Tampa Art Galleries Videos . Updated 10 / 27 / 2024

Hongkongwillie Videos

Reuse artist.
Hong Kong Willie.Tampa Art Galleries. Artist of the 60’s in the now. Acclaimed Famous Florida folk artist, Living the Life of using objects for many uses. Follow the travels of life.

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Tampa Art Galleries VideosArtist Born for this time, Lived on a landfill as a child. Reuse Became the way of life. To read the story from the inception of the Name Hong Kong Willie. Famed, by the humble statements from the Key West Citizen, viable art from reuse has found its time. To Live a life in the art world and be so blessed to make a social impact. Artists are to give back, talent is to tell a story, to make change. Reuse is a life experience.
  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, talent is to tell a story, to make change. Reuse is a life experience 

It,(was the dump) that had all this media, and a young enterprising mind. Not enough time to capture it all.

 A short moment of time Hong Kong Willie

The first time i can remember, The Florida Keys. The long road , narrow water on both sides. Beach, not to my understanding. Key West, Duval St, only what tourists see, was my first impression. WOW, that would change

 i received a phone call from Al in Ramrod Key, a Florida Key. A Key that is about 27 miles from Key West. Al: a rocker, drummer, out there kind a guy. Al and i met in a funny way. Al living near some small town in Massachusetts also having this cool place in the Florida Keys.
Artist have this draw to the Keys, Why, Well it took this road to discover. Al now living in Ramrod, calling to tell what had happen in the Isle of Ramrod. Not to mention Cat, oh i forgot, Cat is how i met Al.

Al, someone that, well to say what a friend. Some nights sleeping on his pool table. and not far is No Name Pub, well there you go, pub, by any other name spells trouble. Well contrary to your disbelief, what a place of history. This is where it begins.or When its begins.

This once remote Key, NO NAME KEY,NO NAME PUB, remote, to say the
least, pub , when seeing the place, everything you can believe, and more,
just from the appearance. Now no matter what you have heard second
thoughts still occur.. Its still time turn around, not to night. The
Rainbow Trail by Zane Grey, was spoken here, my first exposure to the
days of Zane Grey, oh I'm getting ahead of myself. No Name Pub, a Zayne
Grey second office in the Keys, later to be one of mine. No Name Pub,
the history, the wild west, well, great writers, why they come here, No
Name Pub. Real artist, Real Treasure hunters, Fisherman, and the trade no
one saw, all came. No one made a big deal who came or left.

It was part of the beginning for the art support. A meeting place for the who's who in the world of the Keys.
Egos left a the door.
Appreciating that you did not get lost in that world .
Artist that had made it and willing to give you support. .
This was a place that I will always remember for the time I sharpen my artist skills..

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Hong Kong Willie. The name of the artist. In 1958 his mother took Hong Kong Willie to an art class. The name started then. An art teacher when doing crafts out of Gerber baby bottles, made a statement, in Hong Kong reuse was common. At that time he thought this was very interesting. His father had low-land, at that time landfills were common also. The county had told Hong Kong Willie’s father, it was safe, but as we now know this was not so. Something can come from bad to be good. Hong Kong Willie the name came from that art teacher impressing on that young mind that objects made for one use could be for many other uses. Hong Kong for the neat concept. Willie for an American name. So for many years Hong Kong Willie had a life of reuse. Hong Kong Willie saw forms in a different light, His life now was meaningful, knowing this was and would be his life. Art made from found objects, making less of a footprint on this world. Art and art teachers, HOW IMPORTANT. For the ones that have, and the ones who have not. Media can be found. Now 50 years later, we know now being green is important. We need to look at this very carefully. Our children and our world need a different understanding. Objects can be used in many different ways. Hong Kong Willie the tons of objects in his life that have been used, without much change, So for that art teacher what she did for my life. Thank You. I still have the Gerber baby bottle till this day. Hong Kong Willie.

Tampa Art Gallery

University of South Florida

Florida Focus

Google Car

Google

Will Rearrange the World.

