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Oceanic Arts, Whittier, CA (store) |
RevBambooBen
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 12, 2002
Posts: 7197
From: Huntikington Beach
|  Posted: 2010-11-08 5:22 pm Permalink
So I was at OA today picking up some stuff for a job I've been working on and Bob and Leroy sat me down at the front desk and said they had something for me. I'm thinking it was an old invoice for Eli or what not. They reach down and put this up on the counter.
BLEW MY MIND!!! Leroy hand carved it.
Moocho MAhalos Bob and Leroy!
And everyone else at OCEANIC ARTS!!!
You're all the Best!
BB
_________________
Bamboo Ben
Custom Tropical Decor
I build Fun for you!
http://www.facebook.com/bambooben
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croe67
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 05, 2003
Posts: 1011
From: Land of Cheese & Beer
| Posted: 2010-11-08 5:36 pm Permalink
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abstractiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 29, 2009
Posts: 582
From: Lodi, CA
| Posted: 2010-11-08 6:00 pm Permalink
Wow, that was a really nice thing to do, very cool sign.
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10561
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2010-11-08 7:30 pm Permalink
Class act, those guys. Old school certificate of being in the club. 
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Big Kahuna
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 11, 2007
Posts: 1908
From: SoMass
| Posted: 2010-11-08 7:44 pm Permalink
How freakin' cool is that?
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 3916
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2010-11-08 9:28 pm Permalink
Ben,
That's awesome, a true testament to your work from the guys who know.
Where you going to put it??
DC
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Enchanted Tiki Guy
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 14, 2008
Posts: 105
From: West Hollywood, CA
| Posted: 2010-11-12 2:42 pm Permalink
Man, I sooo love Oceanic Arts! I've gotta go again real soon! I decorated most of my Enchanted Tiki Bathroom with their great merchandise!
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10561
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2010-12-14 10:08 am Permalink
I've been visiting O.A. for more research lately, its a nice drive to Whittier on a sunny, warm day...
...only to disappear in the dark bowels of the oldest and biggest Tiki repository in existence.
So, having met Lake Surfer first way back when at Exotica Chicago in 2003, and knowing he would be in town, I gladly took the opportunity to introduce him to Bob and Leroy, who had liked his classic Tiki stylings
Leroy sharing Tiki wisdom with Dave Hansen and his lovely Wahine:
As we were about to leave, a shipment of Bamboo arrived from China:
Talk a bout a truck load of bamboo!
We managed to squeeze in some ribs and Mai Tais at Bahooka before Dave had to go and vend at the Tonga Hut:
Here's to Lake Surfer, staunch upholder of the tradition in the virtual Tiki wasteland of Wisconcin!
[ This Message was edited by: bigbrotiki 2010-12-14 10:15 ]
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abstractiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 29, 2009
Posts: 582
From: Lodi, CA
| Posted: 2010-12-14 9:04 pm Permalink
Cheers!
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 3916
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2010-12-15 5:32 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2010-12-14 10:08, bigbrotiki wrote:
Leroy sharing Tiki wisdom with Dave Hansen and his lovely Wahine:
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Boy I sure would like to take a gander at those folders some day, must be a treasure chest of history in those old dusty binders. I talked to Dave at Tonga Hut that night and we was stoked to have had the experience at OA.
Thanks for the post.
DC
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10561
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2010-12-21 06:32 am Permalink
While doing research for my next projects (shirt book, next Tiki CD, and such) at Oceanic Art recently, I came across two small sensational finds (for those who can relate) that I want to share here to spread the holiday cheer. First a local Pico Rivera community newspaper article from 1958 which Bob pulled out for me, with two photos, this one being the "sensation":
Bob van Oosting is CARVING! Granted, this photo of both Bob and Leroy chiseling on one log is posed for the article, but besides it being downright cute, Bob informed me that in the early days he in fact was quite involved with the hands on manufacture of Oceanic art also, and that only as demand increased did he take over the business side of things.
Further proof is the next photo from the article, both men working on a mosaic background for a mask, from the same series that I show an example of on page 222 of Tiki Modern:
The next surprise was a proposed but never realized design for an Aloha wear clothing store chain called Kimo's. The model store pictured in their franchise promotional flier had been outfitted with Witco furnishings (see Tiki Modern page 198), but because they were actually located in Santa Barbara, they contacted O.A. for future projects. Asked to submit designs for store fixtures, Leroy whipped up some renderings that were in keeping with the flagship store's look, but still un-mistakenly his own, here is my favorite, Leroy does Witco (!), 1968:
Unfortunately, times and tastes were such that it was not chosen, in favor of something less Tiki oriented. But this rendering will definitely go into MY next book!
Mentioning books, I signed a stack of Tiki Moderns that are available at O.A., and just want to remind everyone in L.A. that Oceanic Arts is really THE one-stop Tiki shop for your X-mas gift needs. Not only do they have a their time-tested carvings and beachcomber lamps, but a complete line of Tiki Farm mugs, Exotica CDs, books, prints, Luau paper supplies, really whatever the Tikiphile heart desires- and then some! We are truly fortunate to have them in our backyard down here in Southern California.
Mele Kukalimoko, everybody!
[ This Message was edited by: bigbrotiki 2010-12-21 11:03 ]
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