The Adventures of Tiki Chris!: June 2007

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Hukilau 2007 Photos

Here are some of my photos from Hukilau 2007. Good times! Among the many highlights was finally making it to the Mai-Kai. Wow - worth the trip alone! I hope to make it back in years to come and to bring a few more folks with me.

General Hukilau photos:

Mai-Kai photos:

Jetsetter Lounge photos:

Make sure to check out the Summer 2007 issue of Tiki Magazine for more photos as well as my review of this year's Hukilau.

Friday, June 29, 2007

Just another week with Tiki Chris (Friday June 29, 2007)

For this week's update, I would like to say a special thanks to Chris Mavergames and Jen Cwiok for their contributions to the Tiki Chris blogs. Chris, an American librarian living in Southern Germany (and loving it), wrote his second of two reports from ontoTravel's Expat Perspective. Click here for his latest. Jen, another librarian - this one living in New York, provided the latest installment of I ♥ T-Shirts with a write -up about her much beloved Up With Blimps Tee.

Are you interested in contributing to the Tiki Chris blogs? Click here to access my email address and let me know whatcha got.

In other news ...

- I've been Ligit-imized,
- I posted a new review in my South Seas Cinema series, and
- I finally got around to posting my pics from the London Luau.

Have a great weekend,
Tiki Chris

Below is information about four blogs that I administer: ontoLondon, ontoTravel, Rapa Nui News, and Tiki Chris. Each Friday, I hope to provide a weekly review of what I've posted. If a particular blog interests you, keep in mind that I’ve been blogging since well before this past week. You may want to take a look through the archives of any blog that interests you. Thanks.

ontoLondon
http://ontolondon.blogspot.com
Site feed URL: http://ontolondon.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
London Daily Photo: Smithfield
London Daily Photo: Scotch Meat
London Daily Photo: Filthy McNasty's
London Daily Photo: Wake for a Friend
Londonist asks "What's for Lunch?" Toku Restaurant...
London Daily Photo: We are not Amused
Summer Group Show at StolenSpace
London Daily Photo: Time
Londonist asks "What's for Lunch?" Kurz & Lang
London Daily Photo: Close

ontoTravel
http://www.ontotravel.blogspot.com/
Site feed URL: http://ontotravel.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
Provence: Spring in Provence
Japanese/French lead initiative to develop new sup...
Provence: Mulberry Tree
Expat Perspective: Chris in Freiburg - Summer Nigh...
Provence: entrez libres
Provence: Untitled
New UNESCO World Heritage sites
Provence: Espadrilles

Rapa Nui News
http://www.rapanuinews.blogspot.com/
Site feed URL: http://rapanuinews.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
Rapa Nui/New7Wonders
Moai at the Museum of Natural History in New York
President Bachelet visits Rapa Nui
Rapanui pianist among finalists in international c...
"Monolithic" Pop Culture References #57
Satellite imagery used to help understand moai com...
Easter Island Marathon
Evidence of Polynesians in Americas before Europea...
Rapa Nui/New7Wonders
Soylent Green - Rapa Nui connection?
New Jersey couple's visit to Rapa Nui
Rapa Nui/New7Wonders
University of Hawaii's Rapa Nui field research pro...
Brad Garrett: voice of moai in Night at the Museu...
Chilean Rapa Nui policy/promotions criticized in r...
Jetsetter Lounge in Lake Worth, Florida features f...
New Zealand to Valencia via Rapa Nui
"Monolithic" Pop Culture References #58
Rapa Nui/New7Wonders
More Rapa Nui/New7Wonders articles
Rapa Nui/New7Wonders
More Rapa Nui/New7Wonders
Yet More Rapa Nui/New7Wonders

Tiki Chris
http://www.tikichris.blogspot.com/
Site feed URL: http://tikichris.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
A Couple of Tiki Weeks in Review (Friday June 22, ...
A Very Tiki June with Virani
Tiki Chris - it's "Ligit"
MYSTERY at Frederieke Taylor Gallery (New York)
London Luau 2007 Photos
More London Luau photos!
Tiki London Posters: Available Soon!
South Seas Cinema: The Last Navigator
Dan Witz - Kilroy for the 21st Century?
I ♥ T-Shirts: Up With Blimps

Thursday, June 28, 2007

I ♥ T-Shirts: Up With Blimps

Comfortable, practical, and these days the only accessory you need to make a statement, it's hard to imagine a world without the ubiquitous T-shirt. I ♥ T-Shirts takes a subjective approach to this modern fashion phenomenon with each post dealing with a favorite shirt. Our latest T-Shirt post is provided couresty of Jen Cwiok. Thanks Jen!

