New mug from Trader Sam's? - General Tiki

J JasonMa Tiki Socialite Joined: Jun 05, 2017 Posts: 112	J JasonMa Posted posted on Mon, Dec 4, 2017 2:23 PM Thought I would copy this over from another forum, from Tom Thordarson: DISNEY TRADER SAM'S CHRISTMAS ELEPHANT! A true story~~!!!!!!!!! SO Since I even see reference made to a "well known Tiki Artist" made here by both Disney and others...my obligation to be "silent and on the DL" seems to have been challenged on this DRAMA!! lol SO let me say a few things....or at least lend some sort of level headed attitude on this . I am not able to divulge details as to what part I took in this product. Most guess fairly quickly...and I can say I am very proud of my contribution. I have a standard of quality in design that have no need to argue. One thing I learned many years ago though, is that there is nothing more deflating and depressing than creating art that gets ...NO response. lol I think you will hear from the greatest artists and performers in history....say, in their own words, that they would rather bring on great anger...offend many...or appeal to a chosen few rather than create something that is just pushed along without a glance!! lol So....another reason I am VERY proud of "my part" on the Trader Sam's Elephant mug! What a great drama it has stirred and it's "MAGICAL" to watch!! For those claiming this doesn't belong at "Trader Sams". Well as a former Disney Imagineer and one who has absorbed himself to the point of living in a "fantasy world" most of my days...35 years of Entertainment Design to be exact..I can respectfully, disagree! One of the "golden rules" at Imagineering we all adhered to is..."Story". Story drives design. Is Trader Sams just a "Tiki Bar"? Well I sure like to feel it is in part...but I can't in any way say ONLY "Tiki Mugs" that look like a "Tiki" are the ONLY fit! Let's see what the original story of this bar to be was, as told by Tom Bricker at Disney...as follows: "Trader Sam decided to open an Enchanted Tiki Bar where “his expertise in head-shrinking potions grew into an interest in mixology.” Being a very connected man in the import/export business, Sam called on his friends at the Jungle Cruise Navigational Company, to help him decorate the bar. With the artifacts provided by them and his letters and photos from his travels, he managed to thoroughly adorn the walls of Trader Sam’s..." The story continued...referencing the Jungle Cruise several times..but the point is...Elements of the Jungle cruise like these mugs are definitely a thematic "fit". I see several comments on this Elephant "mug" online where people don't think it belongs in "Trader Sams". This is incorrect! The design was inspired by the bathing elephants in the Jungle Cruise. Note these, in the mug, (Mom and Baby) are "Indian Elephants"...not African, like Dumbo. Sorry..had to educate a few here!! lol So if you look carefully at the actual drink vessel and look at the expressions and interactions...I can't see how anyone with a decent heart would see this as "stupid" or poorly represented. It' s acute moment any Disney lover would appreciate. So the idea we are looking at here is celebrating the "decoration" of the jungle cruise animatronics" as the inspiration and overlay. Things added like lights and the hat...etc. I guarantee yah if this were a 12' high animatronic female jungle cruise elephant and her baby and it looked like this at Christmas no one would be in the least so critical. I wish this moment actually DID exist in the jungle cruise. SO what I see online is a lot of drama and people jumping in to grab a stone to throw at this "public mockery". Really makes me disappointed in a lot of "Ohana". It's why I participate less and less in the Tiki networks. So maybe you agree with the above and you just don't like the colors or glaze or something. I think public feedback is wonderful and very valuable. Be specific and comment with some class. But I see a lot of "parrots" on here mimicking and jumping in for a stone to throw who have some really really shitty attitudes! Yah know...I am a fairly well known Artist...in Tiki as well (I feel I need to say that suddenly. lol Maybe to remind myself is all.) I see a lot of mugs, and "Tiki Creations" made by both large scale companies and everything down to the garage mug maker. Some is not at all my taste or favorite. ! lol I mean...I may think that..but I have a lot of respect for keeping my attitude in line with what the people in the "Tiki Culture" USED to be like. Thank god most of those who make the greatest contributions and impact in Tiki are still this way. They choose to make the energy in a room or situation POSITIVE. They have class an dignity and respect for everyone. Be "kind"....is that a word still understood today? It's understandable to have an opinion..but use more intellect and heart in how you express it. Oh yah..."respect"...that word is slipping off the charts lately EVERYONE is entitled to like or dislike something. But this is part of something "fun"...and part of a context that is not trying to "fool" you or force you to do anything!! Be a little more "Tiki" and be respectful! If you find yourself being a sort that is popping up on any thread where there is a dust cloud to say something derogatory, go outside and kick phone pole for 2-3 minutes or do a Jerry Lewis impression in the mirror and brush your teeth like I do! My attitude is always much better! Lastly...mark my words!! 5 years from now, the guy who will get the last laugh is the one who buys these Elephants off you for a buck and is making $500.00 a piece on Ebay!! lol Don't laugh!! Drama and reaction means "collectible"!! I see it happen ALL the time!!! Yah yaaaah...so the word "Tiki Mug" is becoming a broader term in our English language other than always a literal "Tiki" to drink out of. Accept it! I can't stand when people say they "upped" their dosage of pain pills instead of "raised". lol That used to make my High School English teacher go into fits!! But it was quickly brought to my attention that words, grammer and many aspects of our language and slang are ALWAYS evolving and changing...and so has the definition of a "Tiki Mug"...like it or not! Accept it! SO....maybe tell a story next time you pick up one of these elephants. Imagine it 12' tall...with mist and flanked in vines and the roar of a waterfall in the distance. Jungle birds and the smell of the Jungle cruise boat exhaust mixed with a kids churro sitting next to you on the boat! Instead of being pessimistic and negative....try something else....try being a story teller. Aloha...and hope to see yah all on the backside of water one day for a cool Libation~~ ~~~THOR

