Endless Shag merchandise

Is Shag stretching himself a bit thin these days? I seems every time I look up
there's a new piece of Shag merchandise, and its starting to feel a little like overkill.

A lot of the stuff he's been involved in is novel and well thought out (the Tiki mugs,
bar stools, and the new Aloha shirts for instance), but there seems to be a lot of
instances where bits of images from Shag paintings are just slapped on any old
gee-gaw and sold at a high price. (I'm thinking of pens, coffee mugs, that awful
Tiki drinks book,that weird bar sugar, and a never ending collection of stickers & postcards).

While I understand that there is a huge demand for Shag's stuff, and we can't
all own the limited edition prints etc, but there seems to be so much merch coming out each
month that the images themselves are looking tired.

Trader Woody

I don't have any prob. with shag becoming a brand, much like any Disney franchise...
Wouldn't a shag cartoon series where the characters in his paintings come to life be grand? They could call the show Supersonic Swingers, it would air on Fox, and before you know it teenage girls would be wearing long skirts again and grade school kids would be stashing martini glasses in their lunch pails, and everybody would rediscover the TRUTH about smoking: Enjoy life before you die, it could be tomorrow. The most important thing about Shag's characters seems to be their mysteriousness - they are clearly intelligent and deeply consider the world about them before it softens into an alcoholic haze. Today the "characters" in every other creative medium seem to embody predictability and vacuousness... Celebrating Shag is dissing people you can read like a book, which is to say most of the beer swilling masses.

As an avid collector of Shag's prints who is utterly devoid of artistic talent, I've often wondered what an artist like Shag who crosses over to the Illustrator/Commercial realm thinks about the proliferation of his art in non-traditional mediums. Does he feel at all like musicians who've "gone commercial" who always state in interviews that they are glad they did because now they have a wider listening audience? Or does an artist want to maintain an air of exclusivity to his/her works?

Woody,

You have done the unthinkable, and totally blasphemed one of our group's most beloved heroes.

And I'm GLAD YOU DID!! BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN THINKING THE SAME THING!! I actually was going to post a similar sentiment last week (when I hit saturation after seeing the latest round of stuff from Switched On) but was too chicken to do it. So just kind of saved it as a draft and sat on it. Here's what I was going to say:

So I saw this today:
http://www.switchedongallery.com/pages/coming.html

And I realized that, and I REALLY hate to say this, I
am getting over-Shagged.

It pains me to even think it-- I have been a rabid
lunatic about Shag art since I first discovered it,
four years ago. I sweated and hungered for the first
few prints and now have five or six of them. I still
fantasize about owning an original (and am jealous of
those here who do) and I have come quite close to
getting tattoos of some of his characters.

But now looking at the pens and soaps and stuff (and
yes, I admit that I want a business card holder); and then looking
at the print on that page ('Kind of Blue') which is, I
hate to say it, nothing really new-- saturation is
occurring.

I am so excited to see that he is doing well. But I
look at the soaps and mugs and shirts and think, 'what
next'? May the tiki gods have mercy on me for saying
this, but there is serious Kinkade-ization going on
here.

mig

I have mixed feelings about this. I don't like the mass merchandising of Shag's art either, but the man deserves to be successful. It's just what happens in a capitalist economy. The demand for product becomes huge. Do you expect Shag to turn down fame and fortune on some artistic principle? I would take the money while it's there if I were him. We don't have to buy the stuff. I have not bought a Shag mug yet because I would rather spend my $30 on something else (like a vintage mug) even though I do like his mugs.

Speaking of a cartoon series...

Over on "www.posterpop.com", under SHAG's bio it says...

"Shag has also been in negotiation with Universal about an animated series, 'Spy Lounge'."

Is this old news? A project that never came to fruition? Anyone have the scoop?

:tiki:

Have you seen the new Shag toilet paper?

Mig,

I'm glad someone else agrees!
Over the years, it's always been hugely exciting when a new Shag collection appears on his website. Very occasionally I've scraped up enough pennies to get a print (and pay for the vast postage & tax charges since I live in the UK). These days, though, there seems to be less innovation and more slapping on of images onto uninspiring items.

I understand the call for more & more stuff from Shag, as his popularity has gone through the roof, but why not expand the print run of some of the prints? The arguement that he should be involved in endless Star Wars-esque merchandising opportunities for the money doesn't wash with me, as he undoubtably makes a fortune from the originals alone these days. Add the cash from the prints, and you have a very rich artist.

My worry is that by proliferating his unique images onto any old pen or greetings card, he may be killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Trader Woody

Working in an art handling company, my tiki fascination eventually came up. And so did the name Shag. One kid hates him, but its more for some wierd personal reason. But I have to say that while I love his stuff, one thing there is lacking, is any sort of artistic/stylistic growth. And let me tell you, when you work with a bunch of artists, thats one thing that gets noticed real quick.