FAMOUS

Tampa

Art Galleries

Google Truck

Helicopter lands on weird

"GOOGLE TRUCK"

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Hong Kong Willie

Preservation Art Group

Florida recycling artist . Updated 10 / 27 / 2024

 

Art Hong Kong Willie's way

 Published in TB2
BY SOHINI LAHIRI
Growing up in Tampa, I spent a period of time fascinated by a quirky, eye-catching landmark at Fletcher Avenue and Interstate 75. This was also the period of time I spent obsessed with making binoculars out of toilet paper rolls and necklaces out of pop tops. To me, this sight was the epitome of similar creative craziness, and I often found myself looking for it during car journeys, hoping it hadn’t disappeared overnight.
But time passes and so does the urge for pop-top necklaces, and observant eyes don’t notice the same sights. It wasn’t until recently that I once again took note of the scene, with its broken down orange helicopter, a tree made of what seems to be indestructible balloons and a blue-and-white house covered with trash remade into art.
It’s the home of Hong Kong Willie, artist of reuse.
I finally paid a visit to this art gallery after many years of wondering about the story behind it. The pavement leading to the door is painted with handprints and splatters, the store edged with upside down Coke bottles. Streams of lobster buoys hang from the roof and also make up the “tree” I marveled at so often from my car window.
Various shoes, bottles, clocks and signs are glued to the side of the store, and there’s a tribute to Sept. 11 off to the side. No one seemed to be home, so I called the number on the “WE’RE OPEN” sign, which brought a middle-aged man in a bright Hawaiian shirt from behind the store.
After a few basic questions, Joe Brown begins to open up about the history surrounding his art.
Brown, better known as Hong Kong Willie, says he was an artist from the start. “Everyone is born an artist,” he said. “However some are granted the gift of being able to express that art.”
As a young boy, his mother decided to send him to art school, which he says changed the course of his life forever.
At the age of 8, Brown recalls being heavily influenced by the lessons, which included transforming a Gerber baby bottle, something with no real value, into a piece of art. His teacher had spent an enormous amount of time and effort in Hiroshima, Japan, helping those affected by the atomic bombs. Brown learned many lessons about recycling from this teacher, who had come from Hong Kong. Brown added an American name, Willie, to Hong Kong for his nickname Hong Kong Willie.
While Brown grew up to be an artist, he left the world of mainstream art to return to his background in technology.
“But on Nov. 13th, 1981 … on a Friday at 1:30 in the afternoon, I had an epiphany,” Brown says. “I was at a friend’s house right across the street,” pausing to point at a row of apartments across from his store, “and a series of events led me to rejoin the art world.”
With the help of two other artists, Brown set up his business in the Florida Keys in the early 1980s, then moved it to Tampa. Together, they believed that they were predestined for the Green Movement, and have been making art out of recyclables for close to 30 years.
How’s business? He smiles. “It’s pretty wild.”
Inside, Hong Kong Willie’s art includes glossy pieces of driftwood restored and painted with beautiful landscapes and kernels of truth, some of the gorgeous work priced in the six figures. But there’s also a wide collection of handmade bags, wooden sculptures and sassy bracelets for more moderate prices.
A portion of the proceeds go to benefit the Green Movement, Brown says.
With a laid-back swagger, Brown continues. “We live pretty minimally. And all the funds we get from donations and our art sales are delegated to green projects.”
I’m not sure what I was expecting when I decided to visit Hong Kong Willie. Certainly not the breathtaking art inside, and definitely not the history behind it. I’m feeling thick-headed for not visiting years ago, and say so.
Brown offers a last bit of insight:
“I’m a big believer in predestination and timing. If someone is not ready to view art, the door is closed. Every piece of art that is made, and every project we do is done for a reason. It doesn’t matter if that reason shows up the next day, or walks in six years later; every piece of art will find a home.”

FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
S.L. GIMBEL FOUNDATION.
IN THIS EDITION OF "WEDU ARTS PLUS,Hongkongwillie

ART FOR SALE MYSTERIOSITY 
Florida Recycling Artist., HONG KONG WILLIE

 



$176,000 U.S. Dollars
  Hong Kong Willie Gallery

Florida Recycling Artist,raised on Tampa city dump,like living in the Penthouse in the upper east side.

Blue Marlin Dream of Key West.

$225,000  Hong Kong Willie Art

Gunn Highway Landfill

The Gunn Highway Landfill is located

off Gunn Highway in Tampa, Hillsborough

County, Florida. The county operated the landfill

 as a trench-type facility for the disposal

of MSW from 1958 to 1962.

Hongkongwillie born for reuse .

