junkhauler's junk, a rickety umbrella

sorry..a wee bit overdue

2011-10-15T08:17:00.000-07:00

Rat-O-Chrome, Do You Still Prefer Stock?, auto and model paint
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Have not been able to update in a while, so here is a wrap up from the last several months. This year I have been trying my hand at participating in more art shows, i believe its been 10 so far this year. This has been a leap for me as in previous years i have only done 1 to 2 shows a year. Also, i now have a shared resident spot at the Hive Gallery in downtown Los Angeles, so if you make it for an opening there, or come down for Artwalk, stop in the resident area and say helllo. Below are images of some of the artwork created for shows this year, will preview more soon in an attempt to update the blog more.
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Trophy Head Jewelry Box, ceramic, wood, metal, gold leaf. tassles

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'46 Fuel Stop 151, auto and model paint, frame wood and epoxy

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Raisinette Unbound, resin, fiberglass wood and grass braid

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Coming up in November Gallery De La Cruz presents Merry Krampus, which is the next show I will have new work for. Hope to see you then!

Mitchell

2011-05-07T08:19:00.000-07:00

Mitchell Atkinson, tattoo artist and twin brother to family friend and tattoo artist Watson Atkinson passed away this week. Here are photos from 2001 of me getting work done by Mitchell at our friend Reba's house in Athens Ga. There is a memorial page set up on facebook http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=100002307656504, http://www.youtube.com/user/mitchellatkinson71
RIP Mitchell, Thank you and hope you find peace and serenity in your next voyage!

behind on gettin images up, hopefully to get caught up in the next week or so. More shows comin up, will be junkin up the art show at Ink and Iron Festival put on by Gallery De La Cruz. http://ink-n-iron.com/

Here are custom Tim Gore Piss N Vinegar junkhauler mugs. Soon to follow up will be a round of one color wash versions and some that will be customized by T-Gore himself.
Things chillin some with work schedule so hope to get updated with photos here of recent gallery pieces and mugs.

this ones for da monster lovers...

2011-03-10T00:05:00.000-08:00

To be ready in time for Monsterpalooza, here are preview pics of the junkhauler collaboration mugs with Tim Gore and Russ Lukich.
Tim's Piss and Vinegar sculpt, a creepy soon to be functional art depiction of the T Gore style, is molded and almost ready for casting, and will have separate teeth added to every casting. See more of Tim's work at http://extremegorestore.bigcartel.com/ .

Russ has brought HP Lovecraft, whose work we are both very fond of, to life in this stunning portrait mug. You can check out Russ' other Lovecraft work at lovecraftlives.com

Both mugs sculpts are stunning, and will premiere at their tables at Monsterpalooza. Check out info on the weekend of monster fun at http://www.rubberroom101.com/monsterpalooza2011/

one step closer to a empty table...Lady Lagoon

2011-02-15T23:02:00.000-08:00

working my darndest to clear off my project table. Mind you project table, the dry erase board still makes me wanna vomit.
to get bisque fired this week:
Ocea Otica: AP's and Numero Uno Zombi Bob, Fog Bank number 1 and 2, collab on Tiki Kaimuki's Skoai- the Fleshy Skoai, collab on Notch's Roberto Loco- NOTCH-O BOB, and a Notch Ren Clark's Severed Head Tribute mug. These collabs were started in 09, will be nice to finish them up and have them posted with the Munktiki and Tiki Tony collabs.
Also in Ocea Otica news Miles from Munktiki has signed on to do a limited run of THIRSTY. This run will be the last of that design; Miles will have the sledge hammer ready to return that mold to powder once his run is complete. More on that later.
Their work can be seen at munktiki.com, tikikaimuki.com, tikitony.com, losttikiisland.com
(pictured) junkhauler Vintage Beauty Monster series- Lady Lagoon, another one off handbuilt on a greenware bust from a vintage mold, which i will do some china painting on. Started in 2008 or 09, looking forward to finishing her up.
From junkhauler ceramics Tim Gore's mug sculpt will be completed this week and molded soon, hoping to have a good number completed for his booth at Monsterpalooza in April. More junkhauler artist mugs are in the works, more on that later.

sleep now!

serve it in a beautiful vessel

2011-02-14T07:21:00.000-08:00

in an effort to keep the creative juices flowin, molded another mug this weekend, the Fogbank. Will post a photo when the first is cast as I worked in reverse from a mold, so there was not an original sculpture. This is a technique I have been wanting to try and enjoyed the process.

Next on the slate, one of my favorite mugs from a vintage drink menu, the bamboo "Tub of Oke". From the time Okolehao was a common drink ingredient, this bamboo mug to me is ceramic perfection. Classy, elegant, and the artists rendition of a dark stained bamboo seems to make the whole presentation more sultry. This mug, according to my colleagues on Tikicentral, under the Crypto-mug thread, has not been found in the wild; most likely meaning their production was limited, with those legs they may have been broken often, they possibly were actually made out of bamboo as was common or some collector is not sharing photos. I have never seen one, so am going to do a rendition close to the illustration. I am very excited about this mug, really looking forward to the first drink out of one.

Zombi Bob and some good garbage (pronounced Gaaarbaahhge'eh)

2011-02-06T10:29:00.000-08:00

So after some revisions from the concept on the last post here is the sculpt of Zombi Bob, my undead take on mr Happy Tiki Bob. Why a zombie you ask (cause i never do zombies, no no); this mug size and shape is perfect to serve a Zombie cocktail, and Tiki Bob the mug was used at a number of establishments with varying cocktails, so now here he is allocated for one of my, and many's fav cocktail. run on little sentence, run on.
First batch of these mugs for the Tiki Bob show at the Tonga Hut the glaze will be kept simple and somewhat true to the original Tiki Bob scheme.
in junkhauling finds, pulled these old drawers outa the dumpster last month along with some wood to make shelves. Cleaned up the mysterious glass shard infused goo inside (my guess a busted old dried glass of linseed oil, which crackled up like pork rinds when hit with a heat gun), murphy's oil soap wash, few new screws and riser on back for stability, and wallaw, some nice new old shelves. The drawer pulls are particularly neat, red bakelite with a ribbed bottle capish head.
you found any good trash lately? whats in yer dumpster?

the Bob Show, Tonga Hut, March 27th

2011-02-03T22:41:00.000-08:00

Busy month, busy new year. Quick post of two concept sketches for mugs I will have for the Bob Show. The show is all about the iconic, simple, elegant Tiki Bob; another fun concept show put together by GROG, for the Tonga Hut. Examples of the original Bob can be seen here, http://tikiroom.com/img/5038x4d48ca59.jpg. First up will be my Tumbuna Bob, the Papua New Guinea take, and the second, Zombi Bob. Numbers will be limited, and some will be available the following day for the online version of the show.
Coming soon too, a ceramic collaboration with artist Tim Gore! More on that later, but T Gore's work can be seen here, www.extremegorestore.bigcartel.com.

