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Benzart
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 09, 2004
Posts: 10306
From: Port Saint Lucie, Florida
|  Posted: 2009-04-16 5:12 pm Permalink
Thanks T-Pak, Yes I Over did it a bit and have really had to be ultra careful, More later though and I'[m OK
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makrogore
Member
Joined: Apr 23, 2009
Posts: 2
From: Kaimuki - Waikiki - Kona - O'ahu
| Posted: 2009-04-23 01:33 am Permalink
I've been lurking on TikiCentral for too long without finally posting and sharing some mana'o. It's an interesting take on ki'i punohu / ki'i wana that you're doing here. The detail is quite incredible. Still, my favorites are the ones I've done, which attempt to resemble the original ki'i punohu that was found at Kamohio on Kaho'olawe, given a little artistic license. Nowhere near the amount of detail that you have achieved, but I work with a file and a pin to work things out.
For anyone who is unfamiliar, ki'i punohu is the phrase that we use for carved pencil slate (Heterocentrotus mammillatus) urchin spines. They're a particularly interesting thing that is peculiar to Hawai'i, specifically to Kaho'olawe, as the only examples that have been found, to date, were there at a fishing shrine. Some people have postulated that the one piece with a fully carved face is possibly Ku'ula, one of the akua lawai'a, fishing gods. Three or four other punohu spines were found in the same small shrine with some details carved into them, but only one had a well-defined face. I have provided a picture below of some contemporary examples that I have done.
Here is a link to pictures of the original ki'i punohu, courtesy of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum: http://www.hawaiialive.org/realms.php?sub=Kai+Akea&treasure=373&offset=0
Cheers!
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Benzart
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 09, 2004
Posts: 10306
From: Port Saint Lucie, Florida
| Posted: 2009-04-23 1:30 pm Permalink
Thanks makrogore, for the kind words and First of all a Big Welcome to TC! I'm Really happy you finally decided to chime in and add some Photos of your "ki'i punohu". I agree yours are Way better than mine. I have not delved into the ancient History of the Islands as i should and have Never seen any ki'i punohu before. I saw someone on My Space carving tikis on these urchin slate and then I ran across some at a gift shop in St Augustine ,Florida and I purchased only 3 when I should have taken the lot of what he had. Your examples are showing Incredible detail and I personally know the challenges of carving the spines so deeply, but what a difference. I will carve my last spine more in line with the example shown on the Bishop Museum link you kindly provided. Big thanks for those links too!
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makrogore
Member
Joined: Apr 23, 2009
Posts: 2
From: Kaimuki - Waikiki - Kona - O'ahu
| Posted: 2009-04-23 10:36 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2009-04-23 13:30, Benzart wrote:
Thanks makrogore, for the kind words and First of all a Big Welcome to TC! I'm Really happy you finally decided to chime in and add some Photos of your "ki'i punohu". I agree yours are Way better than mine. I have not delved into the ancient History of the Islands as i should and have Never seen any ki'i punohu before. I saw someone on My Space carving tikis on these urchin slate and then I ran across some at a gift shop in St Augustine ,Florida and I purchased only 3 when I should have taken the lot of what he had. Your examples are showing Incredible detail and I personally know the challenges of carving the spines so deeply, but what a difference. I will carve my last spine more in line with the example shown on the Bishop Museum link you kindly provided. Big thanks for those links too!
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You know, re-reading my last post, I sound really presumptuous and high makamaka. First, I would like to apologize for that, especially considering your expertise in things tiki (this I know from lurking on your threads, Tamapoutini's threads, and Paipo's threads out of interest and in need of inspiration). I hope you can forgive the newbie's running mouth. Your work carries with it the detail of a master carver, and I hope you continue to carve in many mediums for years to come!
Second, you're very welcome for the links and other associated information. These ki'i punohu are part of my way of expressing myself and respecting my culture as kanaka 'oiwi, a Hawaiian. As part of that, I have responsibilities, kuleana if you will, to make sure that things Hawaiian are well-represented. For this reason, I both feel deeply about carving and other creative material culture arts and hope that there are opportunities for me to share stories and information about the historical and cultural side of Hawaiian stuff.
Third, while I have an auntie who sources the urchin spines, I have run across them on eBay for reasonable prices. The following link will be open for another day (literally, about 24 hours till the current bidder wins), but you can get quite a few of the spines to play with for a real good price:
http://cgi.ebay.com/SEA-URCHIN-SPINES-50pcs-craftsupplies-home-decor-shells_W0QQitemZ110373908123QQihZ001QQcategoryZ31742QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I do not know if they've been drilled, but I would wager they haven't been. If you can't make it to that auction, let me know and I might be able to send you some that I can get. They'll vary in size from about an inch and a half to three inches, but you'll find they each have their own character, grain and potential.
Good hunting!
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Ellly
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Dec 28, 2008
Posts: 51
From: Sicily Island, Italy
| Posted: 2009-04-24 10:55 am Permalink
Ben,
go ahead with this small wonderful objects, like the things men used since their appearing on earth, they are so rich of deep meanings... beautiful!
You know I like smaller carvings...
And take care 
ELEonora
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benella
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 27, 2006
Posts: 1423
From: Meudon, France
| Posted: 2009-04-25 12:36 am Permalink
Hi Ben,
The Lono will be a keeper, I already love it !
Benjamin.
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annamarikitiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Mar 03, 2009
Posts: 41
From: Atlanta/Anna Maria Island, Fl
| Posted: 2009-04-25 08:11 am Permalink
Benzart
Dang man! That is MONEY! You must need glasses if you dont have em already carvin that small. You set the bar pretty high. This is the most detail I have attempeted to date- not exactly Tiki- but Tiki inspired all the same. -NOYES
Thingamagig I carved -
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Justin Kingsley Noyes
"Teak it up!"