Shirt: Up With Blimps
Designer: Rachel Carns
Price: $15
Purchased: A few years back on buyolympia.com
Status: Still goin' strong!

A few years back, I was newly broken-up and I had a lot of time on my hands. To mend my broken heart, I engaged in a good deal of Internet shopping. CDs, books, accessories, and T-shirts were being delivered to my address at a furious pace and dare I say a void was filled. Out of all of my frivolous purchases during that tumultuous time, my favorite is my "Up With Blimps" T-shirt.

The "Up With Blimps" T-shirt immediately attracted my attention just for the immeasurable hilarity of the words "Up With Blimps." The T-shirt was designed by Olympia, Washington based artist, Rachel Carns. I became familiar with Carns’ work through her bands Kicking Giant and The Need. Her unconventional drumming style (standing up) and her bizarre artwork that appeared on The Need’s album covers made me a diehard fan.I found the "Up With Blimps" T-shirt on the website buyolympia.com, an online market for Olympia-based artists to sell their wares.

I have yet to see another hipster sporting the "Up With Blimps" design, which makes me feel like I’ve got something special. To see more of Carns’ work, check out her website LUX.

Jen Cwiok is a librarian living in New York City. She administers a little blog she likes to call Chive Talk.

Interested in contributing a review of a favourite T-shirt or perhaps sending along a sample to be reviewed? Click here to access my email address. Then, send an email with a brief description of your idea/product along with any relevant online links.

I ♥ T-Shirts is sponsored by Chongolio's Lost-Isle.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Dan Witz - Kilroy for the 21st Century?

Click here for more of Dan Witz's Do Not Enter street art series.

South Seas Cinema: The Last Navigator

Welcome to South Seas Cinema, a series of posts about films set in – or pertaining to – Polynesia and the South Pacific.

If you like Kon-Tiki then check out The Last Navigator, a 50-minute film directed by Andre Singer in 1989. Set in Micronesia, The Last Navigator documents a 500-plus mile open sea voyage from the Micronesian island of Satawal to Saipan in a traditional outrigger and without the aid of modern navigational equipment.

Among the crew is American navigator Stephen Thomas, who spent nine months learning the navigation traditions of the Satawal islanders. Thomas is taught by Piailug, to whom the film’s title refers. Piailug is considered the most experienced of the Satawal islanders, if not all of Micronesia. Discouraged by the younger islanders’ lack of interest in learning traditional navigation, Piailug reluctantly agrees to teach Thomas, lest his cultural knowledge be forgotten.

I caught the film at the British Museum as part of their Power and Taboo exhibition. From my brief search on the Internet, I've come to the conclusion that it's pretty hard to catch a viewing of this film and that it's not on DVD or at least not readily available to the public. However, I did notice that a paperback written by Stephen Thomas and sharing the same title as the film is for sale on Amazon.

Click here for more info about The Last Navigator.

South Seas Cinema is sponsored by
DESIGNinBLUE
architecture&design
mail@designinblue.com
+44 20 (0) 7947 359 456
+44 20 (0) 7950 674 636

The content of this post originally appeared on this blog November 27, 2006.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Tiki London Posters: Available Soon!

The Tiki London limited edition print were first available for purchase from Tiki Racer's stall at this year's London Luau. Soon these prints will be available for sale online. Click here for an index of London's 10 Most Tiki Landmarks and make sure to come back for more details about how to get your Tiki London limited edition print!

More London Luau photos!

Click here to visit TikiSavage.com and see more great pics from the London Luau!

