Night of the Tiki: The Art of Shag, Schmaltz, and Selected Primitive Oceanic Carvings (Hardcover)

by Jeff Fox (Author), Doug Harvey (Author), Doug Nason (Editor) "The tiki's ability to transform itself into so many different forms while still holding onto a tiny part of its original meaning has allowed it..." (more)
Key Phrases: vinyl paint, Papua New Guinea, Asmat Region, Oceanic Arts (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Night of the Tiki: The Art of Shag Schmaltz and Selected Primitive Oceanic Carvings represents a genuine highwater mark in the current Polynesian revival, bring in the best of present and past tiki Americana and art together with selected pieces of indigenous Oceania. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author
Douglas Nason is an anthropologist with a deep interest in art and culture. A peripatetic explorer with a penchant for two passions: the ultraprimitive and the ultracontemporary, Nason uses both writing and photography to explore and document the ancient and modern worlds. He is a curator and coowner of the Copro/Nason Gallery in Culver City, CA. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Last Gasp (September 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0867195363
• ISBN-13: 978-0867195361
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,520,262 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For the die-hard tiki fan, August 17, 2002

By	Whirled Peas "stooge4tunes" (Pacific Northwest, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night of the Tiki: The Art of Shag, Schmaltz, and Selected Primitive Oceanic Carvings (Paperback)

If you're a die-hard fan of tiki culture and art, this book will make a nice addition to your collection, but I've seen better. The book was filled with a LOT of photos of ethnic carvings... many of them not too tiki-like in nature. The back of the book, however, has several terrific, whimsical Shag art prints, so that makes it worth a look.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tiki Book for All Seasons, December 4, 2001

By	Jolene Myers (West Covina, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Night of the Tiki: The Art of Shag, Schmaltz, and Selected Primitive Oceanic Carvings (Paperback)

This is the best tiki book I have ever read, period.

Finally a book about tiki that is both entertaining, informative, and visually stunning. It approaches tiki from several different viewpoints, putting them all into perspective: the lounge-hipster scene, Art, Anthropology, etc.

The author is able to pull this off becuase he is a Cultural Anthropologist and a major player in the "New Brow" art scene as an owner of one of the most important LA area galleries in this catagory.

He and Shag, whose art is shown liberally in the book, have worked together for years.

The same can be said of his relationship with Leroy Schmaltz, the man who is responsible for much of what we in the Continental U.S. view as defining "Tiki", through his designs for Trader Vic's, et al. Much of his work is shown in the book.

The author is a world traveler, collector, and skilled photographer. His cultural photos are shown together with an abundant sampling of the authentic native artwork he has collected over the years.

Anyone interested in tiki from ANY standpoint, will certainly enjoy this book (even if they do nothing but look at the pictures).

5.0 out of 5 stars Samples of Tiki Art Aren't Just Props At Disney Land, June 4, 2009

By	James R. Holland "Author of Adventure Photogr... (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Night of the Tiki: The Art of Shag, Schmaltz and Selected Primitive Oceanic Carvings (Paperback)

Most Americans only know of Tiki Art because of a visit to the Enchanted Tiki Room at Walt Disney's Adventure Land or from dining at "Trader Vic's" or from reading about or visiting Easter Island, Tahiti, New Guinea, Hawaii or other South Pacific Island.
This is a fascinating coffee table book that doubles as the catalog for an art exhibition "Night of the Tiki: The Art of Shag, Schmaltz and Selected Oceanic Carvings" that graced the Copro/Nason Gallery in Culver City, CA, from July 14-August 18, 2001.
The book is beautifully done and is packed with valuable information about South Pacific and Polynesian Art. This reviewer has always made a point of visiting both the Egyptian and Oceanic Exhibits during every visit to the nearby Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Some of the art of both those cultures share some similarities. Many of the small wood and painted figures depicting every day life in the world of Polynesia resemble the funerary models of Egyptians doing the chores of every day life that were placed in Egyptian tombs to provide a work force to serve and provide for the departed throughout eternity. To mention the resemblance between the huge stone heads of Easter Island and ancient Egypt hardly has to be made.
The book's section "Irian Jaya" ( which is particular location) includes many of these small scenes and depictions of fully costumed figures rowing a canoe, eating fish and drinking or blowing horns is particularly interesting. Although the book doesn't say so, these relatively small wooden sculptures may have been intended to serve a similar function as the Egyptian Funerary Models. The primitive examples of Tiki art that are included in the book are magnificent.
Obviously a labor of love, the quality of this book is indeed impressive. No expense was spared. It's a museum quality production.
"The art of Shag (Josh Agle), Schmaltz and Selected Primitive Oceanic Carvings represents a genuine high-water mark in the current Polynesian revival, bringing the best of present and post tiki Americana and art together with selected piece of Indigenous Oceania."
The book provides insight to the art that westerners first came in contact when they reached the remotest sections of the South Pacific. Paul Gaughain's art and sections of his diary will instantly become more understandable. Some of the work will remind one of the works of American David L. Hostetler's folk art wood carvings. The book and artwork bring the entire history of Tiki art up-to-date and include the works of many contemporary practitioners of the art form, with special attention to Leroy Schmaltz's woodcarvings. I particularly enjoyed seeing him at work and examining his "Yipwan" figures. "Yipwan" figures are also part of the work of contemporary artist working under the name of "Shag." I suppose that "pen name" is meant to be funny, since Josh Agle is a southern California illustrator who uses humor in his paintings of Tiki subjects. He often paints cartoon-like series using Acrylic and Vinyl painting on board. He loves setting his work in barroom motifs. Most viewers have probably seen his illustrations but not realized who the artist was. The book is beautifully printed and includes reproductions of artworks, but also photographs of the artists at work and scenes from Polynesia. The colorful former headhunters of Papua New Guinea and some of their Tiki work is pictured. This is a fun book.