Thought I would copy this over from another forum, from Tom Thordarson:

DISNEY TRADER SAM'S CHRISTMAS ELEPHANT! A true story~~!!!!!!!!!

SO Since I even see reference made to a "well known Tiki Artist" made here by both Disney and others...my obligation to be "silent and on the DL" seems to have been challenged on this DRAMA!! lol SO let me say a few things....or at least lend some sort of level headed attitude on this .

I am not able to divulge details as to what part I took in this product. Most guess fairly quickly...and I can say I am very proud of my contribution. I have a standard of quality in design that have no need to argue. One thing I learned many years ago though, is that there is nothing more deflating and depressing than creating art that gets ...NO response. lol

I think you will hear from the greatest artists and performers in history....say, in their own words, that they would rather bring on great anger...offend many...or appeal to a chosen few rather than create something that is just pushed along without a glance!! lol So....another reason I am VERY proud of "my part" on the Trader Sam's Elephant mug! What a great drama it has stirred and it's "MAGICAL" to watch!!

For those claiming this doesn't belong at "Trader Sams". Well as a former Disney Imagineer and one who has absorbed himself to the point of living in a "fantasy world" most of my days...35 years of Entertainment Design to be exact..I can respectfully, disagree!

One of the "golden rules" at Imagineering we all adhered to is..."Story". Story drives design. Is Trader Sams just a "Tiki Bar"? Well I sure like to feel it is in part...but I can't in any way say ONLY "Tiki Mugs" that look like a "Tiki" are the ONLY fit! Let's see what the original story of this bar to be was, as told by Tom Bricker at Disney...as follows:

"Trader Sam decided to open an Enchanted Tiki Bar where “his expertise in head-shrinking potions grew into an interest in mixology.” Being a very connected man in the import/export business, Sam called on his friends at the Jungle Cruise Navigational Company, to help him decorate the bar. With the artifacts provided by them and his letters and photos from his travels, he managed to thoroughly adorn the walls of Trader Sam’s..."