Monday, June 25, 2007

London Luau 2007 Photos

I finally found the time to go through some of my London Luau photos. What a fun weekend! The best thing about it, of course, was just getting to hang out with good friends. Make sure to check out the Summer 2007 issue of Tiki Magazine for more photos as well as my review of this year's London Luau.

MYSTERY at Frederieke Taylor Gallery (New York)

I know there's more than a few of you New Yorkers out there reading this blog. So, I thought I'd pass the word on about an upcoming Manhattan show which includes the work of Brooklyn photographer Jeremy Helton.

MYSTERY
July 10 - August 10
Opening: Thursday July 12, 2007
Frederieke Taylor Gallery
535 West 22nd Street
6th Floor
New York, NY 10011

(image by Victoria Fu)

Frederieke Taylor Gallery presents Mystery, a group show of photography and video featuring twelve artists and curated by George Spencer. An uncanny feeling of dislocation of the familiar pervades the works selected for the show. Stark landscapes, glimpses into domestic daily routines, levitating buildings,voyeuristic views, all seem to offer clues to the "who, what, where, and when" of life today. Artists included in the exhibition are: Victoria Fu, Daniel Gordon, Jeremy Helton, Wayne Hodge, Katrin Korfmann, Sangbin Im, Bill Jacobson, Matthew Pillsbury, Ray Rapp, Matthew Schenning and Evan Schwartz.

Click here for more information.

For the show, Jeremy Helton will exhibit 20x24 Polariods of videos which were originally shot on Super 8 film. Jeremy Helton's work focuses on perception and memory, creating environments where an immediate and present experience is connected to an implied and sometimes fictionalized past as interlocking points of reference.

Click here to visit Jeremy's website.

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Tiki Chris - it's "Lijit"

Customized filter search engine, Lijit, recently dubbed me a "Tiki expert" and featured my profile in it's Blogger Spotlight. I'm not sure just how expert I am but the rest of the write-up, which says I'm Tiki fanatic that "loves himself some Tiki" is certainly true. Gosh, now I feel all validated and "Lijit - imized." Thanks.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

A Very Tiki June with Virani

I had the distinct privilege of experiencing this year's London Luau and Hukilau with my good friend (and roommate for much of June) Virani le Beachcomber. Now that the Tiki festivities are over, it seems Virani's a little more quick on the draw to share his photos from the events. So, until I can get around to posting my own pics and recollections, here are the links to Virani's:

Photos [from Hukilau]
Virani
Virani le Beachcomber
Monday, June 18, 2007

Click here for more of Virani's photos from this year's Hukilau.

London Luau 007
Virani
Virani le Beachcomber
Monday, June 11, 2007

Click here for more of Virani's photos from this year's London Luau.

Friday, June 22, 2007

A Couple of Tiki Weeks in Review (Friday June 22, 2007)

Okay, sorry I skipped last week's update. After a great London Luau weekend, I jetted off to Florida to cover the Hukilau for Tiki Magazine. Such an adventure provided me with enough blog fodder for oodles of future posts (if only I can find enough time to write them).

In the meantime, check out my Artist Profile of Heather Watts that I posted before my trip. Heather's a super cool artist who was really kind to take the time to respond so thoughtfully to my interview questions.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Online

Okay. I'm back.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Offline

The Tiki Chris blogs are on hiatus while I go have some non-blog fun. See you in a couple of weeks!

Need something to read? Check out ...

5 Good Reasons
a sampler of things
Arkiva Tropika
Barefoot Bloggin'
cookiewonton
El Blog Diablogico
Emiana
Eye of the Goof
Great British Pubs
Hanford LeMoore
hooked
Hotels by City - London
Humu Kon Tiki
Jablog
jeansnow.net
johnny dollar's vault
Junkyard Clubhouse
Kahuna Kawentzmann News
Little Chimp Society
Londonist
Miles' Thing
On the Road Travel
Plep
Positive Ape Index
Ribble Valley Pubs
Slice
South Pacific Travel Blog
Swanky's Blather
Tiki Magazine
Tiki Talk
Tikiblog
Virani le Beachcomber
Wooster Collective
World of Kane

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Artist Profile: Heather Watts

Artist Profile: Heather Watts

Human and animal nature square off against each other through the pageantry of anthropomorphic villains and anti-heroes, rendered with an eye to what they reveal about the realities of our own world.

