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1959 Lithograph McVicker Polynesian fire dance |
thegreenman
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Aug 30, 2006
Posts: 73
From: 10.8 miles west of the Mai Kai
|  Posted: 2006-09-03 5:34 pm Permalink
I just got this find at my Aunts' retirement village here in South Florida, The lady she got it from "who knew the artist" said it was a promotional advertisement piece for a "Polynesian gardens fire dance" from 1959.
If anyone knows anything about this I'd love some info please. This looks like a Lithograph with slightly damaged edges, obviously removed from the original frame.
The back has framers tape that says "Schwarms Photo Center Bahia Mar Commercial Photography - Illustrative- Architectural-Marine".
Perhaps this piece was for The Bahia Mar here in Ft Lauderdale Fl?
Any insight into this would be awesome, thanks.
http://picasaweb.google.com/fsmminister/Tikipicture
[ This Message was edited by: thegreenman 2006-09-03 17:35 ]
[ This Message was edited by: thegreenman 2006-09-03 17:36 ]
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Humuhumu
Grand Member (5 years) 
Joined: Aug 22, 2002
Posts: 3536
From: San Francisco
| Posted: 2006-09-03 6:23 pm Permalink
Aloha, and welcome!
I don't know the answers to your questions right off, but perhaps someone local to South Florida will be able to shed light on it. I do, though, think it's fantastic:
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Critiki - Ooga-Mooga - Humu Kon Tiki
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kingstiedye
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 05, 2005
Posts: 1229
From: sackatomato
| Posted: 2006-09-03 6:32 pm Permalink
yeah, i love it! as a newbie, i know nothing about it, though.
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thegreenman
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Aug 30, 2006
Posts: 73
From: 10.8 miles west of the Mai Kai
| Posted: 2006-09-03 6:43 pm Permalink
Thanks for the responses. Do you think I could bring it to the bazaar next month at The yankee Clipper? Maybe someone would know something about it there?
I'm a tiki newbie, just building a tiki bar lanai at home and hunting for decor. This is my first find, and I'm thinking it's a pretty good start.
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Humuhumu
Grand Member (5 years)
Joined: Aug 22, 2002
Posts: 3536
From: San Francisco
| Posted: 2006-09-03 10:02 pm Permalink
I think your best bet is Kailuageoff; he's giving a presentation on Florida's tiki history during Hukilau. He'll be able to rattle off all (well, many, at least) of the places in south Florida that would have had a Polynesian revue to promote in 1959.
I did a quick search on "McVicker" (I'm sure you did the same), and turned up an artist named J. Jay McVicker -- some of his art is of a similar tone, but his style is more abstract, and his signature doesn't match the one on this piece. Oh well!
Are there any other details you can offer, at all? Is there any hope of getting in contact with the woman your aunt acquired it from?
I've posted about your piece on my blog as well -- hopefully someone out there will know something, if not today, then a year down the road, when ol' McVicker's granddaughter is Googling for information about her grandpa (it happens a lot around here!).
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Critiki - Ooga-Mooga - Humu Kon Tiki
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Kona Chris
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 16, 2005
Posts: 237
From: Tucson, AZ
| Posted: 2006-09-04 01:40 am Permalink
That is one hell of a cool picture, and one that I would LOVE to have a copy of! Awesome find!
Chris
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thegreenman
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Aug 30, 2006
Posts: 73
From: 10.8 miles west of the Mai Kai
| Posted: 2006-09-04 05:32 am Permalink
Unfortunately I cant get tickets to see Kailuageoff's presentation as it appears they are sold out. I did get a ticket to the bazaar. I sent Kailuageoff an email, hopefully he won't be annoyed.
I took a picture of the framers' tape thinking it may be of some use.
okay the latest news is that this painting was done for a advertisement for the Polynesian room of the Yankee Clipper.
[ This Message was edited by: thegreenman 2006-09-04 13:56 ]
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Kailuageoff
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 27, 2002
Posts: 1486
From: Honolulu Lounge,Lewes, DE
| Posted: 2006-09-12 12:47 pm Permalink
Sorry, it has taken me so long to reply. I have been slaving on my Hukilau presentation before heading out of town for a week and have not had much time to come up for air.
Unfortunately, I do not have any information on this print. It is very nice and mahalo for sharing. Quite a find, really. This would definitely be worthy of reproducing and perhaps selling prints of. Does anyone else think it looks strangely like a modern rendition on vintage tiki...? Everything goes full circle, I suppose.
