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


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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

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).

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.

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.

Tiki Bar TV episode 26: Missionary

Click here to visit the Tiki Bar TV website.

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

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.

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.

Tiki London: South London Pacific

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 South London Pacific.

South London Pacific is the oldest of London's newbie Tiki bars. The masterminds behind SLP seem to have wisely anticipated the New Wave of British Tiki as well as the cocktail culture trends of the past few years. It's a fun place to drink and very popular on the weekends. SLP's kooky South Seas design is the work of Josh Collins, the same guy who tiki-fied Intoxica Records.

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.

Tiki London: Mahiki

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 Mayfair hot spot, Mahiki.

Mahiki is London's newest Tiki bar - and also it's trendiest - attracting the likes of Madonna, Paris Hilton, and Prince Harry. And, like the great tiki drinks establishments of yore, Mahiki has a beautifully illustrated drinks menu designed by Tiki Racer.

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.

Tiki London: London Aquarium

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 the London Aquarium.

What's so Tiki about the London Aquarium? How about a shark infested tank filled with three underwater moai!?! Very evocative and very Tiki!

But there's no need to take our word for it - just click here for the Aquarium's Pacific Tank Live Web Cam to get your 24/7 underwater, shark infested Tiki London fix!

Image courtesy of Lauren Hewings via Flickr.

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.

Tiki London: Intoxica Records

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 Intoxica Records.

Not only is Notting Hill's Intoxica Records a great place to shop for vintage vinyl, according to its owner it's also “the only record shop in the world decked out in the Polynesian Tiki style.”

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.

Tiki London: Gerry's Wine and Spirits

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 the Gerry's Wine and Spirits.

"At Gerry's ... you can buy almost any drink under the sun!" Stroll by Gerry's shopfront window next time you're in Soho and drool at their selection of rum. Best place for Tiki drink supplies in London.

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.

Image courtesy of chillicheese via Flickr.















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

Meet Up with Cyclops and Sweet Toof (Juxtapoz)

Meet Up with Cyclops and Sweet Toof
by Chris Osburn
for Juxtapoz
Thursday, 31 May 2007










Curiosity and vanity getting the best of me, I agreed to the meet up. We convened near an over ground train station, Cyclops lugging a beat up ladder and Sweet Toof pulling a pregnant, paint splattered shopping trolley. After a brief hello, we trekked over to a nearby water tower in a derelict, overgrown lot beside a canal. According to Sweet Toof, the roughly 30 foot tall tank had been "asking for a lick of paint for a long time."

Click here for complete post.

Hello June (Friday June 1, 2007)

Tiki London
Lunch Reviews
Amsterdam Photos
Rotterdam Photos
London Daily Photos

and more!

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://www.ontoLondon.com
Site feed URL: http://ontolondon.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
London Daily Photo: New Oxford Street
New Banksy in South London?
London Daily Photo: Agro Made in England
Madonna at Exmouth Market or Don't leave home with...
Huge Hockney
London Daily Photo: Round the Corner
Londonist asks "What's for Lunch?" Spice 'N' Rice
London Daily Photo: Zombie
London Daily Photo: Outside
Londonist asks "What's for Lunch?" Beatroot
London Daily Photo: Untitled
London Daily Photo: Cool Job


ontoTravel
http://www.ontotravel.blogspot.com/
Site feed URL: http://ontotravel.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
Amsterdam: Untitled
Rotterdam: Cityscape
Tiki Mug Air Travel Doodle
Rotterdam: Maritiem Museum
Rotterdam: Aboard the Buffel
Rotterdam: Waterfront
Rotterdam: Shop
Rotterdam: Waterfront


Rapa Nui News
http://www.rapanuinews.blogspot.com/
Site feed URL: http://rapanuinews.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
"Monolithic" Pop Culture References #54
About Explora en Rapa Nui


Tiki Chris
http://www.tikichris.blogspot.com/
Site feed URL: http://tikichris.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
Posts with the Most (Friday May 25, 2007)
Meet my new friend, Kan
Blogger Meet-Up at Trailer Happiness
Man v Leopard - incredible story
Coming Soon: Tiki London
Tiki London: Black Pearl Boutique
Tiki London: British Museum
Tiki London: Cuming Museum

Tiki London: Cuming Museum

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 the Cuming Museum.

The little known Cuming Museum, located in South London, is home to a number of objects brought to England on the three Pacific voyages of Captain Cook. Tikis, Hawaiian feather cloaks and more - along with the rest of the Cuming's exotic and arcane collections - make this small museum an excellent off-the-beaten-path destination.

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.