Wow. That’s kinda cool … and how Heather Watts’ art is aptly described on her website. Indeed, the characters in her paintings with their often wistful stares suggest a world both whimsical and fatal, like a kitty cat suddenly going for your throat.

Heather is a self-taught artist from Vancouver. Since 2003, she’s been painting fulltime for a living. Her work has been on exhibition at plenty of the biggies, including the Shooting Gallery, M Modern, Roq la Rue, and DC Gallery. She’s also had paintings on view at the recent Tiki Art Show in Amsterdam and the 2007 London Luau.

For Heather, painting is similar to assembling a jigsaw puzzle:

I piece together images, words and colors, working on the faith that eventually the chaos in front of me will come to resemble the picture I have in my head …

However, rather than “create the puzzle pieces” herself, Heather experiences the world around her and “cuts” the memories of her experiences in a way similar to how a collagist might clip pictures from magazines to form a new image – or in Heather’s case, a new memory. Such a process allows Heather to express her “found ideas” with a voice that speaks through a single image.

What follows is my interview with Heather in which she talks Tiki - and non-Tiki - and shares with me about how she came to be a fulltime professional artist and about her life in Vancouver.

1. How long have you been painting?

I've been painting since I was a toddler really, but I didn't get started with acrylics, shading and that sort of thing until I was around nine or ten. My grandma was a potter and painter and she helped get me started with my first paints. Through school I did all kinds of art - drawing, animation, sculpture - and painting was just one of them. I even gave it up for awhile in university. I started painting full time in 2003. I had just received a small settlement from a car accident three years prior. Then in June 2003 I broke my ankle and couldn't walk around for six weeks. To use a Simpson-ism, it was a classic "crisitunity".

2. What inspired you to try and go at it professionally?

I never really wanted to be an artist when I was growing up because I thought I didn't like art. I loved making all kinds of art, but tedious art class slideshows and field trips to a silent stuffy Art Gallery didn't infuse me with any great passion for the business. I thought art was this dead pretentious thing, most of which I just didn't 'get'. I did consider being an animator, or a set designer, but those were never things I passionately wanted to be. After high school I took history, economics and religion courses and got a BA in Asian Area Studies from the University of British Columbia. Ironically, my academic pursuits have probably influenced my art better than art school ever could have.

When I first started dating my (now) fiancé I did a small painting for him as a gift. He was so blown away. I gave him another one a few months later and he pretty much never let up in telling me I needed to be a professional painter. He was so supportive and really helped me feel like I wasn't crazy to just jump in and go after it. My parents backed me all the way too, which was so important for me.

3. Tell me about your “The End is Near” Stuff.

When I got offered the opportunity last fall of putting together my first mini-solo-show, I was so excited at the thought of putting together my own concept. Usually, in group shows, artists are given a theme, so this was the first time things were really wide open for me creatively. At first I thought I would try and incorporate Tiki and branch into some other things, but as I started working with ideas, I found Tiki was the farthest thing from my mind. Tiki had allowed me to really have fun with my art, to build my talent and to entertain, but for awhile I had wanted to communicate, through my art, thoughts about the world at large. In the end I chose the broad theme "The End is Near" because of both its timelessness and timeliness.

I was nervous about plunging outside Tiki for this show. At first it felt like it would be a sudden break, but really the transition was pretty seamless. I think because my Tiki work is often based on a sense of nostalgia and my paintings for "The End is Near" came from the same place. I also found that a lot of the imagery branched from the same inspirations as some of my Tiki work (for example, "The Pale Horse Finds his Calling" has the same carnival-esque roots as "Insert Coin" and "False Idols"). But it was nice to not have to limit myself, to be able to open up the Pandora’s Box of artistic expression and just put it all out there.