Ocea Otica and junkhauler, my Jeckyll and Hyde

2010-12-12T10:37:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody. Happy Holidays. I had some great cheese and crackers last night and was educated on the grande virtues of Billy Ocean.

After a break dealing with health issues for the last 6 months I am back to some art therapy.
Currently up on my Etsy store I have mugs available, junkhauler.etsy.com, some of which can be seen in photos below.

Also at some point in the beginning of the new year will have some collaboration pieces going up on ebay, as well as some of the pieces I used for photos in Beachbum Berry's Remixed. Here are some of the pieces that will be avaailable, Tiki Tony and Munktiki collabs, handbuilt Skullitiva and Asaro mudmen mud mask mug seen in the book

Finally have gotten back to painting after years of canvasavoidance, here is progress on a cork painting. I got a little more work done on it at the first live Fridaynightartdorks, hosted by Chey Zar and Zerofriends/Sean Leonard at the Cella Art Gallery. Due to some meds drinking the spirits has become a lesser common activity, but I did imbibe with some El Dorado 15 yr and Smith and Cross that evening. Fridaynightartdorks was started as a Twitter update your work thang by Chet, and now as an experiment a live event evening. Lots of great artists from all walks came together to work on pieces and watch Zombi and Dawn of the Dead. A great time, and the next one will be on December 17th. More info available here http://twitter.com/ChetZar

FONTS, Fonts, so friggin cool, Squid is knocking out some killer fonts, available here Squidart.com, check em out, hoping Santa will bring me Doinky Online and Zombie Dripping Flesh

Happy Halloween

2010-10-11T19:47:00.000-07:00

Been away from the internets for some time dealing with some health issues, but hope to see you at the Tonga Hut on Halloween. Will have a couple of paintings and a handful of one offs of my Ocea Otica Thirsty mug. Come on down, try one of the Tonga Hut's new drinks and check out some Halloween themed arts!

my first pumpkin carving in a few years, hope you get your hands into some pumpkin guts this year

MOAI Saturday

2010-02-22T20:00:00.000-08:00

Happy 103rd Birthday Donn Beach! I will be toasting and celebrating with a Zombie this evening.

This Saturday at 4pm PST the Moai mugs that are still available from the 2009 Tiki Wonderland show at the Tonga Hut will be available on the Etsy store, junkhauler.etsy.com, along with a few of the Burnished Dusk Lava edition. This glaze process (this is a style of application, not a type of "crystal" glaze, that involves applying various glazes) yields a lot of variety from one mug to another, as well as the fact that each mug has its neck and nose position altered, and the smile line is added by hand into each mug, so no two are alike. This glaze work promotes some beautiful color transitions, from a matte lava red to to semi matte yellow to glossy browns, blacks and blues. Below can be seen a test fire (in this case no smile line was added) and what I can say is this coloration is a lot more to see in person (but please click on the picture to see it larger.) As I mentioned the Moai mug will be an open edition; I will continue to make them till the mold goes south or I get burned out on em. Thanks for looking and if you have any questions feel free to drop me a note!

the finished piglet....

2010-02-20T12:40:00.000-08:00

the finished Woven Pig Totem mug.
Show opens tomorrow evening at http://www.squidart.com/pork.htm#

Fresh Pork

2010-02-16T09:04:00.000-08:00

A quick update, so i can say i actually posted something in the first part of 2010, I should have a piece, if I finish in time, in Squid's collaboration show "Fresh Pork, the Luau Pig Collaborations." This show is only online, hosted on Squid's website, with approximately 12 artists customizing Squid's Luau Pig mugs. Completed pieces by various artists are added as he receives them, so jump on over to his site now, http://www.squidart.com/pork.htm, to see pieces by Bosko, MP, Big Toe and GROG (Ernie Keen)(just to name a few.) Show officially opens for purchasing Sunday, February 21st, 6PM PST.
Below can be seen some images of the greenware stage, my modification is based on the woven pig clan totems of different regions in Papua New Guinea. The original piggy that i received can be seen at bottom center. This mug was bisque fired last night and is currently cooling in the kiln. Will post a pic of the finished glazed piece once completed.
oink oink!

This Saturday, December 13th. Tiki Wonderland art show at the Tonga Hut

2009-12-08T09:52:00.000-08:00

I have been working like a mad man to get stuff ready for the show, and will be updating this post with pictures as i get things done. If all works out, I hope to be premiering my new Moai and Thirsty mugs, have two T-shirts, and two prints from Jeff Berry's upcoming Beachbum Berry Remixed. Also artist Amber Skowronski, who customized some of the new Moai and a couple of other "two seater" mugs, and who I had asked to do a couple of paintings, will be joining me at my booth. So please pop your head in over here in these days leading up to the show and additionally I hope to see you at the Tonga Hut on the 13th!

****12/9 update: Here is a sneak peak at the two t-shirt designs. Seen here is the mockup of the artwork. The first pressing will be on black t-shirts; "THIRSTY" will be printed in a green which should match fairly close to mint leaves i brought over to the screen printers, the "Torembi" shirt will be a cinnamon tan ink. The "THIRSTY" shirt features my new mug of the same name, filled with a Zombie, garnished with a pineapple spear, Maraschino cherries, ample amounts of fresh mint, with a Hunstein Mountains cult hook swizzle i made for another photo shoot. The back of the "grave opening" features a pocket from which dry ice is starting to spread its "fingers." The "TOREMBI" shirt features the mug of the same name, garnished with pineapple wedge, cinnamon stick, star anise and Geranium leaf, all set against a dark natural cork background. Michele, the owner of Angry Girl, let me have a direct hand in mixing the custom cinnamon tan color, with the aid of a cinnamon stick I brought along.
I will have a limited number of these two shirts in LG and XL at the show. You can get info on Angry Girl's creative screen printing services at www.angrygirl.org.

