TIKI LORE
Carving is one of man’s oldest known art forms. And tikis, typically represented as stone or wood carvings in humanoid form, have a long and rich heritage. From the pagan carvings of Europe to the totems of the American Northwest, tiki styles have flourished since ancient times, carved by tribal artisans around the world.
However, the most enduring style of ancient figure carving is perhaps that of the Polynesians. Easter Island monoliths, Maori pendants, and the ancient Hawaiian poles that marked sacred areas originated in the myths of their respective cultures.
Tiki is known as the first man to the Maori, as well as the Tahitians, who called him Ti’i. To Raratongans, Tiki is the guardian of the underworld (Avaiki). In Hawaiian, “tiki” is translated as Ki’i.
The proliferation & popularity of tikis has grown into its own kitschy cool subculture, propelled by restaurants like Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vics in the 1950s. Today Tiki Culture attracts a loyal following of tikiphiles and fans of the south seas décor and lifestyle.
However, the most enduring style of ancient figure carving is perhaps that of the Polynesians. Easter Island monoliths, Maori pendants, and the ancient Hawaiian poles that marked sacred areas originated in the myths of their respective cultures.
Tiki is known as the first man to the Maori, as well as the Tahitians, who called him Ti’i. To Raratongans, Tiki is the guardian of the underworld (Avaiki). In Hawaiian, “tiki” is translated as Ki’i.
The proliferation & popularity of tikis has grown into its own kitschy cool subculture, propelled by restaurants like Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vics in the 1950s. Today Tiki Culture attracts a loyal following of tikiphiles and fans of the south seas décor and lifestyle.
ABOUT
Some people knit. Others paint. MFM carves. Tikis. Hordes of them... each one completely different, and featuring a generous amount of expression and detail. For MFM, it's all about the faces.
Growing up in Long Beach, California, Matthew Frank Merrill is the youngest of four boys. His childhood was filled with seaside pursuits and watersports ...sailing, swimming, and water polo. When he was 5 years old, Matt’s Dad and brothers carved an avocado seed, darkened the living room lights and lured the little guy into their lair. Matt was so profoundly affected by the sight of this “shrunken head” that he grew up with an innate fear of tikis (and cannibals). Later in life Matt was turned on to the avocado carving trick and decided to confront his tiki fears by making them himself. MFM is self-taught, with an educational background in Fine Arts. Each tiki that he carves is done freestyle and is limited only by his imagination and acquisition of exotic hardwoods.
Growing up in Long Beach, California, Matthew Frank Merrill is the youngest of four boys. His childhood was filled with seaside pursuits and watersports ...sailing, swimming, and water polo. When he was 5 years old, Matt’s Dad and brothers carved an avocado seed, darkened the living room lights and lured the little guy into their lair. Matt was so profoundly affected by the sight of this “shrunken head” that he grew up with an innate fear of tikis (and cannibals). Later in life Matt was turned on to the avocado carving trick and decided to confront his tiki fears by making them himself. MFM is self-taught, with an educational background in Fine Arts. Each tiki that he carves is done freestyle and is limited only by his imagination and acquisition of exotic hardwoods.
DON'T QUIT YOUR DAY JOB, MATT:
Although carving is Matt's passion, it does not come close to paying the bills. Matt currently holds a Master's Unlimited Tonnage license and is sailing as Chief Officer on the containership M/V Manulani for Matson Navigation Company. He has been a member of International Organization of Master's, Mates, and Pilots for 25 years and he still loves working on ships. "The work is great," says Matt, "but it is the time off that I enjoy the most." Matt works a schedule of 70 days onboard and 70 days off. This is how he is able to live in a great place like Kalispell, Montana. Since carving isn't Matt's full time job, he has to fit it into down times on the ship and when he gets home. This is the reason he is unable to sell tikis through this site.
TIKI OASIS
Matt started carving about 2005 and has been going gang busters ever since. Matt was carving so many tikis that Barb decided they needed to start getting rid of them. Barb searched the internet and found Tiki Oasis - a tiki conference that has been held in San Diego for over 20 years. Barb and Matt have been going to the show since 2011.
WOOD
The medium of wood as it relates to art is much more complex than selecting a type of canvas on which to paint. With painting & drawing, you are placing lines, color, dimension, texture on a blank slate .... Building upon it. Adding to it.
When using wood as your canvas, you are cutting into, reshaping, taking material away from the piece. Actually changing the medium itself. Unlike clay, another shape-changing medium, wood is hard and seemingly unyielding. Until you bring a few tools and vision. Dimensionality.
The variety of different woods is extensive, after all, the world is filled with a variety of trees; however, not all are suitable for carving. Following is a short list of wood types that Matt uses as his ‘canvases.’
Bass – Eastern Canada & US. Light, soft, weak, pale brown; fine, straight, grain, uniform in texture.
Koa - Hawaiian islands – curvy and wavy grain, heartwood is commonly reddish brown, but varies. Highly lustrous & prized for making musical instruments.