Famous Green Artist . Updated 1/1/2025

Sometimes, it’s the smallest experiences that have the biggest impact on a person’s life.

Watching the Paint ,a Great exploding of Colors from the truck hit the pit. What a memory. Was this the beginnings of Green for i.

Reuse artist.
Hong Kong Willie.Famous Green Artist. Artist of the 60’s in the now. Acclaimed Famous Florida folk artist.

By Tristram DeRoma 

The Story Behind the Eye-Catching Art at I-75 Exit 266 Tampa Florida

Folk artist Joe Brown, better known as "Hong Kong Willie," makes art with a message at his home/studio near I-75 Exit 266 Tampa Florida

 

Sometimes, it’s the smallest experiences that have the biggest impact on a person’s life.
While attending an art class in 1958 at the age of 8, Tampa folk 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.
You've probably seen Hong Kong Willie's eye-catching home/gallery/studio at Fletcher Avenue and Interstate 75. But what is the story of the man behind all those buoys and discarded objects turned into art?
Brown practiced his creative skills through his younger years. But as an adult, he managed to amass a small fortune working in the materials management industry. By the the '80s, he left the business world and decided to concentrate on his art. He spent some years in the Florida Keys honing his craft and building his reputation as a folk artist. He also bought some land in Tampa near Morris Bridge Road and Fletcher Avenue where he and his family still call home.
Brown purchased the land just after the entrances and exits to I-75 were built. He said he was once offered more than $1 million for the land by a restaurant. He turned it down, he said, preferring instead to make part of the property into a studio and gallery for the creations he and his family put together.
And all of it is made of what most people would consider “trash.” Pieces of driftwood, burlap bags, doll heads, rope — anything that comes Brown’s way becomes part of his vocabulary of expression, and, in turn, becomes something else, which makes a tour of his property somewhat of a visual adventure. What at first seems like a random menagerie of glass, driftwood and pottery suddenly comes together in one's brain to form something completely different. One moment nothing, the next a powerful statement about 9/11.
One Man's Trash ...
Trash? There is no such thing, Brown seems to say through his art.
He keeps a blog about his art at hongkongwillie.blogspot.com..

In his shop, he has fashioned many smaller items out of driftwood, burlap bags and other materials into signs, purses, totes, bird feeder hangars and yard sculptures.
He sells a lot to the regular influx of University of South Florida parents and students every year who are are at first intrigued by the “buoy tree” and the odd-looking building they see as they take Exit 266 off I-75.
Brown Sells More Than Art
Of course, the real locals know Brown’s place for the quality of his worms.
If there’s one thing that Brown knows does well in the ground, it’s the Florida redworm, something he enthusiastically promotes, selling the indigenous species to customers for use in their compost piles. Some of his customers say his worms are just as good at the end of a fishing hook, though.
“To be honest, what made me come here is that they had scriptures on the top of his bait cans,” said customer John Brin. “Plus, they have good service. They’re nice and they’re kind, and they treat you like family.”
Though Brin knows Brown sells them mostly for composting, he said they are great for catching blue gill, sand perch and other local favorites. He also added that he likes getting his worms from Brown “because his bait stays alive longer than any other baits I’ve used.”
For prices and amounts, he has another blog dedicated just to worms.
Of course, many people also stop by to buy the smaller pieces of art that he and his family create: purses made of burlap, welcome signs made of driftwood, planters and other items lining the walls of his store.
He’s also helped put his mark on the decor of local establishments too, such as Gaspar’s Patio, 8448 N. 56th st.
Owner Jimmy Ciaccio said that when it came time to redecorate the restaurant several years ago, there was only one person to call for the assignment, and that was his good friend Brown.
"I’ve known Joe all my life, and we always had a good chemistry together,” Ciaccio said. "He’s very creative and fun to be around, and that’s how it all came about.”
Ciaccio says he still gets compliments all the time for the restaurant’s atmosphere he created using the “trash” supplied by Brown. He describes the style as a day at the beach, like a visit to Old Key West. “They’re so inspired, they want to decorate their own homes this way,” he said.
It’s that kind of testimony that makes Brown feel good, knowing that others, too, are inspired to create instead of throw away when they see his work. He simply lets his work speak for itself.
“Somebody once told me to keep telling the story and they will keep coming," he said, "and they always do."Florida, Florida Focus,Fletcher and 75 .