THIRSTY

TOREMBI

Also having Michele's gang print me up some vinyl stickers. The first run of these going with the classic black print on white vinyl. Below can be seen the uncut sheet artwork. Two of the stickers in this pack feature my collaboration Zombie Moai with Miles at Munktiki, with the editions name MUNKTIKI X OCEA OTICA. I will have a limited number of these stickers in packs at the show.

Sticker packs will contain all stickers seen in uncut sheet above.

**** Day of show, 12/13, will have just one of the stickers from sheet, the Ocea Otica lettering on driftwood image, will have 11 THIRSTY one offs, 12 MOAI one off including the 2 custom underglaze painted by Amber Skoronoski, two additional mugs from Amber, a limited number of artist proof shirts and low intro price, and a very small number of artist proof prints of some of the photos from Beachbum Berry Remixed.
Below can be seen preview pics of the mugs:

THIRSTY

MOAI

Uberband, LIVE IN POLAND,... an i helped, release party December 5th

2009-12-01T07:52:00.000-08:00

Coming out in the beginning of this month is the first official full length release by Uberband, after years of touring with only a few tracks previously released.
Their music; an often times maniacal blend of genres such as jazz, funk, metal, country, 50's ballad, etc. that is expertly crafted and played often with complex timing, and lyrically; vicious, funny, cruel and sweet, which is backed by a carnival-esque stage presence, strange costume and makeup themes that give their audiences' brains some visual mania to go with the sounds. And aside from all that, its really fucking fun!

I have collaborated with Ryan, RyThoJo, Uberband's front man, in the past years on some elements for their stage shows. I brought in my pal and fellow makeup effects artist Don Rutherford to do KISS styled makeups for a previous show, consulted on some blood gags for some shows, and built some wearable open brain surgery caps (one can be seen in photo below) that the band used live and for photos.

Following shortly after Ryan told me the name of the new album, LIVE IN POLAND, i got a visual in mind and threw it at him. He liked the idea; a model set of the cover, kind of the feel of Mr. Rogers kingdom set and look of a model set you might see in an older campy low budget sci fi flick, with flower topiary for the name of the album, snowy mountains, Polish villages and the Uber U as an ice sculpture. The hope was to capture the feel of the band and music, i guess on a textural level, if they were a farmland somewhere in Poland.
Below is foamcore, bamboo skewers, cardboard and hot glue in action.

an early heavily saturated ice u test

Ryan took the imagery and did a photoshop mockup for the lay out. Then i got to building, down and dirty foam core construction, paper surfaced mountains, practical clouds and setting sun, etc. Then with Ryan's approval and assistance, we lit and shot the set. The Uber U was sculpted in clay, molded, then poured up in different red tinted ices that were shot separately and comped into the photo later. I also contributed ideas for the cd surface artwork and back panel which Ryan put together the artwork for and did the final layout.
www.uberband.com
December 5th, you can see the craziness for yourself, the record release party happens:
Sat. Dec. 5th - GONZOTOPIA - CD RELEASE PARTY!!
at Trip Bar
(non-descript black colored bar next to Jack-In-The-Box. Howzabout a map?)
2101 Lincoln Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
www.tripsantamonica.com
$5 per person - 21 and up

Ocea Otica update,3 new mugs in the works and...

2009-10-29T09:06:00.000-07:00

So its been quite some time since i sculpted and molded some new designs. Of recent, many of the one off pieces i produced last year were started off using greenware from vintage molds, the Munktiki x Ocea Otica Zombie Moai, as mentioned earlier, was a sculpture from 2003 and the Kapriman mug, which i finally started releasing at the end of last year, was sculpted in 2007. So what the hell have i been doing all this time, well, who cares.
So to make up for lost time, before i have to go on a little month long hiatus in the beginning of November, I have 5 mugs in various states of completion. Here is some info on three of them.
To get the ball rolling, I was struck with the desire to sculpt a Moai with a traditional feel. The Moai, probably having the largest catalog of interpretation by ceramic vessel, is still my favorite icon from Oceanic arts, and provides endless possibilities for the mug maker and artist. Pictured below is the first greenware pull from the mold. The plan is to texture each mug to varying degrees of decay, then the color combos will range from the natural to the eye popping unnatural. This Moai stands 8 3/4 inches tall, liquid volume to be determined later. I will probably produce these until the mold wears out, or i wear out. I hope to have some available by the end of the year.

Next up, by no coincidence created at this time of year, is the first in my return to the subject of the Zombie, a favorite cocktail of mine. "Thirsty" depicts a man in serious need of a cocktail. Digging to the surface gave him time to consider how many years it been since his last savory cocktail, and being that there is a dry ice chamber in the back of the mug, a Fogcutter may be appropriate, though a Zombie is its most desired. Pictured below is the sculpture close to completion. This is a somewhat stylized "clean" zombie, in which the fats have dissolved, but the skin is still in tact, almost preserved similar to the Bog Mummies. The mold was completed and hopefully I will start pouring these at the end of this year. This mug required two separate molds to complete and each greenware will have some subtle line work added in. Production numbers will be low, and there may be a standard glazed version and one offs.

Next up is another piece in the zombie ilk; this one being inspired by the lore of the creation of the Zombie cocktail. Pictured below is the sculpture in progress. There will be a hat added later. The look I am going for is somewhat caricature-like, or cartoonish, hopefully bringing to mind the vibe of 1950's and 1960's ad art combined with a bit of flappy skin zombie nausea.

So you may be asking, none of these are the mugs i thought you were putting out next. This is true. The Asaro Mudmen will see the light of day next year, also the Maprik and Yamok bird spirits, as well as other mug projects i have discussed in the past.
The Kapriman Traditional version, only a year and a half late, will hopefully be finished as well by the end of the year.

I was recently contacted by designer and prolific mug artist Squid, AKA Dave Cohen, about participating in his group luau pig mug project, so i will have this one off custom version of his greenware finished by the end December. You can see some of his work here: www.squidart.com

And with the holidays coming up, i highly recommend the acquisition of the Ghastly Ones new ep, Gears and Ghoulfinks, out on purple vinyl, available here: http://ghastlyones.com/merch.htm and a mug for the mustache-ed, a beautiful mug with a vintage feel, emoting the charm of Don the Beachcomber, Sophistico by Miles of Munktiki, viewable and purchasable here: http://www.munktiki.com/Newest.htm

So thats enough for now, what a gas bag, i got tired of reading this about two sentences in!

Just in time for Halloween....