[ This Message was edited by: annamarikitiki 2009-04-25 08:14 ]
[ This Message was edited by: annamarikitiki 2009-04-25 08:17 ]
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Benzart
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 09, 2004
Posts: 10306
From: Port Saint Lucie, Florida
| Posted: 2009-04-25 10:30 am Permalink
[/quote]
You know, re-reading my last post, I sound really presumptuous and high makamaka. First, I would like to apologize for that, especially considering your expertise in things tiki (this I know from lurking on your threads, Tamapoutini's threads, and Paipo's threads out of interest and in need of inspiration). I hope you can forgive the newbie's running mouth. Your work carries with it the detail of a master carver, and I hope you continue to carve in many mediums for years to come! [/quote]
--------------------------
Thanks makagore, but I didn't find your post presumptuous at all and in fact I felt Honoured that you chose my thread for your first post! Thanks! Also I am not in Any way an expert in all things tiki as I Struggle to move up from first grade in that area. My only expertise is in carving and i get Way more credit than I honestly deserve.
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[/quote/
Second, you're very welcome for the links and other associated information. These ki'i punohu are part of my way of expressing myself and respecting my culture as kanaka 'oiwi, a Hawaiian. As part of that, I have responsibilities, kuleana if you will, to make sure that things Hawaiian are well-represented. For this reason, I both feel deeply about carving and other creative material culture arts and hope that there are opportunities for me to share stories and information about the historical and cultural side of Hawaiian stuff.
[/quote]
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I know I'm not alone when I say I would Love to see more of your carvings and I also know I'm not alone in welcoming the idea of your own thread where you could share your knowledge of "All things Hawaiian". Most here continue to thirst for knowledge of the Real way it is and was. I would Love to hear your "stories and information about the historical and cultural side of Hawaiian stuff.".
SO I believe your thread will be Well received and thoroughly enjoyed.
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[/quote]
Third, while I have an auntie who sources the urchin spines, I have run across them on eBay for reasonable prices. The following link will be open for another day (literally, about 24 hours till the current bidder wins), but you can get quite a few of the spines to play with for a real good price:
http://cgi.ebay.com/SEA-URCHIN-SPINES-50pcs-craftsupplies-home-decor-shells_W0QQitemZ110373908123QQihZ001QQcategoryZ31742QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I do not know if they've been drilled, but I would wager they haven't been. If you can't make it to that auction, let me know and I might be able to send you some that I can get. They'll vary in size from about an inch and a half to three inches, but you'll find they each have their own character, grain and potential.
Good hunting!
[/quote]
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Thanks Again, I do have a few good Shell Shops here I need to check out first as they may have some fairly cheap. Be looking for your thread and posts to come!
Ellly, Thanks, yes I will continue with these small things, I'm glad you like them, You must be an Archeologist? Happy to see you here.
Thanks ben, yeah I think I will have to keep him since he is a bit beyond help.
Justin, Thanks for chiming in, I DO need glasses and use heavy magnifiers when doing this small stuff. Your "Thingamajig" is not bad at all, you should really continue carving them, Practice all you can as each carving is just practice for the next. I've been carving for 20 years and I still practice every time I carve a piece!
Thanks everyone for your kind words. Hopefully I can get back to carving soon, right now health issues continue to keep me out of my lonely shop. I may even be able to spend more time on the computer.
Cheers!
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MooneyTiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 28, 2005
Posts: 578
From: Jensen Beach,fla
| Posted: 2009-04-26 10:39 am Permalink
Looks Great Ben!!!!Hope your feelin better!!I'm hoping to bring over my project this week ,Aloha your friend, Jimmy
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Robb Hamel
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: Mar 07, 2008
Posts: 1013
From: Ohio
| Posted: 2009-04-28 05:41 am Permalink
Excellent detail work and very cool idea.
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Watango productions
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 20, 2008
Posts: 420
From: Melb,Australia.
| Posted: 2009-04-30 04:51 am Permalink
Howdy Benz,I had to go to the dentist today and have a tooth
pulled out(ouch) but the up side to this was I got to sit here
all day high on painkillers and go thru your old threads,man your
carving blows me away,any style any size it's all mindblow'n.I'd
really like to buy a small peice if this is possible, so hopefully
you could add me to your list.Cheers Watango
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Sam Gambino
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Dec 02, 2003
Posts: 2197
From: www.samgambino.com
| Posted: 2009-04-30 9:13 pm Permalink
Hey Ben-
Just checking in on you... I hope all is going well. Also I absolutely dig those spines you are working on. They're beautiful.
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[ This Message was edited by: Sam Gambino 2009-04-30 21:13 ]
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big daddy
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 02, 2008
Posts: 325
From: houston
| Posted: 2009-04-30 10:05 pm Permalink
hey ben,
hope that you are getting over your health issues. sorta selfish reason on my part since i've been hoping to see more of your stuff up here. hope you are feeling better.
bd
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JohnnyP
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 23, 2005
Posts: 1689
From: Attica, MI
| Posted: 2009-05-01 7:23 pm Permalink
Ben, it's been too long without your art gracing these pages. Sending you well wishes.
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GMAN
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 14, 2005
Posts: 2994
From: My Island
| Posted: 2009-05-03 4:41 pm Permalink
I am starting a hunger strike today...not to be ended until Benzart is back carving and inspiring us all. I Figure I can last about 3 weeks + or - before my organs start failing. Please get better soon Benno!!
-G
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