HONG KONG WILLIE IN Tampa.HONG KONG WILLIE A KEY WEST Artists.HONG KONG WILLIE A ART GROUP THAT MAKES ART FROM RESUSE MATERIAL. . Located on I75, exit 266 in Tampa. Look for the buoy tree made from keywest lobster floats and buoys, keywest crab floats and buoys. Souvenirs that are one of a kind. Hong Kong Willie Key West artist invites you.HONG KONG WILLIE ART made from ship wreckage, building parts, car doors, any mass which could evolve itself into a canvas.
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..
MYSTERIOSITY HONG KONG WILLIE ART, Famous Tampa + Florida Artist ,$176,000
Hong Kong Willie has supporters who come into his
gallery and buy many of his pieces. With the money that he makes, he
gives back a large portion to various social projects. His art is not
just a business, and he makes that very clear.
“You can only buy a piece of art if you have fallen in
love with it,” he said. He recalled a time when he turned down a buyer
from buying some of his works because he knew the reason for buying
those works was not genuine.
Hong Kong Willie keeps the presence of art alive in
today’s society. Wherever his art goes, a piece of him will forever be
with each piece. We are very grateful for his time and his dedication to
his work.
The charter for Key West lobster floats. The visitors would collect the Key West crab floats. Why you might say. People would take the lobster floats home with the memories of their vacation in Key West. We'll look at all the names you can say buoy, crab trap float, Key West lobster buoy, Key West lobster float, crab trap buoy, crab pot buoy. There are a lot of types of buoys. Hong Kong Willie knows some are meant to be a buoy; preservation is form of lesser utilization. Key West is preservation. So hope you're on the buoy charter.
A LANDMARK IN TAMPA. THE TAMPA TOURIST ATTRACTION HONG KONG WILLIE AN ART GROUP OUT OF TAMPA AND KEY WEST. ARTIST BELIEVING IN PRESERVATION ART. THE WORLD RECORD BUOY TREE, MADE FROM KEY WEST LOBSTER FLOATS SHOW THEIR COMMITMENT TO PRESERVATION. LOCATED ON I-75 EXIT 266 IN TAMPA. APROXIMATELY 2 MILES FROM THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY, CALLED MOSI. DOWN THE STREET IS BUSCH GARDENS AND ADVENTURE ISLAND. LOWRY PARK IS A SHORT ROAD TRIP. THE TAMPA TOURIST ATTRACTION IS FUNKY LAIDBACK,SCENIC OLD FASHION PLACE WHERE A TOURIST WOULD BUY A TRUE ONE OF A KIND FLORIDA SOUVENIR STOP BY HONG KONG WILLIE.Past days have seen famed Conch artists after destruction from devastating hurricanes collect ship wreckage, building parts, car doors, any mass which could evolve itselfinto a canvas for expression. HONG KONG WILLIE, renowned Key's Artist Collective, gained notoriety only from the blatant choice of medium, and the artists' yearning to remain honest to originality. Every Original HONG KONG WILLIE piece is truly “One of a Kind", no piece is ever reproduced. Along with Burn-Etched Signature, SpinyLobster Trap ID Tag, and Hand Signature, any validation of an ORIGINAL HONG KONG WILLIE piece is definite. Visit HONG KONG WILLIE STUDIOS located in Tampa, Florida for a true insight into the work. Contact the Artists for appointment @ (813)770-4794
A LANDMARK IN TAMPA. THE TAMPA TOURIST ATTRACTION HONG KONG WILLIE AN ART GROUP OUT OF TAMPA AND KEY WEST. ARTIST BELIEVING IN PRESERVATION ART. THE WORLD RECORD BUOY TREE, MADE FROM KEY WEST LOBSTER FLOATS SHOW THEIR COMMITMENT TO PRESERVATION. LOCATED ON I-75 EXIT 266 IN TAMPA. APROXIMATELY 2 MILES FROM THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY, CALLED MOSI. DOWN THE STREET IS BUSCH GARDENS AND ADVENTURE ISLAND. LOWRY PARK IS A SHORT ROAD TRIP. THE TAMPA TOURIST ATTRACTION IS FUNKY LAIDBACK,SCENIC OLD FASHION PLACE WHERE A TOURIST WOULD BUY A TRUE ONE OF A KIND FLORIDA SOUVENIR STOP BY HONG KONG WILLIE.Past days have seen famed Conch artists after destruction from devastating hurricanes collect ship wreckage, building parts, car doors, any mass which could evolve itselfinto a canvas for expression. HONG KONG WILLIE, renowned Key's Artist Collective, gained notoriety only from the blatant choice of medium, and the artists' yearning to remain honest to originality. Every Original HONG KONG WILLIE piece is truly “One of a Kind", no piece is ever reproduced. Along with Burn-Etched Signature, SpinyLobster Trap ID Tag, and Hand Signature, any validation of an ORIGINAL HONG KONG WILLIE piece is definite. Visit HONG KONG WILLIE STUDIOS located in Tampa, Florida for a true insight into the work. Contact the Artists for appointment @ (813)770-4794