2009-10-22T18:29:00.000-07:00

On Monday, October 26th at 6pm, at Munktiki.com, Miles' new edition of my Zombie moai will go on sale. His new edition, from my original mold from 2003, features stunning glaze work. This is an edition of only 25, so they will go quick. Here is the link to the sale info http://www.munktiki.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=OO&Category_Code=H. It has been a real treat collaborating with Miles and Munktiki, as it a was a Munktiki mug that was my first non vintage tiki mug.
**October 26th update, got word these sold out**

Tonight marks the one year anniversary of the TDN at the Mixoloseum...

2009-09-03T07:22:00.000-07:00

Tonights TDN at the Mixoloseum marks the one year anniversary of the Thursday Drink Night. The focus will be the Tiki drink, with special guests Jeff "Beachbum" Berry and Martin Cate getting into the mix.
Congrats to Kaiser Penguin and all involved who have made staying at the home bar on a Thursday night something i try to prioritize every week. If you have not checked in or participated, know that it is a fun, informative evening in the chatroom, involving a mix of Bartenders, collectors, blog writers, cocktail enthusiasts and home bar mixologists from all around the world. And there is the cocktails, many new and interesting drinks developed and submitted on a weekly basis by some palette talented.
I look forward to crushing some ice, to pulling out my garnish tools, feeling the burn of citric acid on my fingertips,working my way through my spirits shelves, learning something new, the camaraderie, and to being a participant in this TDN.
Here is the info from Kaiser Penguin's blog:
A year ago, this week, the revelry began. And if my sundial displays truth, the Mixoloseum has hosted 50 Thursday Drink Nights since that first mixological day. In that time, cocktail enthusiasts, writers, and bartenders have created over 500 original cocktails using everything from Fernet Branca to buttermilk. Guests who once came in fear of all the homemade syrups and bitters being slung about like fool’s gold in the chat room now make their own cinnamon syrup, have two local sources for Ting (in case one runs out), and don’t bat an eye when someone calls yellow Chartreuse instead of green.
TDN Anniversary - Tiki
50cm gold Japanese barspoon
We’ll be celebrating with rum, rain gods, and back scratchers this week, and Jeff Berry and Martin Cate will be making an appearance to sling potions and generally be jealous that we have more homemade syrups than they do. The prizes are profuse, and the last tiki torch won’t be doused until the first rays of light creep across my sundial.
The Prizes
Best Original Tiki Drink - 50cm gold Japanese bar spoon (pictured at right)
Best Gin Cocktail - Bottle of Port of Barcelona gin signed by the distiller.
Best Absinthe Cocktail - Bottle of Obsello absinthe signed by the distiller.
Best Spiced Rum Cocktail - Bottle of Old New Orleans Cajun spiced rum
Last One Standing - If you close the doors on our party, you will get yourself a pick of one of Mud Puddle’s six new cocktail book releases.
First two newcomers who submit a drink - More books! Pick from Mud Puddle’s line-up.
We’ll also be giving out Annual Awards throughout the night (e.g. Person who consistently submits the worst drinks).

here is a link to the Mixoloseum:
http://www.mixoloseum.com/blog/

and a photo to get you in the mood for this evening, a cocktail I was working on for a TDN I ended up missing:
The Swag's Glow

Happy 1 year birthday TDN, you know where i will be tonight.............
p.s. as of 1 hour ago, two as of yet unnamed winnings of a contest to be figured out shortly will have the prize of an Ashen Black color edition Tumbuna mug and a Underbelly of the Grey Plover color edition Tumbuna mug, the last two of this mug, as the molds were destroyed already

after much delay, the Kapriman mug is back in play

2009-08-16T12:08:00.000-07:00

So after roughly an 8 month hiatus from making mugs, I have gotten back to the craft. The Kapriman PNG Palette edition, an edition of 5, will be completed in the next couple of days. 3 of the 5 will be posted on my Etsy store soon, with a notification going out on the Ocea Otica email list. I hope to follow up shortly with the Traditional edition in the upcoming weeks.

Aside from Kapriman, I have started working on some of the collaboration mugs. I have two of the Tiki Tony-Ocea Otica one offs done, and a test fire of the Munktiki-Ocea Otica pieces done. At some point I will get together with the mug artists involved to figure out how my customized versions of their mugs and how their customized versions of my Kapriman mug will be displayed and sold. I can't wait to see what comes of this collaboration project and hope it is the beginning of a yearly melting of the minds (yes melting, not melding).
In the upcoming weeks i will start posting pictures of the collaboration pieces i finish.
Thats it for now, hope to be getting my hands much dustier the rest of the year and get back to some of the designs that i had hoped to originally release at the beginning of the year.
*****Update 8/22 This edition of Kapriman went up today and sold out along with a handful of one off AP's and glaze tests of Torembi and Tumbuna ( a couple of which are pictured below) from my own collection. Thanks to everybody that checked them out, now to get back to working on the last Kapriman edition and and to start sculpting on some new designs.

an original glaze test, this lighter version with highlights in the underglaze was not the final glaze/underglaze combo for the Yam Mask Yellow edition

Soil of New Guinea Tumbuna AP, this was the edition of Tumbuna featured in Tiki Mugs: Cult Artifacts of Polynesian Pop by Jay Strongman

Sadly no Tales of the Cocktail for me, so instead Tales from the Pittsburgh Airport Hyatt

2009-07-08T18:15:00.000-07:00

Once again I am unable to attend Tales of the Cocktail; pesky finances and work schedule preventing me from furthering my lifelong education and romance with booze. So instead, here is an alternate tale.....

the start, the hotels Bloody mary, using a mix made at the bar daily

Pittsburgh, well the Hyatt at the Pittsburgh airport to be more exact, where we held up for 4 days, only leaving our room to spend equal amounts of time in the bar. But this was like no airport/hotel bar experience either of us have had. The bar and dining room is large, with a very laid back pleasant atmosphere, with large open views of a simple, but beautiful wooded grassy "courtyard." View and space aside, it was a very accommodating and sweet bar staff who went above and beyond, filling requests initially, then going as far as providing fresh fruit and veggies to make cocktails with. After some discussion, in particular with Brian, then the sharing of a copy of 'Sippin Safari' and Jeff Berry's Tiki App on the I Touch, enthusiasm and personal interest grew (Brian took the book home to read one evening), and so did some experimentation and close recreation (well as close as a hotel's limited bar stock would allow)of some of the classics from 'Sippin Safari.'

book in hand, i take a knife to a cucumber

out comes a Cou-Cou Comber, with the adjustment of a bit of Sambuca in place of their lack of Pernod

so named by Brian, our Pineapple Minnetonka, a mix of vodka, pineapple juice, Tuaca, muddled mint and i believe soda, notes got left at the bar, but we drank many of these over 3 days.

