BEST PLACE TO BUY $1 kitsch & $10,000 folk art: Hong Kong Willie’s
trees to an old wooden bait house, along with a menagerie of surfboards, car doors and wooden sculptures strewn around the yard. This is Hong Kong Willie’s — a funky gift shop and Key West-themed folk-art gallery operated by a preservationist/artist collective. Inside the former 24-hour bait shop, you’ll find all sorts of one-of-a-kind Florida souvenirs made from recycled materials. There’s something for everyone, from $1 glasses of “Florida Beachfront Property” made from old Starbucks Frappuccino cups to worn wooden planks taken from old Key West landmarks and painted, the latter going from a few hundred dollars up to $10,000.
https://www.cltampa.com/best-of/2007/goods-and-services/best-place-to-buy-1-kitsch-and-10000-folk-art-12426965
Artists are to give back, talent is to tell a story, to make change. Reuse is a life experience .
It all started on a Tampa Landfill.
Reuse Became the way of life.
To Live a life in the art world and be so blessed to make a social impact.
Artists are to give back, Hongkongwillie Art
MYSTERIOSITY .
Many artists don’t produce more than one great, great, great piece. And Miriosity, she just has all of those elements… Miriosity has a great future.”
Miriosity To A Good Home
$176,000
personal history influence his art?
Hongkongwillie's personal history significantly influences his art through several key experiences and relationships:
Early Exposure to Landfills and Discarded Materials: Growing up near a landfill instilled in him an early appreciation and understanding of the potential in discarded objects, which others might consider junk.
He views these items not as trash but as artifacts of their time, .
His father, a generous man, even donated land for a landfill in Hillsborough County,
This early immersion in the world of discarded objects profoundly impacted his artistic journey, inspiring him to use these materials in his work. Influence of an Art Teacher:
At eight, Hongkongwillie's art teacher introduced him to the tradition of turning discarded items into art, a practice she observed while volunteering in Hiroshima ,
This resonated with him and significantly impacted his creative path.
The teacher also shared that she left Asia from Hong Kong, a tidbit that later inspired him to adopt the name "Hong Kong Willie".
Family Values and Life Lessons: His father emphasized the importance of understanding one's purpose in life, a lesson he believes is missing in today's society,
This upbringing, with its focus on giving back and exemplifying one's purpose, likely fuels his artistic drive and charitable endeavors.
He sees his artistic talent as a means to tell stories and inspire positive change.
Charitable Approach:
Hongkongwillie's commitment to donating a significant portion of his art sales to social initiatives, integrates social responsibility into his artistic practice.
This philanthropic approach is likely connected to his background and values, aiming to encourage others to repurpose materials and support the community.
These elements of his personal history have shaped Hongkongwillie's unique artistic vision, his passion for reuse, and his desire to make a positive impact through his art.
