Post #197971 by Palama Tiki on Mon, Nov 14, 2005 9:31 AM

Since BK brought up Leroy Schmaltz, may I direct your attention to this article:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2001959637_tiki21.html

Wherein Leroy himself says of his creations, "They have a Polynesian flair," he says, "but they are imagination, fantasy."

According to Doug Nason, co-author of "Night of the Tiki: The Art of Shag, Schmaltz and Selected Primitive Oceanic Carvings" (Last Gasp, 2001), Schmaltz "is the king of the second school," referring to post-World War II interpretations in restaurants and bars.

Leroy also says that "Tiki is a form of escapism"."As long as the world is in turmoil, people always turn to peaceful, pleasurable worlds — and this is one of them."

Even those now considered "traditionalists" used the original island art as a jumping off point and created a whole new genre.

In my humble opinion, the first rule of carving is to have fun; the inspiration, whether traditional or fantasy, flows from that font.