Brian, pouring it up

memory is hazy on what i put together for the pineapple i cored out, but the wife concurs it was tasty.

This was just a small sampling of the cocktails consumed, as their were were numerous rounds of each cocktail, samplings of the cocktails on the bars list, and a few adjusted versions from said list. One of these evenings of heavy sampling lead to some snapshots of us sprawled out on the floor of the hallway en route to our room, pictures best viewed upon request on a visit to our apartment after a few rounds of cocktails.

An older couple who were watching my back and forth with the bar and who took to viewing my copy of Sippin' Safari shared tales of traveling to Polynesian bars in the heyday and of their large collection of mugs they have from those early travels. The husband then proceeded to buy a round of a rum coffee drink whose recipe he recalled from years past.

Who knew we could have some Tales in an airport Hyatt, in Pittsburgh no less, a special thanks to Brian, and the other bartenders and wait staff for such a lush trip.

a slew of cocktails from my messy files....hi, how are you doing?

2009-06-03T22:40:00.000-07:00

So it has been some time since i posted something new. Between work and personal projects, this blog, or the hopes to post with some frequency, have been dashed. So I am attempting to go through my mess of a computer and pull out some drink photos spanning from some time in 2008 until just recently to re open the door to this, my ramshackle digital house, in attempt to put together a recap rerun episode. As to be expected from my mess of a brain, not all the cocktails names can be dredged out of the fog that is my memory.

Perfumed Beauty

* 4oz Oval vodka
* 1/2oz sloe gin
* 1/2oz lime juice
* 1 1/2oz simple syrup
* 1 large wedge pineapple
* 3 mint sprigs
* 2 dashes Angostura bitters
* 1/4t ground cardamom

Rim snifter with cardamom mixed with simple syrup, then muddle a large wedge of pineapple with three mint sprigs, 2 dashes angostura bitters, 1/4t ground cardamom and then fill glass crushed ice. Separately shake remaining ingredients, pour into glass, garnish with a bunch of mint sprigs and a lime wedge.

ITS GOT A RIM, ITS GOT STRAWS, WHAT DO I DO?!?!?!
This goes back to earlier experimentation with cardamom, wanting the perfumed scent of this wonderful spice to be as present in flavor as in smell. The rim addresses this, and as long as you do not gouge your eye out with a straw, savor the flavor of the rim with the drink on occasion as you try this one out.

This was the cocktail i posted for the recent Thursday Drink Night at the Mixoloseum, the second time i have been a participant and not just an onlooker. This would have been a more beautiful presentation with a fat base round snifter, as the muddled pineapple and mint sprigs had a really nice layered look at the bottom, not captured in this photo.

Hot House Landing
This was the first cocktail i had submitted to a Mixoloseum TDN, will put up the recipe later, but it had muddled hot house tomato and a number of spices.

This is a mystery to me, do seem to recall it was something with a fresh (or really really ripe 7-11) banana, hence the banana peel wrapping, which would have been a more beautiful presentation had it not already donned its leopard print coat. My guess, beginning of this year. My hope, it tasted good.

Another take on the Kiwi's Nest Grog, recipe can be found in an earlier posting here.

somepin. another one lost in the fog.

from 12/11/2008, a true mystery of a mystery bowl, may have notes on this, though surrounding bottles give some indication, and the bits of zest in the drink just caused me to salivate a bit.

mystery drink from 1/15/09, not sure, thinking something from the Grog Log

something utilizing a tangerine from sometime, something off the cuff

HI, HOW ARE YOU DOING?

"tiki" mug heaven, signing event for Jay Strongman's Tiki Mugs book at La Luz Gallery, March 7th

2009-03-05T13:46:00.000-08:00

post party, i got there close to the end. Unfortunately did not get Tiki Tony in this photo, actually did not see him the whole night. Also, in showing up late, missed Miles Sabatini, my friend and co founder of `Ona Tiki, whose Lama Akua, in a few color variations, is featured in the book. Seems like everyone was having a good time. the "new" mug i was debuting was a joke of sorts, a lunch sac paper bag ceramic vase form a hobbyist mold, that was customized with paint markers and stickers, done up by Miles, Notch, Falin and I, went over well (we got requests from attendees and La Luz staff to make more.) You can see one of the bag mugs, which held a good 2 1/2 mai tais, in Falin's hand below. i was told by the La Luz staff after the fact that approx. 500 people attended.

From left to right back : Danny aka Tiki Diablo, Bosko, Miles of Munktiki, the author Jay Strongman, me, in the front from rt to left: Notch, Dave aka Squid, and Falin aka Tiki Kaimuki, i think Bora Boris may have shot this pic

The long awaited Tiki Mugs, Cult Artifacts of Polynesian Pop by Jay Strongman will make its debut at a release and signing party at the renowned La Luz De Jesus Gallery in Hollywood this Saturday, March 7th. This book, published by Korero, is a look into the history of the "tiki" mug and focuses on the modern revival by artists who have taken these mugs from faux Polynesian restaurant souvenir to hobby and serious artform.
Having gotten to view pages posted on a few websites, i can say it is loaded with eye candy, and as a collector of vintage and modern mugs i think it pleases on both ends. The book samples mugs that draw their design origins from Oceania as well as modern fusion tiki pop themes such as space-tiki.
i look forward to reading the text crafted by Jay Strongman, who worked hard to give the reader insight into the artform amidst a barrage of beautiful full page images shot by Jonpaul Balak, Dan Cevola, Duane Jones, Sven Kirsten, Martin Shaw, Nick Grant, David Dye, Greg Burmann, Martin McIntosh, and Annene Kaye.
As one of the artists featured in the book, i am grateful to be included amongst the great artisans who led the way and those who have taken up the craft since my start somewhere around the end of 2002, beginning of 2003 (crappy memory, don't recall).
The book covers artists form throughout the country and across the seas, and what is going to make the signing such a unique event is the attendance of almost all the California artists whose work can be seen in the book. Aside from those in Southern California, Northern California artists Miles from Munktiki, Notch, and Tiki Kaimuki will be flying and driving down to make this evening. i doubt there will ever be this many of these mug artists in one room at one time again, and i am personally excited to have the opportunity to talk shop and story with them all. Though not formal, Jay Strongman, the mug artists and at least one of the photographers will be available to chat and sign copies of the book. Holden, owner of Tiki Farm, will also be serving up free Mai Tais, made from donations by Trader Vics.
Hope to see you there!
And, just recently announced, there will be a UK (home to Korero) release and signing party hosted at the London Hilton Trader Vics on March 10th.

the Zombie Colonel, TDN Zombie mug finished and out the door

2009-03-04T09:49:00.000-08:00

So off goes this living dead mug to Craig of the Tiki Drinks/Indigo Firmaments blog, whose cocktail, the Zombie Colonel, won the Mixoloseum's TDN ZOmbie night.

