these bamboo treasures have been introduced into the USA, the bamboo arts and craft industry is barely evident.
So now it's up us to do something about it!
Mark
Most traditonal cultures use only a few select species that grow locally in their area.
In the USA, only one species (Arundinaria gigantea and a sub-species (A. g. tecta) is indigenous to this part of the continent.
Over the last century, hundreds of bamboo species have been introduced into the USA.
We now have almost all of the most important economic species at hand!
The artist /craftsperson could easily have over 100 (quite different) species available to work with.
And in more southern locations where sub/tropical bamboos can be grown, there's even more species to consider!
Only problem is that in the last hundred years that these bamboo treasures have been introduced into the USA, the bamboo arts and craft industry is barely evident.
So now it's up us to do something about it!
Mark