The story continued...referencing the Jungle Cruise several times..but the point is...Elements of the Jungle cruise like these mugs are definitely a thematic "fit". I see several comments on this Elephant "mug" online where people don't think it belongs in "Trader Sams". This is incorrect!

The design was inspired by the bathing elephants in the Jungle Cruise. Note these, in the mug, (Mom and Baby) are "Indian Elephants"...not African, like Dumbo. Sorry..had to educate a few here!! lol So if you look carefully at the actual drink vessel and look at the expressions and interactions...I can't see how anyone with a decent heart would see this as "stupid" or poorly represented. It' s acute moment any Disney lover would appreciate.

So the idea we are looking at here is celebrating the "decoration" of the jungle cruise animatronics" as the inspiration and overlay. Things added like lights and the hat...etc. I guarantee yah if this were a 12' high animatronic female jungle cruise elephant and her baby and it looked like this at Christmas no one would be in the least so critical. I wish this moment actually DID exist in the jungle cruise.

SO what I see online is a lot of drama and people jumping in to grab a stone to throw at this "public mockery". Really makes me disappointed in a lot of "Ohana". It's why I participate less and less in the Tiki networks.

So maybe you agree with the above and you just don't like the colors or glaze or something. I think public feedback is wonderful and very valuable. Be specific and comment with some class. But I see a lot of "parrots" on here mimicking and jumping in for a stone to throw who have some really really shitty attitudes! Yah know...I am a fairly well known Artist...in Tiki as well (I feel I need to say that suddenly. lol Maybe to remind myself is all.)

I see a lot of mugs, and "Tiki Creations" made by both large scale companies and everything down to the garage mug maker. Some is not at all my taste or favorite. ! lol I mean...I may think that..but I have a lot of respect for keeping my attitude in line with what the people in the "Tiki Culture" USED to be like. Thank god most of those who make the greatest contributions and impact in Tiki are still this way. They choose to make the energy in a room or situation POSITIVE. They have class an dignity and respect for everyone. Be "kind"....is that a word still understood today? It's understandable to have an opinion..but use more intellect and heart in how you express it. Oh yah..."respect"...that word is slipping off the charts lately

EVERYONE is entitled to like or dislike something. But this is part of something "fun"...and part of a context that is not trying to "fool" you or force you to do anything!! Be a little more "Tiki" and be respectful! If you find yourself being a sort that is popping up on any thread where there is a dust cloud to say something derogatory, go outside and kick phone pole for 2-3 minutes or do a Jerry Lewis impression in the mirror and brush your teeth like I do! My attitude is always much better!

Lastly...mark my words!! 5 years from now, the guy who will get the last laugh is the one who buys these Elephants off you for a buck and is making $500.00 a piece on Ebay!! lol Don't laugh!! Drama and reaction means "collectible"!! I see it happen ALL the time!!!

Yah yaaaah...so the word "Tiki Mug" is becoming a broader term in our English language other than always a literal "Tiki" to drink out of. Accept it! I can't stand when people say they "upped" their dosage of pain pills
instead of "raised". lol That used to make my High School English teacher go into fits!! But it was quickly brought to my attention that words, grammer and many aspects of our language and slang are ALWAYS evolving and changing...and so has the definition of a "Tiki Mug"...like it or not! Accept it!

SO....maybe tell a story next time you pick up one of these elephants. Imagine it 12' tall...with mist and flanked in vines and the roar of a waterfall in the distance. Jungle birds and the smell of the Jungle cruise boat exhaust mixed with a kids churro sitting next to you on the boat!

Instead of being pessimistic and negative....try something else....try being a story teller.

Aloha...and hope to see yah all on the backside of water one day for a cool Libation~~ ~~~THOR

Post #782043 by JasonMa on Mon, Dec 4, 2017 2:23 PM