This is the last of the customized greenware from a hobbyist mold, one off zombies, i will be doing. They have been fun to make, but the process of cutting, sanding and shaping this head mug just to get it to the point that i cut, sand, and sculpt the zombies is too time consuming. Making these has been a good exploration into customizing greenware and allowed me to work out some ideas, ideas which i will now apply to some zombie cocktail related mugs i intend to sculpt and mold for slip cast production.
Congrats to Craig and i hope it is the Zombie Colonel mug is a welcome addition in his bar.

the last or so week in cocktail

2009-02-26T08:19:00.000-08:00

Some late night mixing for myself, quickly rattled off photos (most of which are bad), need to come back to these at some point and do a little color adjusting, but for now, in the raw:

from the Berry's Grog Log, Coronado Luau Special
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from Jeff Beachbum Berry's Intoxica!, a Sundowner
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also from Intoxica!, a Plantation Daze
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151 Rum Swizzle, from the Grog Log
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sadly do not recall
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Larchmont, a recommendation from Greg Boehm, from 1948, David Embury, adapted by Greg Boehm

Tim and Eric, Awesome Show Great Job

2009-02-17T01:20:00.001-08:00

Yawn. Next in line!

Mixoloseum TDN this week focuses on the Zombie

2009-02-09T18:22:00.000-08:00

This week's TDN at the Mixoloseum is all about the Zombie, a favorite cocktail of mine. Thursday will bring together mixologists, bloggers, bartenders and appreciators of this classic cocktail, invented by the Don the Beachcomber in 1934, to focus on recipes old and new. Attendees online can discuss the cocktail, spotlighted in depth in Jeff "Beachbum" Berry's Sippin' Safari, and mix their own with a focus on different rum brands and regions for an exploration of balance and flavor and the addition of other ingredients to create new varietals. If you have not visited the Mixoloseum, go to http://blog.mixoloseum.com/

here is the official announcement from the Mixoloseum:

"Upcoming TDN - The Zombie

Some may praise it as the quintessential tiki drink, others may tout it as a horrific explosion of bad rum and candy-red syrup, but to know the Zombie truly is to have seen paradise. A wild mix of rums complimented by a perfect dose of citrus and more than a handful of complex and absolutely required drips and dashes.

We’re taking all that time-tested perfection, throwing it in a Blendtec and seeing what we come up with. Want to try a Zombie made with a float of gin? How about with a few dashes of creme de violette? Or maybe a few drops of orange flower water? Come up with the best new Zombie recipe and you’ll find yourself in the possession of a custom-designed, Zombie-themed mug forged by Cass McClure (aka Ocea Otica). Not only that, but your name will be emblazoned upon its visage. The action begins at 7pm EST this Thursday."

As mentioned i will be making a zombie mug from my series of one off custom Zombies, created to celebrate my love of this cocktail. The creator of the chosen cocktail, announced after the TDN, will receive the mug with their name and "Thursday Drink Night" underglazed on the mug to mark the event. Also, the chosen recipe will be listed on the edition card that accompanies the mug.

It is a real joy for me to sponsor this evening, and i look forward to seeing the outcome of the experimentation and exploration. Thanks to Rick at http://www.kaiserpenguin.com/ for accepting my offer to be involved. if you have not checked out his blog, make your way over there as it is a real fountain of information.

Below are examples of some of my one off Zombie mugs from a previous gallery show.

R.I.P. Lux Interior

2009-02-05T11:26:00.000-08:00

I am heartbroken, thanks for the memories and music. The Cramps had a strong influence on me in my early teenage years and are still one of my favorite bands of all time. I am sad for Poison Ivy and for the fact that I will never get to see them live again.

mixed bag round up update

2008-12-14T16:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays everyone!!!

It's been a very busy few months, with the focus on art, mugs, and photography. It's been a real redirect for me since the industry has been so slow, with being unemployed for the last 6 months I have spent some much needed time on the work I am most passionate about.

I have really lucked out with participating in two shows and two books. The Tonga Hut show from the middle of the year was a very concentrated effort, having created roughly 60 or so mainly 1 off pieces, while the Tis the Season to be Tiki show I was only able to complete two one off bowls, but technically they were the most challenging I have done. Below some quickly rattled of pics taken before delivery to the gallery, the "Pele Wakes" bowl, and the "Modern Maori" prototype bowl (both utilize pieces from hobbyist molds with customization of the greenware and additional handbuilt elements, i.e the Hei Tiki). Below as well are just a few pics from the show or after, as K nor I had the camera too handy throughout the evening. In fact, I think our camera was passed around, so I am not even sure who shot what pictures, but as other attendees post pictures I will add some up here, hopefully some that will actually include the spread of great artwork by all the artists.

(dry ice goes in the shell, drink goes in the lady)

artists showing Big Toe and Little Lost Tiki lining up for another round

artist Christopher Sowers in front of one of his large pieces at the show

Chris, WooHooWahine, And the Purple Orchid Gang whooping it up afterward at a bar

Christopher Sowers and some mutual friends celebrating

painter and graphic artist Steve Katz, his gal Sam, and mutual friends

I am behind on my own mug releases due to the shows and books, having gotten only halfway through making the Kapriman editions, which I had intended to have completed 2 months ago. This has set me back on finishing sculptures for the Sepik Ancestoral Hook mug I started on 3 months ago, and the Maprik Hornbill mug I had sketched out. Also, after doing 3 test Asaro Mudmen cast/handbuilt mugs, I have failed to get any more made. Further setting those back are the two tie in mugs that are in the inception stage, the fact that I have taken up photography again, and started painting again as well.

On the Vintage Beauty Monster front I have two in the works, one including Lady Lagoon, which I look very forward to getting finished.

I wanted to take this moment to thank all those who have supported and pushed me in my effort to focus on these works and to say a big thank you for the kinds words and comments via emails and conversations at shows. I hope to carry this period of concentrated energy over into the new year.

