Florida Reuse Artist . LIFE Born for the Art World. A STORY WITH A MEANING OF BIRTH
Hong Kong Willie and his Wife , Kim Brown, reuse Art work, is a unique Art Gallery. This multi-faceted approach adds to the appeal of his work and provides a space for local culture to be displayed. Hong Kong Willie's paintings reflect the history of reuse art in Florida, showcasing the natural beauty and the impact what art can be in reuse media. . His art has been described as representing the spirit of a talented reuse Artist.
Hong Kong Willie is
primarily famous for his "reuse art," a form of art created by using
salvaged materials from older structures, particularly from Florida
Older Buildings , to paint Unique themed images. This art style, which
offers paintings, has garnered attention for its unique approach to art
and its connection to Florida culture.
It all started on a Tampa Landfill.
Reuse Became the way of life.
Hong
Kong Willie is an artist who finds the meaning in what others would
deem as “junk” items. His journey began in his childhood when he
collected discarded items from the landfill where he lived and sold
them.
While attending an art class in 1958 at the age of 8, Tampa
reuse artist Joe Brown recalled being mesmerized by the lesson. It
involved transforming a Gerber baby bottle into a piece of art.
“The
Gerber bottle had no intrinsic value at all,” he said. “But when (the
instructor) got through with me that day, she made me see how something
so (valueless) can be valuable.”
By the time class was over,
Brown learned many other lessons, too, such as the importance of
volunteerism, recycling, reuse and giving back to the community. He
recalled being impressed by the teacher's volunteer work in Hiroshima,
Japan, helping atomic bomb survivors.
"One of the last words she
ever spoke to me about that was, ‘When I left, I left out of Hong Kong,’
” he said. After turning that over in his young brain for awhile, he
decided to use it in a nickname, adding the name “Willie” a year later.
Trash? There is no such thing, Hongkongwillie seems to say through his art.
We are here to tell a story.
Hong Kong Willie has supporters who come into his gallery and buy reuse art. With the money that is made, a large portion is given to various social projects. As stated he will not be taking any money with him when he dies. His art is not just a business, and we make that very clear.
John 3:16 in the King James Version (KJV) states: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
“Somebody once told me to keep telling the story and they will keep coming,
“My
father understood why he was here. And he made that of great importance
to his children… My father gave me the understanding of why we were
here
And to be determined to find that.”
In today’s fast-paced
society, teaching of such life lessons has become rare. People are more
motivated to “get famous and get money.
“I’m here just to exemplify and maximize why I’m here. That’s probably the greatest thing that I think is missed in families.