I think the resulting pseudo-chronology of imagery successfully touched on the sense of timelessness/timeliness I felt about the subject. I found the Cold War and the 1960s particularly inspiring in this, not least of all for the strange parallels running through our culture today. The painting I did regarding the 'peace' in Iraq, entitled "Who Says You Can't Eat Democracy?" was the most emotional and personal for me, I think because it addresses a wound that is still very raw in the collective consciousness. For me, the show as a whole, but most particularly that painting, was a way of sharing and illuminating things I find unbelievably tragic, and trying to do so with insight, humour and a little bit of hope.

4. How's Vancouver?

I love it here! I was born and raised in Vancouver. Summers here are the best, although whenever we get ten days of sunshine I actually experience a strange sense that something is horribly amiss. I need the rain to keep me balanced. :-)

Our embryonic art scene is just cracking out of its egg, and our tiki scene is snowballing. The Lucky Red Gallery and JEM Gallery have been open for a while now and there are always a ton of talented local (and international!) artists ready to fill their walls. Vancouver's first big " Tiki event" will be at the Waldorf Hotel this July put on by Heritage Vancouver and local Tiki shop Funhauser Decor, focusing on Vancouver's Tiki history!

Click here to delve deeper into Heather Watts’ dark paradise (and make sure to tell her you’re their at Tiki Chris’ bidding).

Monday, June 11, 2007

London Luau 007

London Luau 007
by Chris Osburn
Londonist
June 11, 2007

The main event of the weekend was an actual Hawaiian-style luau on Saturday night at Trader Vic’s, replete three bands, two DJs, one suckling pig per table and plenty of gleeful imbibers clad in loud floral-print aloha wear.

Click here for complete review.

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Kon-Tiki in reverse? Evidence suggests Polynesians voyaged to Americas before Europeans

Chicken-bone clue points to early voyages to Chile
By Jan TenBruggencate - Advertiser Science Writer
Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Archaeologists are rewriting the history of the Pacific with new evidence that Polynesian voyagers visited South America at least once, and perhaps repeatedly, long before the first Europeans arrived on the scene.

Click here for complete article.

Saturday, June 09, 2007

Tiki Bar TV episode 26: Missionary

Click here to visit the Tiki Bar TV website.

Friday, June 08, 2007

Too Much Fun in Review (Friday June 8, 2007)

Plenty of content for y'all this week. If I might point out two posts in particular, check out my collaboration with Tiki Racer for a limited edition Tiki London print and make sure to read about my clandestine adventures with a couple of East London graffiti artists. I'm having too much fun!

Have a great weekend,
Tiki Chris

Below is information about four blogs that I administer: ontoLondon, ontoTravel, Rapa Nui News, and Tiki Chris. Each Friday, I hope to provide a weekly review of what I've posted. If a particular blog interests you, keep in mind that I’ve been blogging since well before this past week. You may want to take a look through the archives of any blog that interests you. Thanks.

ontoLondon
http://ontolondon.blogspot.com
Site feed URL: http://ontolondon.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
Hirst and his dazzling head for art
London Daily Photo: Carousel
London Daily Photo: Weekend
London Daily Photo: Keep Calm and Carry On
Aloooha London!
London Daily Photo: Something to Gawk at on Monmo...
Londonist asks "What's for Lunch?" Santoré
Apart Gallery's Final Show in London
London Daily Photo: Refuse Stores
London 2012 Logo: Let the Cock-Ups Begin!
London Daily Photo: Untitled
Londonist asks "What's for Lunch?" West Cornwall P...
2012 logo continues to get a beating
Photos from the Apart Gallery's Summer Show Openin...
London Daily Photo: Tate Modern Members Room

ontoTravel
http://www.ontotravel.blogspot.com/
Site feed URL: http://ontotravel.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
Rotterdam: Untitled
Rotterdam: Tin Tin's Jazz Latin Cigar Bar
Rotterdam: Untitled

