‘Tiki Dreams’ in Yountville
By Kathleen Reynolds
YOUNTVILLE, Calif. — “Tiki Dreams,” the newest exhibit at the Napa Valley Museum, may be the most popular and successful one ever, according to Laura Rafaty, executive director of the museum. When guests visit, they enter a tropical paradise. Beneath an original neon Trader Vic’s sign are nostalgic matchbooks, menus, tiki mugs and large tiki statues that pay homage to the midcentury design.
A full 15-square-foot tiki bar dominates the large rear gallery, designed and built by artist Woody Miller. A smaller vintage tiki bar adorned with leopard print stands adjacent.
What was once considered kitschy — the exaggerated features of the faces, the women in hula skirts and the grass shacks — is now recognized as a design style that has had a resurgence. Devotees by the thousands flock to the multiday Tiki Oasis events staged by Otto von Stroheim’s organization in Palm Springs, San Diego, Arizona and their upcoming midcentury modern conference, “Resort-o-Rama,” at the Flamingo Resort in Santa Rosa. Attendees participate in seminars on design, shop tiki clothes and accessories, and enjoy music, cocktails and dancing.
“We’ve had visitors streaming in from all over for Tiki Dreams,” Rafaty said. “They’ve flown in from Southern California and the Pacific Northwest as well as coming from around the Bay Area. I joked with friends that the tiki community must send out a bat signal.”
Remember the “Enchanted Tiki Room” attraction at Disneyland? Michael Aronson, a graphic designer who currently works with Disney, created a talking bird similar to the one there specifically for the Yountville Tiki Dreams exhibition. The exotic bird is voiced by performer King Kukulele and offers 10 different messages to passersby.
The tiki culture is strong
“A man came in the other day dressed up in Hawaiian garb just for the exhibit,” Rafaty said.
“People see photos and memorabilia and remember fondly places like Tiburon Tommy’s, the Tonga Room in the Fairmont Hotel and Trader Vic’s. They say that they drove past those signs and places and didn’t know the significance of them. People love tiki.”
How did the curators amass such an enormous collection of tiki art and artifacts?
For the memorabilia on display, the von Stroheim group contacted other serious collectors. They also received help from historical societies in Sausalito, Tiburon and El Cerrito as well as the Sacramento and San Francisco libraries’ special collections. The daughter of Victor Bergeron, Trader Vic’s creator, helped with that famous restaurant’s items.
“The history of the movement has early roots,” Rafaty said. “World War II veterans brought home tropical mementos from their time in the Pacific. The display resonates with the Veterans Home residents.”
As travel to Hawaii became popular in the 1950s, many families returned from the islands with tiki souvenirs. A display near the entrance to the museum explains that the exhibit does not intend to disrespect the Pacific Islands’ indigenous people. Instead, the tiki movement marks a moment in time and strives to honor them. Rafaty said the von Stroheims are sensitive to the cultural significance behind the images.
“Often there’s attention to detail in these exquisite objects,” said Rafaty. “They reflect the texture, care and consideration that went into their creation. I didn’t realize how thoughtful the designs were. Learning about it shattered my misconceptions about tiki. It’s exciting to see how younger people accept, understand and appreciate it. Visitors are surprised by the tiki they already see in their lives. The exhibit is really an education for me and others.
The last section of the exhibit focuses on popular new tiki works, many of which will be for sale. There are also tiki mugs, glasses, clothing, bartenders’ guides to tropical drinks and cookbooks in the gift shop. Tiki Dreams runs through Dec. 31.
“What I hope people get out of the experience is that tiki is an art and culture that has been in their lives longer than they can remember,” said Rafaty, “that they will realize how much of it they’d seen or been surrounded by. I hope they’ll embrace and follow it.”
The Great California Road Trip
Another nostalgic exhibit awaits in the downstairs History Gallery. “The Great California Road Trip ‘62” tour begins with an actual Doggie Diner head and evokes memories of driving the length of California with kids packed in the rear of the station wagon. There are classic motel signs, photos and ephemera from famous, long-gone stops such as Woolworth’s and the Nut Tree.
Curated by Andrew Danish, this exhibit runs through Oct. 8.
If all that isn’t enough, the Spotlight Gallery contains a display of “Mini Masterpieces,” original paintings ranging from 4 inches by 5 inches to 10 inches by 12 inches. Most pieces cost less than $500, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the museum’s nonprofit education programs.
The Napa Valley Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 55 Presidents Circle in Yountville. (707) 944-0500.
Kathleen Reynolds a Napa Valley based journalist.
Wonderful description and story about Tiki history and collections... looking forward to checking it out!
What a great piece. My son and his friends are AVID Tiki followers. I am forwarding this to them and know they will be visiting this exhibit soon...... as will I. Thank you .