Anyway, the setting reminds me somewhat of the South Pacific in Hallandale or perhaps the Luau in Miami.... maybe more of the Luau since they were located right on Biscayne Bay. Wayne Travassos at the Hawaiian Inn in Daytona Beach has made it clear to me that many different Polynesian dance groups performed up and down the east coast with various dancers and musicians coming and going, much like members of struggling rock'n'roll bands. So it could be this was a very temporary setup, rather than an enduring establishment such as the Mai-Kai, etc.
I wish I could be of more help, but bits of tiki history turn up all the time and maybe more will be known about this print eventually.
KG
[ This Message was edited by: Kailuageoff 2006-09-12 12:48 ]
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10562
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2006-09-12 1:35 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2006-09-12 12:47, Kailuageoff wrote:
... Does anyone else think it looks strangely like a modern rendition on vintage tiki...? Everything goes full circle, I suppose.
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I know, it is almost too much of a clichee...but clichees are clichees because they are based on reality!
I definitely would love to use that image for my Tiki Modern book, I need a vintage image with an A-frame and with people! Please let me know, greenman, if you can help me out.
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TIKI DAVID
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 07, 2004
Posts: 1904
From: North Coast
| Posted: 2006-09-12 4:16 pm Permalink
[ This Message was edited by: TIKI DAVID 2006-09-12 16:25 ]
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GatorRob
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 20, 2004
Posts: 1766
From: 3 hrs 33 mins to paradise
| Posted: 2006-09-13 11:51 am Permalink
Why is it that the two fire dancers remind me of Peter Pan? That's the first thought that came to my head when I first saw this and I haven't been able to shake it. Maybe it's the stance or his ear is just a little big and pointy. But I do love the picture.
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thegreenman
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Aug 30, 2006
Posts: 73
From: 10.8 miles west of the Mai Kai
| Posted: 2006-09-17 11:40 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2006-09-12 12:47, Kailuageoff wrote:
Sorry, it has taken me so long to reply. I have been slaving on my Hukilau presentation before heading out of town for a week and have not had much time to come up for air.
Unfortunately, I do not have any information on this print. It is very nice and mahalo for sharing. Quite a find, really. This would definitely be worthy of reproducing and perhaps selling prints of. Does anyone else think it looks strangely like a modern rendition on vintage tiki...? Everything goes full circle, I suppose.
Anyway, the setting reminds me somewhat of the South Pacific in Hallandale or perhaps the Luau in Miami.... maybe more of the Luau since they were located right on Biscayne Bay. Wayne Travassos at the Hawaiian Inn in Daytona Beach has made it clear to me that many different Polynesian dance groups performed up and down the east coast with various dancers and musicians coming and going, much like members of struggling rock'n'roll bands. So it could be this was a very temporary setup, rather than an enduring establishment such as the Mai-Kai, etc.
I wish I could be of more help, but bits of tiki history turn up all the time and maybe more will be known about this print eventually.
KG
[ This Message was edited by: Kailuageoff 2006-09-12 12:48 ]
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Thanks for the Reply KG, It turns out this piece was done for The Polynesian room of the Yankee Clipper.
I'll be bringing it to the Hukilau Bazaar so Sven can photograph it. If anyone wants to check it out catch me there sometime Saturday. I'll be the guy that looks like Ed Kowalczyk of the band Live with slightly more hair.
-Chris
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FLOUNDERart
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 02, 2003
Posts: 1140
From: Orlando Florida
| Posted: 2007-07-25 11:08 am Permalink
Man that's a great painting! I love it.
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Digitiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 22, 2004
Posts: 749
From: L.A. baby!
| Posted: 2007-07-25 3:33 pm Permalink
Yes, that is awesome! Definately consider making prints of that, I'd love to hang one in my home tiki bar!
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Kona Chris
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 16, 2005
Posts: 237
From: Tucson, AZ
| Posted: 2007-07-26 3:47 pm Permalink
I've had this print as my background image on my computers since it was first posted. I took the full resolution image from the original link, straightened it in Picasa, and then cropped it so I had just the picture. The result came out VERY well. I'd love to have a super high-res photo of this image!
If you don't want to take the time to do the same thing yourself, PM me with your desktop resolution and an email address, and I'll send you one tailored for your desktop.
Hmmm, I just tried the original link, and the image is gone. Ah well, glad I saved it when I did!
Chris
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[ This Message was edited by: Kona Chris 2007-07-26 15:51 ]
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