Post #247133 by bigbrotiki on Sun, Aug 6, 2006 12:54 AM

On 2006-08-05 14:23, The Granite Tiki wrote:

I don't think there are many "scenes" where you can pick the brains of the real movers and shakers quite as easily as we can here.

Thank you. And in turn I have say that I see it as a privilege that I can have such a direct link to a community where I can witness what my book has inspired (or in this case caused to go awry) and be up to date on all the little facets, future happenings and past finds. It is very rewarding, thank you all.

At the risk of further pushing this thread to places it was not meant, I'd like to know everyone's opinion of taking a non-tiki new item, like some we've seen here (mainly I speak of Party City/Target type items) and using them as raw materials for your own tiki creativity. For instance, I can't afford real Granite Tikis for my lounge, so I bought cheap plastic and resin tikis, and faux granite spray painted them.

I think that is a good point, but as you said, this thread, by its title, should be more about the gross transgressions and garish commercial exploitation than the borderline products and situations, or it'll turn into nit-picking.

But I want to answer your question because I understand that many TCers are struggling with basic Tiki un-availability (QUALITY Tiki that is) in their region.

It might wrongly appear that the Southern California Polynesiacs (Hoity-Toities ?) are sitting on their high horse here, next to OA, and are discriminating against the Party City dependents in the other more remote states or countries. OR, even worse, that those with deep pockets are snubbing the Tikiphiles with a lower budget.

This is not the case, and certainly not the objective of this thread. Like the Target Tikis, there are currently mass-produced items out there that are perfectly acceptable (even if not mind-bogglingly original) and that can be, like you suggested, used creatively as building blocks for a fine home hideaway or yard.

Unfortunately I can't remember, but quite awhile ago someone showed me an item made with those plastic party store Tikis string lights cut in half and painted brown, and it actually looked good. If the Granite Tikis you are talking about are gracing the opening page of your photo link, GT, you sure got me, I actually took them for real, thinking "Cool, I wonder where he got those, out there."

Maybe (since image posting is so easy now!) in Creating Tiki someone can start a "Tiki-on-a-budget" thread that shows creative ways of utilizing and improving on contemporary cheap plastic Tikis, much like the book "PAD" hinted at.

And believe me, you non Tiki state folks out there, Southern California is now generally picked clean of affordable vintage Tiki, and if it comes to Witco, there never was that much here, you outlanders have a much better chance of finding it in the wild in your neighborhood. Keep up the good work, your home Tiki bars are the MISSIONS of Tiki in the desert!

Now back to "THIS IS JUST WRONG!" visuals...