Past days have seen famed Conch artists after destruction from a devastating hurricane collect ship wreckage, building, parts, car doors, any mass which could evolve itself into a canvas for expression. Hong Kong Willie, renowned Key's Artist Collective, gained notoriety only from the blatant choice of medium, and the artists' yearning to remain honest to originality. Galvanized cable, rescued from local dump sites, reinforces the core of the structure, enabling rigidity within the buoy frame. The Key West lobster buoy along with the Key West crab trap buoy has remained a staple in the minds of travelers abroad. Burlap coffee bags not cast aside to landfills back the Dream Catcher. A key discovered by famed Key’s treasure hunter Bob Jordan encapsulates the artists’ journey unfolding since 1956. Each buoy color and identification number represents a specific fisherman. Hong Kong Willie goes beyond BEACH-COMBING, these fishermen with the Conch community have accepted the artists’ into their homes. KEY WEST DREAM CATCHER
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..
KEY WEST CRAB FLOATS OR CRAB POT BUOY OR YOU COULD COULD SAY CRAB TRAP BUOY,OR LOBSTER TRAP FLOAT BUOY,OR CRAB TRAP CRAB POT FLOAT BUOY. THEY CATCH THE ODD FLOATING THINGS.
A LANDMARK IN TAMPA. THE TAMPA TOURIST ATTRACTION HONG KONG WILLIE AN ART GROUP OUT OF TAMPA AND KEY WEST. ARTIST BELIEVING IN PRESERVATION ART. THE WORLD RECORD BUOY TREE, MADE FROM KEY WEST LOBSTER FLOATS SHOW THEIR COMMITMENT TO PRESERVATION. LOCATED ON I-75 EXIT 266 IN TAMPA. APROXIMATELY 2 MILES FROM THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY, CALLED MOSI. DOWN THE STREET IS BUSCH GARDENS AND ADVENTURE ISLAND. LOWRY PARK IS A SHORT ROAD TRIP. THE TAMPA TOURIST ATTRACTION IS FUNKY LAIDBACK,SCENIC OLD FASHION PLACE WHERE A TOURIST WOULD BUY A TRUE ONE OF A KIND FLORIDA SOUVENIR STOP BY HONG KONG WILLIE.Past days have seen famed Conch artists after destruction from devastating hurricanes collect ship wreckage, building parts, car doors, any mass which could evolve itselfinto a canvas for expression. HONG KONG WILLIE, renowned Key's Artist Collective, gained notoriety only from the blatant choice of medium, and the artists' yearning to remain honest to originality. Every Original HONG KONG WILLIE piece is truly “One of a Kind", no piece is ever reproduced. Along with Burn-Etched Signature, SpinyLobster Trap ID Tag, and Hand Signature, any validation of an ORIGINAL HONG KONG WILLIE piece is definite. Visit HONG KONG WILLIE STUDIOS located in Tampa, Florida for a true insight into the work. Contact the Artists for appointment @ (813)770-4794
Famous Key West Green Artist, BELIEVING IN PRESERVATION ART. THE WORLD RECORD
BUOY TREE, MADE FROM KEY WEST LOBSTER BUOYS, SHOW THEIR COMMITMENT TO
PRESERVATION. LOCATED ON I-75 EXIT 266 IN TAMPA.
Famous Buoy Tree Made From Key West Lobster Buoys Tampa Florida , I 75 exit 266
Located off East Fletcher Road between hotel chains and high-end
office parks is the gift shop and folk art gallery Hong Kong
Willie's.Drive south on I-75, look to the right around East Fletcher
Avenue, and you can't miss it. The tree appears first, hundreds of buoys
wrapped around its branches, resembling a sort of Dr. Seuss-ian
Christmas ornament. Then the rest of the 20,000 buoys come into view --
thousands of strands of the multicolored foam balls stretching from the
tree to two wooden shacks, hanging from their roofs and walls, and
stretched out over the property.