Rapa Nui News
http://www.rapanuinews.blogspot.com/
Site feed URL: http://rapanuinews.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
New children's book about Rapanui boy
Mid-air delivery followed by emergency landing on ...
Visit to Rapa Nui is "stepping into a new dimensio...
"Monolithic" Pop Culture References #55
Posada de Mike Rapu
Rapa Nui trips arranged through Ski.com
Visit to Rapa Nui prompts ecology questions
19th Century Moai Kavakava figure at recent auctio...
Rapa Nui photo event in New York
Rapa Nui and Earth's future
Rapa Nui cruises
Did Polynesians discover Americas before Europeans...
More about Polynesian discovery of Americas before...
New7Wonders and Rapa Nui
"Monolithic" Pop Culture References #56

Tiki Chris
http://www.tikichris.blogspot.com/
Site feed URL: http://tikichris.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
Hello June (Friday June 1, 2007)
Meet Up with Cyclops and Sweet Toof (Juxtapoz)
Tiki London: Gerry's Wine and Spirits
Tiki London: Intoxica Records
Tiki London: London Aquarium
Tiki London: Mahiki
Tiki London: South London Pacific
Tiki London: Trader Vic's
Tiki London: Trailer Happiness
Tiki London: Gone to Press!
Tiki London: Index of London's Tiki Landmarks

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Tiki London: Index of London's Tiki Landmarks

For our upcoming Tiki London limited edition print, Tiki Racer and I came up with a list of London's 10 Most Tiki Landmarks. Here they are in alphabetical order:

Black Pearl
British Museum
Cuming Museum
Gerry's Wine and Spirits
Intoxica
London Aquarium
Mahiki
South London Pacific
Trader Vic's
Trailer Happiness

The posters have gone to press and will be ready for purchase at the London Luau's Market Place on Saturday 9 June (10am-6pm) and Sunday 10 June (11am-6pm) at the Old Truman Brewery (Studio 95) on Brick Lane. Following the London Luau, remaining prints will be available to the wider public.

Click here for some background info about the Tiki London project and make sure to come back for more details about the Tiki London limited edition print!

The Tiki London limited edition print will first go on sale at the 2007 London Luau.

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Tiki London: Gone to Press!

For our upcoming Tiki London limited edition print, Tiki Racer and I came up with a list of London's 10 Most Tiki Landmarks. The posters have gone to press and will be ready for purchase at this weekend's London Luau!

Here are some pics from Tiki Racer's trip to the printers:

Check back soon for details about how to get your Tiki London limited edition print!

The Tiki London limited edition print will first go on sale at the 2007 London Luau.

Tiki London: Trailer Happiness

For our upcoming Tiki London limited edition print, Tiki Racer and I came up with a list of London's 10 Most Tiki Landmarks. Last but not least on our list (in alphabetical order) is Trailer Happiness.

A stroll down Notting Hill's Portobello Road (the same street as another Tiki London landmark, Intoxica Records) brings the thristy to the 'retro-sexual haven of cosmopolitan kitsch and faded trailer park glamour' cocktail bar known as Trailer Happiness. Trailer H boasts one of the best Tiki drinks menus anywhere. You can even choose your Mai Tai to be Trader Vic's style or Don the Beachcomber style. One note of caution: BEWARE THE ZOMBIE!

Check back soon for for more details about the Tiki London limited edition print ... and how to get your copy!

The Tiki London limited edition print will first go on sale at the 2007 London Luau.

Tiki London: Trader Vic's

For our upcoming Tiki London limited edition print, Tiki Racer and I came up with a list of London's 10 Most Tiki Landmarks. Next on our list (in alphabetical order) is Trader Vic's.

With the sad and recent demise of the Beverly Hills Trader Vic's, London's Trader Vic's is now the oldest. The restaurant dates from 1963 (with much of the same great décor) and has been consistently slinging out magnificent Mai Tais and other dreamy cocktails ever since. One of the great shrines of Polynesian Pop, Trader Vic's is located on Park Lane in the basement of the Hilton and well worth a visit.

Check back soon for the next in our list of London's 10 Most Tiki Landmarks and for more details about the Tiki London limited edition print.

The Tiki London limited edition print will first go on sale at the 2007 London Luau.