Black Bird of Key Largo

$98,000 ,  To buy Contact Hongkongwillie

"Black Bird of Key Largo"

The allurement of the winds blowing in the palm trees and the moon shining through and the "Black Bird of Key Largo" looking upon.
Hong Kong Willie



**HONG KONG WILLIE artist Kim Brown, chose aged Florida sawmill stock as canvas. Recovered Brass Hanger: Key West lobster trap rigging. Originally connects and suspends rigging of spiny lobster traps in Key West waters. Candy-like appearance due to multiple protective layers. Assigned number in artist register by Fisherman ID tag, corresponding burn-etched # rear of piece. Key recovered by Robert Jordan, acclaimed treasure hunter: also in identification of piece and artist.


Dimensions:
24" L
8" W
4" H
Weight: 17+ LB

Red Wigglers+Red Worms+ Florida+Worm Casting for Sale Google Maps . Updated 8 / 19 / 2024

Google Map Red Wigglers+Red Worms

Thank you for your interest in Florida Red Worms. We are a Company that specializing in a native Red worms to the U.S.  Vermicomposting with native Red Worms is a safe composting approach. Red Worms are great for turning your food left overs into compost.Google Maps Red Wigglers

In Florida Hongkongwillie worm Farm sells a Native Red Worm to Florida. This worm is is part of a solution for eliminating part of your waste going to landfills in Florida. Vermicomposting is the process of using worms and micro-organisms to turn kitchen waste into a black, earthy-smelling, nutrient-rich humus. This possess is a inexpensive way to compost and in return organic matter into rich soil.  People in Tampa interested in composting   have visited Hongkongwillie worm Farm for over 30 years.  Hong Kong Willie worm Farm in Tampa started in 1965,from Hongkongwillie living  on a landfill as a child in Tampa on Gunn Hwy. This making a large impact on his life. Composting with worms  can reduce a large amount of our waste that go to Landfills. .


12212 Morris Bridge Rd
Tampa, FL 33637 

Hours
Mon 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Tue 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Wed 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thu 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Fri 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sat 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sun Closed

 813 770 4794
We Sell by size of Red worm,which are large.. The reason why we don’t sell by thousands or use this term is because it can be confusing. To explain, a thousand grains of sand is one thing, or a pound of sand is a something else.When ordering Red worms by the thousand expect worm size to be smaller than a needle. Selling large worms which are like a chicken ready to lay eggs and stress less. Our  Red Worm Farm Started in 1965. Any question call 813 770 4794 

 A container of  24 adult worms is $ 5.50

We sell a Florida Red Worm that is native to Florida.

.

Studies have shown that invasive worms (Eisenia foetida, or"European Night crawlers). Their voracious appetites and reproductive rates (Eisenia foetida, or"European Night crawlers) have been known to upset the delicate balance of the hardwood forests by consuming the leaf litter too quickly. cause natural  impact on the environment.

Note We sell a Florida Red Worm that is native to Florida.

WE DO NOT SELL

Eisenia foetida, or"European Night crawlers."are non native worms,

CAUTION IN BUYING THESE WORMS,Eisenia foetida, or"European Night crawlers."are non native worms,
Studies have shown that invasive worms (Eisenia foetida, or"European Night crawlers). Their voracious appetites and reproductive rates (Eisenia foetida, or"European Night crawlers) have been known to upset the delicate balance of the hardwood forests by consuming the leaf litter too quickly. cause natural  impact on the environment. 

Eisenia foetida

CAUTION IN BUYING THESE WORMS, Eisenia foetida, or"European Night crawlers."are non native worms,  Note We sell a Florida Red Worm that is native to Florida.

Eisenia foetida, or"European Night crawlers."are non native worms,This is why we
with any non-native species, it is important not to allow them to reach the wild. Their voracious appetites and reproductive rates (especially among the red wigglers) have been known to upset the delicate balance of the hardwood forests by consuming the leaf litter too quickly. This event leaves too little leaf letter to slowly incubate the hard shelled nuts and leads to excessive erosion as well as negatively affecting the pH of the soil. So, do your best to keep them confined!

Note We sell a Florida Red Worm that is native to Florida.