Blue Marlin Dream,$225,000
Artist Born for the Green Movement. It all started on a landfill in Tamp
.
Hongkongwillie Famous Key West Green Artist raised on Tampa city dump,like living in the Penthouse in the upper east side.
Famous Key West Green 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
Black Bird Of Key Largo $ 98,000. Hongkongwillie Art
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,Famous Key West Green 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.
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."
Located off East Fletcher Road between hotel chains and high-end
office parks is the gift shop and folk art gallery Hong Kong
Willie's.Drive south on I-75, look to the right around East Fletcher
Avenue, and you can't miss it. The tree appears first, hundreds of buoys
wrapped around its branches, resembling a sort of Dr. Seuss-ian
Christmas ornament. Then the rest of the 20,000 buoys come into view --
thousands of strands of the multicolored foam balls stretching from the
tree to two wooden shacks, hanging from their roofs and walls, and
stretched out over the property.
Famous Tampa Artist, BELIEVING IN PRESERVATION ART. THE WORLD RECORD
BUOY TREE, MADE FROM KEY WEST LOBSTER BUOYS, SHOW THEIR COMMITMENT TO
PRESERVATION. LOCATED ON I-75 EXIT 266 IN TAMPA.
.
Blue Marlin Dream,$225,000
Artist Born for the Green Movement. It all started on a landfill in Tampa
.
Hongkongwillie Famous Key West Green Artist raised on Tampa city dump,like living in the Penthouse in the upper east side.
Famous Key West Green 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
Black Bird Of Key Largo $ 98,000. Hongkongwillie Art
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,Famous Key West Green 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.
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."
PBS,Wedu Arts Plus On Hongkongwillie. http://video.wedu.org/video/2365012097/ Key West Lobster Buoy ArtistFamed, 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
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 Hong Kong Willie Recycling Art Life began.
John 3:16
King James Version (KJV)
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Black Bird of Key Largo Hong Kong Willie Art $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
It Was those Last Words, She Said to Me It Was that Tampa City Dump,the Art Teacher,her last words that made Tampa's Famous reuse artist.
A LANDMARK IN TAMPA. THE TAMPA TOURIST ATTRACTION HONG KONG WILLIE AN ART GROUP OUT OF TAMPA AND KEY WEST. ARTIST BELIEVING IN PRESERVATION ART. THE WORLD RECORD BUOY TREE, MADE FROM KEY WEST LOBSTER FLOATS SHOW THEIR COMMITMENT TO PRESERVATION. LOCATED ON I-75 EXIT 266 IN TAMPA. APROXIMATELY 2 MILES FROM THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY, CALLED MOSI. DOWN THE STREET IS BUSCH GARDENS AND ADVENTURE ISLAND. LOWRY PARK IS A SHORT ROAD TRIP. THE TAMPA TOURIST ATTRACTION IS FUNKY LAIDBACK,SCENIC OLD FASHION PLACE WHERE A TOURIST WOULD BUY A TRUE ONE OF A KIND FLORIDA SOUVENIR STOP BY HONG KONG WILLIE.Past days have seen famed Conch artists after destruction from devastating hurricanes collect ship wreckage, building parts, car doors, any mass which could evolve itselfinto a canvas for expression. HONG KONG WILLIE, renowned Key's Artist Collective, gained notoriety only from the blatant choice of medium, and the artists' yearning to remain honest to originality. Every Original HONG KONG WILLIE piece is truly “One of a Kind", no piece is ever reproduced. Along with Burn-Etched Signature, SpinyLobster Trap ID Tag, and Hand Signature, any validation of an ORIGINAL HONG KONG WILLIE piece is definite. Visit HONG KONG WILLIE STUDIOS located in Tampa, Florida for a true insight into the work. Contact the Artists for appointment @ (813)770-4794
(Joe Brown) is often described as a significant experience because his
life and work are rooted in a specific, inherited sense of purpose.
When he says he "knows why he is here," it typically refers to the following core beliefs:
Understanding Life's Purpose:
Brown credits his father for instilling the importance of knowing "why
we were here". He views his presence not as a pursuit of money or fame,
but as a mission to exemplify and maximize that purpose through service and creativity.
The Metaphor of the "Valueless": Inspired by a childhood art teacher who transformed a "valueless" baby bottle into art, he believes his role is to show that everything and everyone has inherent worth. He uses discarded objects as a metaphor for human beings who have been overlooked or "tossed aside".
