Post #203368 by Sneakytiki on Fri, Dec 16, 2005 2:17 AM

Mr. Bali Hai, your welcome! As far as tourist carved items go I agree, if it is well done by an artist schooled in the tradition or even one capable of doing a good copy, it's a nice piece period! As far as tourist trade pieces, those started immediately with contact as the islanders wanted the trade items offered, they'd carve more pieces. I have been put in he position of some art snobs constantly telling me my pieces are tourist pieces, duh! like I think I have some 1600's tiki?? You'd think they'd get the drift after viewing my kitsch stuff. It's just hard to know what one means by authentic, as some people's definition is very narrow.
As if all artistic merit or value stops once european contact is made. Applying the same principle, european artists such as Gauguin and Picasso would be artistically worthless purveyors of crap as they were both influenced greatly by non-european artists. It all has to do with white-privelege and Eurocentric definitions of "art" which don't even have meaning in cultures outside the West.

PS
25 bux was a score! You'd pay triple that at least if you bought the item in the Marquesas.

Sneaky