P
Joined: Jul 07, 2005
Posts: 1564
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P
Surely an artiste like Mr. E. C. "Buz" Galas deserves not to be forgotten.
(from the Modesto Bee and News Herald 11 July 1962)
Modesto Artist's Motto is: Art For The Love Of Art
E. C. (Buz) Galas,
carves tiki gods in his
spare time.
He also paints in oils, water
colors and caseins, experiments
with glazes and
casts molds in his Chehalem
Drive home. In the daytime
he is an art director of a local
firm.
His tremendous affinity to
art is reflected in the interiors
of the Galas home
where a mosaic table, intricate
wood statues and arresting
canvases are in evidence.
Galas discussed his most
recent endeavor—tiki carving—
Saturday while carving
a palm log in his patio. He
also was baby sitting with
his four youngsters.
From Oakdale
A native of Oakdale, Galas
was graduated from Modesto
High School and attended
the California College of
Arts in Oakland. Several
of his commercial paintings
were distributed nationally
during his tenure as art
directoi of a local winery.
Galas says he became interested
about one year ago
in carving the figures whose
origins are in Polynesian
mythology. He now is working
on his fourth tiki.
"In comparison to other
media, the cost is minute
for the necessary materials,"
he said. "I've picked up tools
such as chisel, draw knife
and mallet in surplus stores
or second hand shops.
"Whenever we're on family
outings in the country I
keep on the lookout for in-
teresting wood. if the wood
is gnarled or tracked it gives
the finished piece more character.
I've obtained some excellent
pieces when trees
were being chopped down by
the city."
Galas spent six weeks on
his first attempt at the tiki
trade—a six foot tall, nude
Polynesian goddess crowned
by an ornate headpiece.
"When she was finished.
I put her in the front yard."
he continued. "The neighbors
never said a word, but she
did attract a lot of stares.
Traffic in front of our place
was fierce for a while."
Towering Tiki
A few weeks ago the towering
tiki mysteriously dis-
appeared. Despite the detailed
description Galas provided
the police the tiki ,
has not been recovered.
How does tiki carving
compare with other media
with which he has worked?
"I enjoy creating in three
dimensions," he replied. "It
suits a part of my personality
nothing else does. I consider
the tiki phase a stage
in my personal development.
Accidental Art
"When a different subject
catches my interest, I'll enter
a new area of exploration.
But I go back to oils every
time I tire of a particular approach.
"I'm always experimenting
with materials. At my office,
for instance, I'm working on
a 4 by 8 foot collage com-
posed primarily of blotters
It came, about when the
mimeograph machine was being
cleaned. I noticed the
blotters on the rollers had
turned out some interesting
patterns. You might term it
accidental art."
What techniques does he
employ in carving tikis?
"Authenticity is the least
important factor to me. I
use my imagination in creating
the figure I'm going to
carve. I sketch it on paper—
or sometimes draw the pat-
tern right on the palm log.
"Then I start chopping. If
I get bored I may even throw
the hatchet." he smiled.
Galas never has exhibited
his works. He is not affiliated
with any art organization.
He merely lives for art.
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