Environmental & Social Responsibility: He sees his work as a responsibility
to the planet and his community. This is why he chooses to live
minimally and often donates a significant portion of his art sales to social projects.
Faith and Legacy: He has stated that his artistic talent is a tool to tell a story and inspire positive change before he is eventually "called home to be with the Lord"
Why has Hongkongwillie art sold for more than 6 figures.
Pieces of Hong Kong Willie's art have sold for significant sums, with confirmed sales of $175,000 or more.
Marlin's Hope Hongkongwillie Reuse Art
$225,000
. This high valuation can be attributed to several factors:
Uniqueness and Reuse Art:
Hong
Kong Willie is known for his distinct style of "reuse art," where he
repurposes salvaged materials from older structures and demolished
buildings to create themed images.
This
unique approach makes each piece one-of-a-kind and highly desirable to
collectors who appreciate originality and the stories behind the found
objects.
MYSTERIOSITY HONG KONG WILLIE ART, Famous Tampa + Florida Artist ,$176,000
Growing Recognition:
His work only exhibitions featuring Hong Kong Willie's art is at the Hongkongwillie Gallery.
and features prominently on social media platforms, contributing to
increased interest and building a following among collectors.
Limited Supply:
As
a local artist, his output is not mass-produced, making individual
pieces rarer and potentially more valuable in the art market.
Appreciation for Reuse Art:
There's
a growing appreciation for art that focuses on repurposing materials,
giving new life to discarded objects. Hong Kong Willie's art resonates
with this appreciation for environmentalism and creativity.
Community Involvement and Philanthropy:
His
participation in local community events and organizations further
increases visibility, and his dedication to donating a portion of sales
to social projects adds another layer of appeal for potential
collectors.
While
the exact reasons for a specific piece reaching a six-figure sale price
can vary, the combination of his unique style, growing recognition,
limited supply, and the underlying message of reuse art contributes to
the value placed on Hong Kong Willie's work in the art market
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
The Story Behind the Eye-Catching Art at I-75 Exit 266Tampa Florida
Reuse Artist Joe Brown, better known as "Hong Kong Willie," makes art with a message at his home/studio near I-75's Exit 266.
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 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.
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 REUSE 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 .
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.
.
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
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.
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."
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
“Somebody once told me to keep telling the story and they will keep coming,.
Hongkongwillie's unique style of "reuse art," which uses salvaged materials from older
buildings to create vibrant, themed images, is gaining recognition and
interest from collectors.
Why it's collectable:
Uniqueness:
Hong Kong Willie's art is distinctive, using materials not typically found in traditional art.
Growing Recognition:
Limited Supply:
As a local artist, his output might be more limited compared to
established, mass-produced art, potentially increasing the value of
individual pieces.
Appreciation
for Reuse Art:
There's a growing appreciation for art that repurposes and highlights
materials from older structures, contributing to a wider collector base.
Community Involvement:
His
work is often featured in local community
How to find out more:
Social Media:
Follow Hong Kong Willie and his wife Kim Brown on Facebook to see their latest work and updates.
Local Galleries:
His only exhibitions featuring Hong Kong Willie's art is at the Hongkongwillie Gallery.
“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.
Famous Key West Green Artist, BELIEVING IN PRESERVATION ART. THE WORLD RECORD
BUOY TREE, MADE FROM KEY WEST LOBSTER BUOYS, SHOW THEIR COMMITMENT TO
PRESERVATION. LOCATED ON I-75 EXIT 266 IN TAMPA.
Located off East Fletcher Road between hotel chains and high-end
office parks is the gift shop and folk art gallery Hong Kong
Willie's.Drive south on I-75, look to the right around East Fletcher
Avenue, and you can't miss it. The tree appears first, hundreds of buoys
wrapped around its branches, resembling a sort of Dr. Seuss-ian
Christmas ornament. Then the rest of the 20,000 buoys come into view --
thousands of strands of the multicolored foam balls stretching from the
tree to two wooden shacks, hanging from their roofs and walls, and
stretched out over the property.
Blue Marlin Dream,$225,000
Artist Born for the Green Movement. It all started on a landfill in Tamp
.
Hongkongwillie Famous Key West Green Artist raised on Tampa city dump,like living in the Penthouse in the upper east side.
Famous Key West Green 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
Black Bird Of Key Largo $ 98,000. Hongkongwillie Art
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,Famous Key West Green 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.
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."