Madrona – Pacific Northwest; one of the harder Washington and Oregon native woods, reddish pink with streaks of color throughout. Also pale and light.
Padauk – Hard, heavy, dense, strong. The heartwood varies in color from rich crimson, shades of red, to brown,sometimes with streaks of red, purple, or black.
Walnut - Canada & USA – One of the most prized hardwoods; ranges from deep brown to almost purple brown, open pored wood.
Yew – the yew is one of the longest-lived trees on earth. Used throughout history –spears , longbows, religious significance - symbols of immortality/doom
Zebra – Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay - Heartwood is light golden brown to reddish-brown with irregular black & brown streaks. Irregular wavy grain . Hard, dense & heavy.
Ebony - Africa
Freewood - Definitely my favorite
When using wood as your canvas, you are cutting into, reshaping, taking material away from the piece. Actually changing the medium itself. Unlike clay, another shape-changing medium, wood is hard and seemingly unyielding. Until you bring a few tools and vision. Dimensionality.
The variety of different woods is extensive, after all, the world is filled with a variety of trees; however, not all are suitable for carving. Following is a short list of wood types that Matt uses as his ‘canvases.’
Bass – Eastern Canada & US. Light, soft, weak, pale brown; fine, straight, grain, uniform in texture.
Koa - Hawaiian islands – curvy and wavy grain, heartwood is commonly reddish brown, but varies. Highly lustrous & prized for making musical instruments.
Madrona – Pacific Northwest; one of the harder Washington and Oregon native woods, reddish pink with streaks of color throughout. Also pale and light.
Padauk – Hard, heavy, dense, strong. The heartwood varies in color from rich crimson, shades of red, to brown,sometimes with streaks of red, purple, or black.
Walnut - Canada & USA – One of the most prized hardwoods; ranges from deep brown to almost purple brown, open pored wood.
Yew – the yew is one of the longest-lived trees on earth. Used throughout history –spears , longbows, religious significance - symbols of immortality/doom
Zebra – Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay - Heartwood is light golden brown to reddish-brown with irregular black & brown streaks. Irregular wavy grain . Hard, dense & heavy.
Ebony - Africa
Freewood - Definitely my favorite
Philosophy
How long does it take you to carve that? This is the most common question I get. I don't know if this is a challenge or genuine curiosity. I don't keep track of my carvings this way. I carve something until I get bored with it or don't want to take on the challenge of a more difficult aspect of it - like hands. The hands usually start out as blobs that don't seem like they will have enough material to do what I want them to do so I put the carving aside. I will start carving something new and different and get obsessed with it until I get to a part I don't finish. I will put this one aside. Later I will pick up the carving that needs hands and start working on it. Usually I will need to take a picture or do some thinking about how it should look. I have had carvings sit around my shop for years unfinished. Usually these have been obscured by other carvings or supplies and I have totally forgotten about them. For some reason I will start working on these again and maybe even finish them. My carving space is littered with necklaces and earrings and small carvings. I have to move them around to make space for new stuff. I have to worry about them when I am vacuuming shavings and dust. When I am finally tired of looking at these little guys I will drop them in a "finished" peanut jar to pass off to Barb. How much time is that? 2 years? 3 years? I don't understand the question.
Anything Goes: I was once in a Woodcraft store in Spokane, Washington and one of the employees asked me what kind of work I did. I told him I do wood carvings of tikis. After explaining what tikis are he asked if I carved by hand - meaning knifes and chisels. I told him I use anything that will manipulate wood in the fastest manner possible. He said this is cheating. In my book cheating would be to use a CNC machine and a computer and to sell this as a wood carving. I would use a CNC machine if I had the money and thought it would get me where I wanted to be faster. You know, rough it out and then I could get to work on it. I don't believe there is anyway to cheat in carving, really. The only way to cheat when carving is to have under paid Filipinos do your carving for you and to sell it as your own. Other than this, everthing is free game. I use chisels and knives, rotary tools, sanders, hand saws, chain saws, band saws, angle grinders, rasps, fire, gravity and whatever works. The idea of "cheating" is ridiculous.
Anything Goes: I was once in a Woodcraft store in Spokane, Washington and one of the employees asked me what kind of work I did. I told him I do wood carvings of tikis. After explaining what tikis are he asked if I carved by hand - meaning knifes and chisels. I told him I use anything that will manipulate wood in the fastest manner possible. He said this is cheating. In my book cheating would be to use a CNC machine and a computer and to sell this as a wood carving. I would use a CNC machine if I had the money and thought it would get me where I wanted to be faster. You know, rough it out and then I could get to work on it. I don't believe there is anyway to cheat in carving, really. The only way to cheat when carving is to have under paid Filipinos do your carving for you and to sell it as your own. Other than this, everthing is free game. I use chisels and knives, rotary tools, sanders, hand saws, chain saws, band saws, angle grinders, rasps, fire, gravity and whatever works. The idea of "cheating" is ridiculous.