WE DO NOT SELL

Eisenia foetida, or"European Night crawlers."are non native worms,

CAUTION IN BUYING THESE WORMS,Eisenia foetida, or"European Night crawlers."are non native worms,

Eisenia foetida

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eisenia fetida, known under various common names, including redworms, brandling worms, tiger worms and red wiggler worms, are a species of earthworm adapted to decaying organic material. They thrive in rotting vegetation, compost, and manure; they are epigeal. They are rarely found in soil, instead like Lumbricus rubellus they prefer conditions where other worms cannot survive. They are used for vermicomposting. They are native to Europe, but have been introduced (both intentionally and unintentionally) to every other continent except Antarctica, occasionally threatening native species.

Worm Castings 
Call 813 770 4794


Worm Castings
It takes Years to build true Worm Castings,not a month. Our Worm Castings take 5 years. It is critical what is used in the process. No GMO GRAINS,NO NEWS PAPPER,NO SOURSE THAT HAS Pesticides,Herbicides,or fungicide. NO MANURE FROM ANY SOURCE THAT USE ANY COMERICAL FEED,NO HORSE STABLE MANURE ,FOR THEY USE MEDCATION IN WORMING THE HORSES,(WITH ALMOST 99% DO).
5 Gallon Buckets aprox 35 lbs .$45.00

Our Adress is 12212 Morris Bridge Rd Tampa Florida 33637. Look for us at I 75 Exit 266 Tampa
If you compost with contaminated material toxins build up. Grains ,Lawn clippings,vegetable mater from commercial growing operations or Lawns carry excessive amounts of Pesticides,Herbicides which in turn kill the composting Worms
Contaminated Worm Castings. Toxins might be lurking in that Worm Castings you’re about to buy?
The NOP initially proposed setting a strict upper limit for bifenthrin levels in Worm Castings but abandoned the idea when wider tests revealed that many brands of commercial Worm Castings wouldn’t pass.
We compost material that has not been exposed to pesticides,herbicides,fertilizers,growth Hormones,and animal medications .
Compost from Florida Worm Farm.
What we do not Compost. Grains main concern (Corn ,Soil Beans) from feeds that are GMO. Almost 100% of all corn and soy bean feed is GMO. Roundup, GMOs linked to emergence of deadly new pathogen causing spontaneous abortions among animals.Manures from Grain feed animals. Rabbits,Cows,Chickens,Pigs and Horses .We find that manure from large dairy farms could have antibiotics or growth hormones. Scientists are also concerned about the environmental impacts of hormone residues in cow manure
Cardboard, Great Dangers.It turns out a lot of chemicals are used to manufacture the boxes, from treating the wood pulp, to gluing the paper, and dyeing & bleaching the cardboard. And my "bad" chemical, sulfur, is used in the process. In fact several classes of sulfur are employed in the process. Many of these toxins transfer up thru the plant we consume.

Here is a Helpful link in what to consider composting.
What goes in comes out. Compost material that has not been exposed to pesticides,herbicides,fertilizers,growth Hormones,and animal medications is seldom considered.
Grains that are genetically design for the crop to be sprayed with Roundup and used in Vermicomposting have serious effects on the worms.(Scientists reveal negative impact of Roundup Ready GM crops
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/028347_GM_crops_Roundup.html#ixzz1b3zweRGt
The greater Percentages of soy beans and corn crops use this chemical.
 We compost material that has not been exposed to pesticides,herbicides,fertilizers,growth Hormones,and animal medications . What you put in is what you get out. We do not compost grains,newspaper and cardboard .Certain materials contain chemicals that do not break down. Grass clipping, shrubbery, and manures are of great concern. Certain Grains  are genetically design to spray the crops with Roundup.  It is important with composting with a Native Red Worm to Florida. We have found in 51 years of composting that toxins build up if you compost with contaminated material. Grains ,Lawn clippings,vegetable mater from commercial growing operations or Lawns carry excessive amounts of Pesticides,Herbicides which in turn kill the composting Worms.We find that manure from large dairy farms could have antibiotics or growth hormones. When obtaining any compost from animal manure such as cows ,horses, rabbits remember most people medicate and this comes out in the manure. Cow manure from Grass feed cows has been a good source for great compost. It important to get live microbes when buying compost. The amount of moisture is very important. Dry compost has less microbes. Fresh Compost with a fair amount of moisture is full of life.
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