Post #448921 by Mo-Eye on Wed, Apr 22, 2009 1:28 PM

Here is another great article from the google timeline, loaded with info - I can tell I'm not gonna get any actual work down today...

St. Petersburg Time - Feb. 25, 1966

Brooding Polynesian Gods, Devils Emerge From Rough Cypress Logs

Indian Rocks Beach South Shore - Frank Schmudde is an artist in wood.

Not little chunks of wood that gleam and curve in contemporary art, but great rough cypress logs which he lovingly carved into brooding Polynesian gods.

Two months ago Schmudde took over an empty service station and attached open carport on Gulf Boulevard where he has plenty of space to store the big unhewn logs and room to spare for his gods in various stages of completion.

Passersby can see the short fat evil spirits and the tall majestic protective gods under the shed roof, with Schmudde carving and chiseling and polishing them.

Originally from Miami, Schmudde says he worked in wood on and off all his life, always liking to create authentic figures. Five years ago it became his profession. His first big job was the Hawaiian Village in Tampa where he designed all the native decor and wood sculpturing for owner Sam Taub.

Now nearing completion is a Polynesian Pole, designed to show the status of the island natives. It differs from the American Indian totem pole in that the totem pole told a story of a tribe.

Central Florida Loggers keep in mind Schmudde's requests for trees and ship them to his door, sometimes 40 inches across.

He also is designing at this time a motel building in Panama City which will feature Polynesian architecture.

He spends many hours researching for pictures of his gods, in reference books, old National Geographic Magazines, old historic reports, and other available resources.

Among the many favorites are carving of Tiki, the man god; Kava Kava, the ghost man; the fisherman god; Ku, the war god (there's one 10 feet tall and 40 inches around he did for the Hawaiian Village); and even some in cement and featherstone (volcanic ash). One of these is the Happy Lady, a reproduction of a statue on Easter Island.

On his list of things to do is a carving for a church in Cape Coral. The Church has asked for Christ with two children. He has the wood on hand now, a solid piece of heart redwood. He's waiting for the"fell" for that piece of wood.

Schmudde, clad always in a wide straw hat, old work shorts and gaily patterned shirt, plans to enlarge and decorate his shop when he has a few spare minutes.

Probably someday there will be a Teko Teko god at the door.

The crappy thing is this article does have a photo of him carving a tiki, but again the google scan is so bad that it is just a black square.

Anybody heard of this guy before? Sounds like an east coast Eli. wonder what, if any, was his association with Tiki Gardens, since they are in the same small town. Or, was he just riding the tiki wave that Tiki Gardens started. Anybody got a picture of that Ku at Hawaiian Village?