Personally I'd be very happy if they came out with a less limited line of mugs for us unfortunates who have only seen his mugs on ebay, or in some lucky popsters collection.

Now if only I could afford a Ryden original...

Well he seems to really have diversified his newer works (new locales, new characters, and more details that make each painting feel more like a snapshot of a cool adventure or story) But I think I'm just growing beyond it. It's not him... it's me. And while I still love his work, I just think I'm growing to appreciate others as well.

More and more often I find myself checking out Miles Thompson's incredible site (http://www.kooch-e-koo.com) and I'm really falling over his use of color, the life he brings to his characters, and the creativity of each piece (and the website itself), even though his work is not nearly as tiki-inspired.

I still love Shag and always look forward to seeing more prints, but I'm also wanting to move on to other artists...

~Hanford

Other artists? Like me?
Muahahah!

Better get painting again. Looks like a spot has just opened up in the tiki market!

Part of what Shag has done is make his work accessible to more people. For a very small amount you can own a Shag. So it's only logical that it gets marketed. And the market will tell them exactly when "it's too much."

It reminds me of Keith Herring. When does the Shag Swatch come out?

Those simple, accessible images are too easy to make into everything you can imagine. I did get Kiliki the Shag Day Planner for Xmas. Comes with a bamboo pen!

The other side is that it's also pretty easy to rip Shag off. How many of us have copied every image on his site to our hard drives? How many have used them in personal projects?

Perhaps in 30 years Shag prints/originals will be found in thrift stores across America and the greater public will know his name but think his work is tacky, ala Keane.

Speaking of ripping off stuff from websites, I understand that Miles Thompson's paintings can look particularly good printed out onto good quality paper, laminated, then stuck up in your Tiki Bathroom. Ahem........

Trader Woody

You know, Shag started in the "illustrator/commercial" realm, and I think he probably never thought he left it. So the question of artistic purity might be a little more blurry for him. My impression from interviews and stuff is just that he has to like what he does. He can do other styles, but he happened to choose a style that appeals to his own taste, and fortunately for him, happened to appeal to many other people's tastes.

For me, I think the psychology is slightly different when it comes to seeing SHAG merch. At first there were just a few items to be hunted down if I wanted to get anything with his style. But now the items come out more often and they're distributed more widely, so the crazed collector impulses relax a little. I still love almost every example I see of his work though. And most of the merch is actually really neat in person. So with the collector impulses quashed, I think it's just nice to see new stuff come out and see his popularity continue to rise. When he gets anywhere near Thomas Kincrap, I'll start to wonder. But try this at work or some other gathering - ask some non-hipster if they've heard of Shag. I bet very few say yes.

-Randy

here is my fear and problem. its more than simply a paranoia to commercialism and big business. make money if you can! thats fine. my concern lies in the repeating of history. this culture was all but absolutely destroyed when its exposure was soo overdone and soo popularized, that it became the norm, the standard, the typical. right now, we are all underground again, the way we like it, the way we're comfortable. something as simple as shag's rising ego and popularity, i fear will quickly bring a flood of interest, that while yes, in the beginning will bring to market and make more accessable places to go and items to own that are harder to find now, but in the end, popular culture adopts your look, merely for the sake of keepin up. it will dilute the soul of it, just like it did in the sixties, when tiki and lounge became soo overdone, there was no choice but to roll your eyes. the balls rolling, and i dont really see how there is anyway to stop it. prepare to be diluted. ps- you can even get shag prints on your bank checks now. the excitement of shag and others like him, was that there was "something" new for a culture thats been tight net and low key for a long while. i too was in the "ever" hunt for stuff, granted. shit, the treasure hunt is the funnest part of it all. but i wasnt looking to stick my head out, or reveal the secret society. trader vic, was good, but then there was every trader tom, dick and hairy asshole. meet traiter shag. i wonder if he is even aware of what he's done.

Looks like this guy has decided to offload a bunch of Shag stuff.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=863764444

Read the description though, I found it quite amusing! The "big meanie" part especially...

Okay, and while sniffing around for this... there is a Shag print (a print-- not an original) that just went for $1900. YES with two zeroes. I have that same print; and in fact, I don't even have the numbered one, I have an artist's proof. Really wondering right now if I should capitalize on the mania and offload it... I mean, I like it and all, but I'd rather have two grand.

Wowza.

A.) Polynesian pop will never be as popular as it was in the 50s and 60s, the social and economic factors that all came together back than will not repeat.