I hope your holidays are joyous and safe, and that you find time in the new year to indulge in your own passions and creative thought.

Tis the season to be tiki group art show opening December 12th

2008-12-01T23:54:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone can make it. Should be a great show, with ceramicists, painters, carvers, photographers and more.
Between the weather being cool and moist (not advantageous for ceramics) and the time frame with having deadlines on a few projects, i will be burning the midnight tiki torch. Hope to have not only one of a kind cast/handbuilt volcano and scorpion bowls, but a painting or two done as well. Should have all new pieces at the show, some of the most complicated pieces i have put together.
Look forward to seeing you there and having a free Mai Tai.

Zombie Moai sees new life, err death, awe, you know what i mean

2008-11-18T11:49:00.000-08:00

Just saw photos of the test fire from my collaboration with Miles at Munktiki, and I am bowled over. His unique production of this mug is beyond fantastic, and I have to say I like it more than my original release of it in 2003. I will not go into details about it right now, as it will be some time before it is released by Munktiki.

(photo use permission given by Miles of Munktiki)

I will say this, collaborating with Munktiki is a huge thrill as it was one of their mugs that was my first non-vintage tiki mug, and I am a long time fan of their design sensibility and phenomenal glaze work.

For those of you reading that have asked me about this mug over the years, know that this new version comes from my original production mold from 2003, and yes, it has the gory bottom.

If you are unfamiliar with Munktiki, check it, munktiki.com for tikis, monsters, and more.

Decision made, the four Kapriman editions

2008-11-10T13:22:00.000-08:00

Here are the four glaze versions I am picking for Kapriman. All will be an edition of 5.

Mystery Brown edition, discussed on an earlier post, is currently up for sale on my etsy store.

The other three editions will be a little more expensive, due to material costs and time involved.

Drai switmuli,Tok Pisin for dry orange, edition. This is my first foray into matte glazes. This orange is much more beautiful in person, with a dark brown break up. Interior is black.

PNG Palette edition. Red, black and orange make up this beauty, in my spattering underglaze style i like to call PNG Palette. All finished with a satin clear and red interior.

Traditional edition. This is the edition where i try to duplicate the look of the original carving this mug is based on. Features a satin finish and an orange interior. The final edition may vary slightly from this test piece.

The last three editions are being run from one mold, so they will take about a month to complete. I will let people on the email list know when they are finished. As an edition is completed it will be added to the the etsy store, junkhauler.etsy.com. The next edition that will be completed is the Drai switmuli.

I sometimes, depending on scheduling, and how well a production mold is holding up, will do custom variations on a mug. Please feel free to contact me. As stated before, after these Kapriman editions sell, i may do one offs for a show, but otherwise it is not likely that i will do another numbered edition.

From the home lab, the Kiwi's Nest Grog

2008-11-09T10:35:00.000-08:00

I thought I would start my first mixology post with a recent development in my home bar/lab. This cocktail was developed 10/4/08, at approximately 12:15am. Though there have been some real stinkers to come out of my mixing, and i am sure most home bars, when the attempt starts in the wee hours and after the consumption of other drinks, this one was surprisingly good on samplings since that evening. This Grog was developed out of necessity, the necessity for a cocktail to serve late that evening, having limited fresh components to draw from. Kiwifruit can always be found in our fridge, though, as it is a staple of my iguana's diet, therefor it commonly has found its way into cocktails at home for years.

Grogs in general are a favorite of mine for they're refreshing taste, generally lighter mouth feel, and tartness. I have seen some debates about What constitutes a Grog, but in the case of this cocktail, using a fruit from down under, I will go with that region's application of the word that covers any drink that has alcohol as a component. That being said, the Kiwi's Nest Grog is similar in flavor and draws from some common Grog ingredients.

This recipe is one i have not broken down to make a single drink, it essentially made three cocktails in the size glass you see in the photo.

the Kiwi's Nest Grog
2 oz. Rhum Clemente VSOP
2 oz. Cruzan Lt rum
1 oz. Coruba dark Jamaican rum
2 oz. homemade almond syrup (orgeat can be used)
3 oz. fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 oz. pimento liqueur
dash of Blood orange Bitters
2 Kiwifruit, cut in half
1 1/2 dispensed half lemon shells

Take 1 Kiwifruit half and squeeze fruit away from the skin into bottom of glass. Muddle the fruit to make a pulpy puree. Cover Kiwifruit puree with half dispensed lemon shell, shell side up. Add dash of Blood Orange Bitters, and cover with crushed ice. Shake all other ingredients together with ice, pour slowly into glass as not to disturb the lemon shell (which would cause puree to dispense into drink, making it pulpy). Garnish with Kiwifruit wedge on rim of glass.

The point of the lemon shell "nest" is to allow the Kiwifruit puree to flavor the drink, without making the cocktail gritty or chunky. This was the solution I came up with that evening as prior attempts to juice a kiwi by hand failed miserably, and drinks i have served in the past with the puree in them would have been much nicer just having the flavor of the fruit and not the pulp. Also, using the dispensed citrus shell adds flavor, a zesty flavor from the oils of the shell, which is called for in a number of other cocktails.

Forgot to add earlier, when the drink is finished, which seems to coincide with when most of the ice is gone, we who drank this cocktail that evening were able to cleanly flip the lemon shell with its pureed contents and remove it from the glass. We then were able to eat the pureed Kiwifruit from the "nest", which was a nice tart treat that subtly carried with it the flavor of the drink.

The photo above is not a good example of what a lovely presentation this drink has. Bad lighting and a glass with a lot of heavy black print is preventing the sight of the dispensed lemon shell dome, with traces of the Kiwifruit puree, at the bottom of the drink. This photo was taken that evening late at night, and required some alteration that caused it to further look muddy.

***a note to home mixologists, from what i have read lemon and lime skins can harbor bacteria and have traces of pesticides or other deposits from the water table, i always wash these and other fruits before using, particularly in the case of cocktails requiring the addition of a dispensed shell.

Hope you try one, and please feel free to comment back when you have.

Mystery Brown edition Kapriman goes up on for sale today.

2008-11-08T14:31:00.000-08:00

Had a good firing. The Mystery Brown edition of Kapriman, which is an edition of 5, goes up on my etsy store today. Kapriman, discussed on my first post here, holds approx. 34 oz. This release will be followed up by other color editions in the upcoming weeks.

