Coconut heads on pegboard, Florida, 1960

Charles Phoenix writes:

This is not an art installation in a snooty, big city gallery or museum. (Although it could be and should be.) This is the perky polka dotted wall of a sunshine state souvenir stand dressed with dozens kooky characters. They are to coconuts what tiki gods are to palm tree trunks. Each is hanging there just waiting to be bought, bagged and taken to a new, more permanent home like a patio, tiki bar or rumpus room. Each one has been carefully carved, painted and finished by hand then imported from the exotic island it came from for our pleasure.

Together on the wall they're certainly mesmerizing and nearly hypnotizing. They look at you every time you walk in the room. No two are exactly the same. Each has his, (or her) own personality. I'm not sure that today they would all pass the test of political correctness. Which one would you choose? Or do you just want them all?

Coconut heads on pegboard, Florida, 1960

• [Anonymous]

  a gallery that shows l’art brut wouldn’t be snooty.

• [Anonymous]

  I think that would be a little less “perky polka dotted wall” and a little more “cheap-ass pegboard”

• [Antinous / Moderator]

  My aunt’s sister gave me one of these coconut heads when I was little. I’m still trying to figure why she got it on a trip to New York City.

• [angrydroid]

  Oddly enough, friend and fellow Boing Boing reader, E. Stephen gave me one of these for Xmas this past year! It looks identical to the one right above the word “on” in the caption and has a yellow plastic ring through it’s nose. It is currently greeting visitors in the entryway of my house.

• [InsertFingerHere]

  If I could time travel, it would be to when this culture was thriving. I’m sure I’m a closet Tikiphile.