Post #87008 by tikibars on Mon, Apr 19, 2004 12:25 PM

On 2004-04-10 02:38, gonzo wrote:
I had an identical conversation with a gal at the Easter Island Foundation regarding casting Moais. I was asking her for a good resource to base an accurate model on for casting replicas.She wouldnt help me. Says the Islanders are offended by the copying of Moai.

I have never met an easter islander. If I ever do meet one and unwittingly invite the tribesman over for a party there is the distinct possibility he may go postal and tear the place up for offending the gods with the trivializing of the gods. Ahhh well I guess its the risk I take.

Gonzo

I'd love to see your hillside moai some time.

One clarification: the moai are not gods, but effigies to ancestors.

Also, the difference here is that Witcos stuff is copyrighted, while moai are not.

Anyone may freely use moai images, legally, but of course you risk offending the islanders. Having been to Easter Island, I can testify first hand that some of the islanders are more uptight about this than others... some of the islanders make thier own moai chotchkes for sale to the tourists, so it can't be all THAT offensive to them!