Post #197830 by Basement Kahuna on Sun, Nov 13, 2005 2:59 PM

It's nice to see some more traditional stuff and more people doing full body stuff as well. Some of the things I've seen go through here lately, while being cool and creative pieces of art, are either so far out there or so culled from the "any big face with big teeth on a log equals a tiki" school(which isn't true) or the "Anything remotely counterculture equals Tiki school (which also isn't true) that they could barely be called Tiki at all, much less Polynesian or South Pacific influenced, which after all is the wellspring and still the theme of our genre.. While there is a wealth of it out there, there are people here and on other forums that niether seem to have any desire for knowledge or interest in the depth and history of the classic, distinctive genre that tiki is outside of a tiny whimsical comfort zone, whether it be the art forms, the classic drinks, the tiki temples of the golden age, remaining or gone forever, or the great ones of the past who created this style that we all enjoy today.. Now, don't get me wrong, my Ohana.. I'm not trying to clip any wings here or steal any sunshine or pop any wrists or rain on any parades. Just making a statement in the interest of this thing we call Tiki not becoming some big, indeciferable ball of nothingness that has no distinctive, discernable style or flavor. STUDY THE CLASSICS. KNOW TIKI. Know it's history and it's style. If you don't own them, BUY "The Book Of Tiki"... Buy "Art Of The South Seas"...Buy Meyer's "Oceanic Art"...Buy"Tiki Road Trip" and "Taboo, The Art of Tiki"....buy"Beachbum Berry's Grog Log" and "Intoxica", and "Trader Vic's Bartender's Guide", and "Kitchen Kibitzer" and "How Daddy Became A Beachcomber" and Heyerdhal's "Kon Tiki". Live it. Breathe it. Love it. THEN create Tiki as you interpret it knowing that background:)

[ Edited by: Basement Kahuna 2005-11-14 10:10 ]