Mystery Brown is a new color edition i will do for most of my releases. Its a fun concept, i have a collection container that i pour all different colors of glaze, usually the last bits of jars, into. The color will be different everytime, but I call it Mystery Brown because with a fairly even addition of most colors you will usually end up with some type of brown. The brown on this Kapriman is a rich toffee or caramel brown, with specks. The inside has spots of color that make up the brown you see, specifically spots of black, greenish-blue, and yellow. What makes this interesting as the maker of the mugs is that i have no idea what color they will be until they come out of the kiln; it may be an almost black-brown, a color borderline like a purple that is on the brown side, but it will always be a mystery brown. Brown will always have a place with my mugs, both because of the numerous shades of woods used for carving in Papua New Guinea, other Oceanic cultures, stateside manufacturers of "island" and "tropical" decor, not to mention its place as the most used color for tikimugs. What was a little surprising, being that so many mugs are brown, is that the Brown colored edition of my Torembi mug got the most requests and sold out first, and that i have had comments from collectors about they're preference for brown mugs in general. Brown, and the mystery of brown, is here at Ocea Otica to stay.
If you would like to get on an email list that i am compiling, with the intent of getting early notification of when Ocea Otica mugs go on sale, email me at junkexotica@gmail.com with the header "sign me up for Ocea Otica news." Otherwise, this blog will be the center for news on Ocea Otica. Thanks for looking.
junkhauler.etsy.com

Vintage Beauty Monster, an introduction

2008-11-07T17:38:00.000-08:00

the first, Wicked Lady Miss K

Here are the first of my Vintage Beauty Monster ceramic dead flower vases. I started this series last year, ideas conceived based on a group show of the same name that i was putting together at a gallery in Pasadena. I had to let the show go due to a move and some troubling times, but the name and idea stuck with me. It was from there that a few random occurrences transpired that influenced the creation of the series you see here. It started with inspiration that came when i saw the unadulterated glazed version of the vase at the ceramics studio i fire at. This beauty was from a vintage discontinued mold. The bust vase was so simple and eloquent. What really sold it for me was the hairdo, styled after the late 50's or early 60's, reminding me of both vixens from Hammer films and the beautiful comedians from Laugh In. From there i got visions of her done up as the classic monsters and sci-fi creatures from the period and earlier. Also need to throw in two other moments that helped breathe life into this series. I saw a blonde female vintage bust vase at a retro makeup store, one from the 60's, that had fired on gold. All this coincided with purchasing vintage hairdo magazines from the same period to give as a gift to a friend who is a hairstylist.

Lady Stein #1

Creatures like this were the ones i grew up loving, and was hoping to make when i got into "hollywood." My vision of hollywood, spurned on by older horror films and early printings of makeup how to books, was long gone when i got into the business. But here is a chance for me to create these classic characters. Making these lovely monsters brings me back to my early childhood attempts at doing makeup, reading through Dick Smith's Monster Makeup and Richard Corson's Stage Makeup with classic Universal horror films playing in the background.

Daylight #1

All these pieces are one of a kind. Unlike most of my other ceramic work, this original greenware comes from a production mold for the hobbyist( I sculpt and mold most of the stuff I make.) Using this vintage form as a base for my creations flexes the part of my brain that loves making art from found objects, and brings me back to my mischievous youth interest in painting and inking magazine covers to turn beauty to monster. From the pour out of the old mold, I hand detail the greenware, making each unique. I also mix my own underglaze colors, and glaze colors, without keeping notes or stocks of the colors, therefore insuring that each time something new is coming to the table, even when creating a number of the same character. Each of these beauty monsters then has either platinum or yellow gold accents that are fired on. The process is time consuming, and generally requires a minimum of three firings to complete. The insides are just as interesting, using various mixtures of "crystal" glazes that create wonderful effects that can not be duplicated by hand painted glazing alone.
So that gives you the background, fast forward to the last week of October when I finally set up an Etsy store and listed Zombie Lady #1. Listing her was a bit of an issue at home as my wife has laid claim to each of them as they are finished. This undead blonde was up and sold in time to make it to her new home in Washington by Halloween.

Zombie Lady #1 photo by Greg Burmann

***** on Nov.8th, around 6pm i will be putting up Lady Stein #1 for sale in my etsy store, here is the web address junkhauler.etsy.com

1st blog, upcoming release of Ocea Otica "Kapriman" mug

2008-11-05T11:54:00.000-08:00

So, as usual, way behind the technological times, i am finally getting a blog set up in place of a website.
I am finishing up my limited edition Ocea Otica Kapriman mug. This latest mug will be my first, and for me long awaited, foray into more matte glazes. Something I wish i had worked on earlier for my Torembi mug. Kapriman is based on a carving from the Kapriman region of Papua New Guinea.
If this is the first time you are seeing any of my PNG inspired work, or are new to the world of Oceanic Art or "tiki," welcome. I do not refer to many of my ceramic vessels as tiki purely because not all the imagery comes from cultures where tiki is a word in their vocabulary, nor do i use the word to describe images of wahines, rum barrels, skulls, etc. Tiki is not in the vocabulary of the many languages of Papua New Guinea, and is more commonly found in the languages of and culture of Polynesia. For those reveling in the cultures and art of Oceania the word tiki has become the umbrella term for mugs, paintings, modern carvings, etc. that derive their influence from Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia and beyond. Coming from a linguists stand point, as i understand it, the more recent use of the word tiki as this umbrella term in our lexicon is not to be seen as purely incorrect, but as evoltion in language . I add the observation about the word tiki because you will see my work referred to as tiki, and that I am always interested in the evoltion of a lexicon, but it is not intended to criticize people who use the word as an umbrella term. In the end, this information and the mugs are for appreciation and enjoyment.
So back to Kapriman, the image attached is of the molded sculpture. I had designed and sculpted this piece in 2007, but knowing i would not get to making the production mold on it for quite some time, i molded, cast it in resin, and set it aside. I stalled production on these mugs because photos of my first two test fired pieces are being used in an upcoming book on the subject matter of tiki mugs, and I wanted the photos i had taken to be fresh when seen in the book. I am currently finishing up glaze tests, and will be offering them for sale soon. Right now my thoughts are that there will be four editions, each edition being 5 mugs. I will hold onto the mold after the run so that for future shows i can do some one offs( one offs are one a kind pieces, either by the way they are finished or by addition of handbuilding), similar to my approach with the Torembi mug at the last Tonga Hut art show. That being said, the numbers on Kapriman will remain low, maybe 50 or so.