B.) To want to sit on one's little esoteric Tiki "In-ness" and not want to share is paranoid posessiveness that is most uncreative and denying life. Things rise and fall, the good with the bad, let's enjoy the good and the rise, bitch at the bad, and philosophize over the fall.

C.) I for one am always thrilled to the max when one of my peers manages to be successful, both in acclaim AND financially, purely by his talent and by doing what he loves to do, without any shady maneuvering or nepotism or big money behind him. Do you realize how RARE that is nowadays? That is something that we ALL dream about, and very few are fortunate to be granted.
Yes, Shag is repetitious, and predictable, but he still does A-plus work, and never pretended to be more than what he is, a commercial artist.
More power to you, Oh Lucky Man, I say.

I agree, Bigbro!

There is no virtue in being cool or hip.

-Mike

Right on, BigBro. This new popularity just shows that we were right all along. And extremely soon, the polypop craze will end (or at least fade slowly) and we'll be back to where we were with maybe a few more excited converts.

Mig -- I have that print, too. (I assume you're talking about "Destination:Ape City") Mine is also an AP. I wonder how many there are. I was under the impression there were 10. Maybe 25. I'm sure you could sell it for a good deal more than the $1900. To be honest, I'm not sure I like mine as much as some of Shag's other (newer) prints because it is a lithograph (his old printing style) and not a serigraph. The serigraphs are just so much brighter and sharper.

This all sort of reminds me of way back in the 80's when so many people around were all "different" and "unique" in the punk/goth/new wave world. And then, like so many other things, it became a style you could copy, and even eventually, go buy at a department store so that everyone could be unique just like us!

It's the inside that counts.

MonkeyGod - as far as I know, we have the only two Artist's Proofs of that print. If there are any more than that, then there's a decent chance that it will be owned by someone here in this forum. But yes, as far as I know, there were only two "AP"s for this print. (source: email conversation with Martin from Outre, at the time I got it.)

Mig, I got mine from Martin, too. That's wild if there are only two APs. I guess if Martin said it, it must be so. I don't think I want to sell mine yet, but I may want to when a new Ryden print comes down the road... Thanks for the info!

Alohas,
On the SHAG subject, is there a "school of mass marketing?" Is he friends with Wyland? (not comparing the hipness or art) I would say his technique is paying off. About 3 years ago I was making Bamboo candle cups for Toes on the Nose (hand carving thier logo on em', what a freakin night mare!!) and lent Richard the owner, Martins book. There's a stick it note on Shags bio still to this day. I finally got my book back but no shirt. Boo hiss!! I'll die shirtless and with arthritus!!

It's not so bad considering some buy his work just to sell it, and say every print they have is sold out. Opportunists ruining it for the good people.

I just listed my Shag a.p. If people are willing to pay that much... which apparently they are... then who am I to argue? I'm going to take the money and run.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=893506758

Hold on to your hats and horses, cause this here's going to be the wildest ride in the west!!

mig

Nice use of the mugs also. I will watch this, but I know it will shoot way past what I can afford.

a very sad :sheckymug:

[ Edited by: Turbogod on 2002-07-13 07:11 ]

First off, mig good luck with that print. It's a beauty! I'll be watching it for fun, as I think this is going to be way out of my league. :)

Second, I love Shag but I don't (can't) collect everything he does. There is alot of different Shag stuff out there, I think everyone should at least own ONE Shag something.

Onward... I just found (and ordered) Shag checks! Pretty cool and you can find them here...

artchecks.com

But that's just my opinion... I could be wrong!

[ Edited by: tikimug on 2002-07-13 13:06 ]

Yes, Turbogod, it's probably going to be stratospheric. If these things were going for moderate rates, I would have arranged something with someone here. But the demand for these is so huge right now that they are fetching many times that. I did put a fairly high reserve on it.

With that said, I'm not going to say any more about it, for fear of jinxing myself!

Just as a random thought, has anybody ever listed anything on eBay with-- as a joke-- an obnoxiously, ridiculously high "buy it now" price? It's only like an extra ten cents to have a "buy it now" price... and I thought it would be amusing to put $100k as a "buy it now" but I decided not to. :)

Mig-

Wanted to the first to offer you hearty congratulations on the success of your Shag Proof. That will buy plenty of Southwest flights to Portland.

I suppose Shag has become the new Keith Haring.

Speaking of Portland...smells like something fishy is going on with this auction: 893454956. What do you two have to say for yourselves? :)

-martin

Mig -
We listed Johnny Depp's cigarette butts and got $175 for 'em. (they really were his butts - by the way - we just didn't expect anyone to pay over $5 for them)

I thought the Shag might actually get a bit more. (The same print recently went for $400 more on ebay; and I was very careful to market the hell out of this one.) But I'm quite happy with this one... especially considering the winning bidder lives 5 miles from my house, which saves me some serious hassle! I'm going to meet him tonight to make the switch.

I think part of it is that since the $1900 Shag auction a couple months ago, there's been a flood of Shag prints on eBay.

whee!
-mig
p.s. martin-- no comment!

ack! switched on gallery is now... "Shag Mart!"

although..i am gonna buy the stationary ~ but i'll pass on the 49 dollar rollerball pen.

Now he's got coasters out!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2133299483

Ok..... now, judging from the Buy it Now option, this is getting out of hand. Or is there really this much of a demand for it???
(By the way, I don't know if I'll do this right, but we'll give it a shot anyway).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=902314311

-Matt

^shrug If this were just a serigraph, then I'd agree with you, but $7,100 doesn't seem an outrageous Buy It Now price for a Shag original painting.

This is the second time around on Ebay for this painting.

I think they de-listed it the first time when the price didn't go high enough. That's just lousy. I notice they set a reserve this time.

-martin

Hey kids,

For those of you who didn't get one, I have a new Shag Ratongo shirt listed on ebay for sale at cost. Includes a signed Tiki Tag signed by Shag at Tiki Oasis II. I have two in this color and I only need one. Size L.

http://cgi.aol.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2137048631&rd=1

Aloha,

Uncle Arty

On "Dawson's Creek" the other night, one of the main characters (Dawson maybe, I don't really know) was wearing a SHAG Tan Ratongo by Toes On The Nose.

This is the one and only episode of this show I've ever seen. It was quite comical at how excited my Girlfriend got when she screamed out "That's Your Shirt!"...Anyway, I guess you had to be there.

I, for one, think that life is too short to sit around bitching about things like this. Who cares if Shag is/isn't getting too comercial. We all like his art, and as an artist myself, my feelings are get things out there to be seen in any way you can. I think Shag is simply making his art more accessible to the public. Art is for enjoyment, and I happen to like "that awful tiki drinks book." Just my 2 cents.....

Happy Tiki Hunting!

Being a commercial artist myself, I think that if I were in his situation I would be doing the same thing as him, cashing in. He got into art to make money and his work isn't trying to be elitist so I feel that selling out isn't really a question.

On the other hand, while I love his vision and artistic style, I think I have seen enough. His characters are becoming diluted to me due to the commercial oversaturation and merchandising. It'll be interesting to see what happens in the future with this. I do wish Josh congratulations on his success.

Also, while alot of you may enjoy the popularization of Tiki, I for one was interested in it because it was something different from the norm. It takes you away from the strip malls and the problems of today's bland society. I don't need the popularization of tiki to drive the prices of vintage items up. Call it paranoid or angry or confused but that's the way that I feel about the situation.

I continually amazed at the number of new products embossed with Shag's images that come out each month from the Fender Telecasters Luckydesigns pointed out to Bike Helmets he's everywhere. Shag is omnipresent.

hanford, if you are indeed looking for a new artist, try Tim Biskup or Gary Baseman. They are just as fun as Shag. As far as a Mark Ryden, good luck, they go faster than Shag does. For a more somber, but beautiful addition to you search, look up Joe Sorren. Prepare to pay though.

fatuhiva, didn't catch the TP but did see the cocktail napkins...they were looking cute in the corner store napkin rack...so now you can eat your new appetizers from the recipies in the sold out Shag calandar...."yeah, I won the 2003 cal with by bid of $30"

Sorry if I come across as bitter, but everyone that is buying 15 extra copies of prints that they don't want, to sell to pay their rent is ticking me off.

-Stais out

On 2003-01-26 10:51, catvenom wrote:
hanford, if you are indeed looking for a new artist, try Tim Biskup or Gary Baseman.

I am always looking for new artists! Thanks on the heads up on Gary Baseman. I like his stuff -- have seen it before but I never knew the guys name. I like Tim Biskup's stuff, too. I still love Shag's stuff, of course ... I'm just always on the lookout for new artists, and new styles.

~Hanford

Many bay area folks might already know about this, but the Sci Fi Western show at 111 Minna gallery in SF is a nice way to see a big cross section of current artists. That show goes until the end of March, and the opening was just last Thu (I saw at least a couple other TCers at the opening). Gary Baseman and Tim Biskup have pieces in the show, along with a lot of big names and not so big names.

The Burning Brush auctions in LA were a great showcase too, especially for the socal animator community. Lots of talent in those auctions, but unfortunately they won't happen any more. You can still visit their website though - http://www.burningbrush.com - to see images of artwork from the past auctions and learn about the artists.

-Randy