THE REAL HONG KONG WILLIE

Monday, March 24, 2008

I'm Sorry

I am, Nick Farris of 12621 Rockridge Circle Thonotosassa, FL 33592-2403 (813) 986-1413. AKA Rebelniko
I have been a dope dealer for over 20 years, I am schizophrenic, suffering from multiple personality disorder currently under psychiatric care and mind altering psychiatric drugs, while all guardianship is willed to my mother. I do indeed have a criminal record, most recently for breaking and entering into cars @ the Extended Stay Hotel next to Hong Kong Willie. I apologise for my acting as a jilted lover over Hong Kong Willie and their recognition of my losing mental aptitude. Any one whom is a TRUE Hong Kong Willie would not detract from all the positive things and positive approach in saving resources, and my continual attack on Hong Kong Willie is from my disturbed mind, from only leaving my house to go to Circle-K each day to purchase my 18 pack of Busch Light, while waddling home and wishing I could have achieved something in life.


Hong Kong Willie by: Hong Kong Willie
Hong Kong Willie being green or Hong Kong Willie being a junk pile . Hong Kong Willie ?
Artist Kim Brown of Hong Kong WillieDecember 17, 2007 by Hong Kong Willie
Hong Kong Willie has been increasing known as an Art Group. Hong Kong Willie would never have existed without Kim Brown. Kim is the backbone of Hong Kong Willie Art Group. The Brown family has always lived by leaving less of a footprint on the World which is at least the main message that Hong Kong Willie was founded upon. Joe Brown aka Hong Kong Willie has talked quite extensively about everyone keeping less out of junk piles or landfills throughout the World. Unfortunately, one family can’t change the World but it’s certainly a great start by being a pure example to others. Recycling and preservation is what Hong Kong Willie is all about including the art. We can’t change the World alone but I do try to get out the message. Living green is a lifestyle and not just a fad anymore. Make no mistake about it though, Artist Kim Brown aka Hong Kong Willie is the real artist and only real artist of the Art Group. Without Kim Brown of Hong Kong Willie the real story behind this group would may never been told.
The Creature Comforts films are made by interviewing real people and the resulting comments are then converted to animated characters by the filmmakers. So these are actual and very interesting comments about contemporary art from real people of all kinds. The question in this short Video is:
What is art?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDo_vs3Aip4
Posted in Kim Brown, artist collective, bouy, conch artist, crab floats, driftwood, habitat, hong kong willie, joe brown, lobster traps, preservation art, recycle, tampa No Comments »
Hong Kong Willie think about itNovember 24, 2007 by Hong Kong Willie

Looking at the history of Art and Artists there are several common mistakes that Hong Kong Willie Art Group is making. First of all there is the “weird factor” of artists which I don’t mean in a bad way. Artists such as Kim Brown of Hong Kong Willie seem to see what they are creating before starting a piece of art. That is a very interesting talent that most true artists have. The artists mind is always influenced by their childhood, surroundings, thoughts (both past and present), and current mindset. Every true Artist is different which gives the artwork its own unique qualities. Because it is so hard to get into an Artist’s mind they tend to be called weird, strange, or even crazy at times but this is what the “weird factor” of an artist is all about. I believe that Hong Kong Willie Art Group realizes this from my interactions with them.
Very seldom do you see an artist making a living out of their own art. Hong Kong Willie knows the tremendous amount of pressure felt by the artists to give the public what they want or to be pure to themselves and create whatever comes to them. This isn’t a production line you know. Another form of pressure for an artist like Hong Kong Willie is trying to continue to create art at a pace to match the demand. True Artists just don’t put out so many pieces of art each day. They must be inspired first and then in their own time they will create. Hong Kong Willie Art Group should know that for these reasons alone by putting so much pressure and anxiety on any artist it is possible for them to loose their will to create. Any true artist must be left alone to create art at their own pace with no outside pressures riding on them such as paying bills or generally creating income. That time will come but Hong Kong Willie just can’t push it and rely on an up and coming artist to be themselves with all that pressure. This is just not the way true Art and Artists work.
Hong Kong Willie must fully realize that the Conch or Florida Keys art that is created will never work as a job. Being an artist is not a job, it is a passion. Hong Kong Willie Art Group specializes in a certain niche of the art world and not the whole spectrum of art. That means that only some people will be drawn to Hong Kong Willie Art. This of course limits the demand for their Conch style of art. The other problem that Hong Kong Willie faces is there location in Tampa and no location in the Florida Keys where people expect to see that style of art. The Internet can be a big help in that problem but will never be as good as having a storefront in the Florida Keys. All I am trying to say is that is an obstacle to overcome for Hong Kong Willie Art Group and not something to worry about. In my opinion, you already have a great location in Tampa so why not make the best out of it and start another business such as the Fish and Tackle Store that you once had. The one point I am trying to make is that stock that is in storage and not selling is called dead stock because you aren’t making money out of it. In a business a zero turnover is dead stock. Joe Brown, you were successful for years as a fish and tackle shop and if you devote your time and expertise I am sure you will be successful once again. You have the location so why not? All that must be remembered is that Hong Kong Willie Art Group is separate from whatever business you desire to create. This suggestion that I have presented to you now and in the past might just be what is needed as we approach the year 2008. Think about it. You are already getting recognition in Tampa:
Posted in Kim Brown, artist collective, bouy, conch artist, crab floats, driftwood, habitat, hong kong willie, joe brown, lobster traps, preservation art, recycle, tampa No Comments »
The Beginning of Hong Kong WillieOctober 22, 2007 by Hong Kong Willie
Have you read my previous posts about Joe Brown and the Hong Kong Willie articles? If you have then you realize that Hong Kong Willie and especially Joe Brown have blatantly avoided much of the truth about how Hong Kong Willie came into existence. Finally I have found an article written by the Tampa Tribune just a few months prior to 9/11/01. This article written by Jim Tunstall tells the truth about Joe and Kim Brown shortly before Hong Kong Willie ever existed. In my past posts I have felt obligated to inject the truth in red on most of the sales pitches that Hong Kong Willie promotes as being true. In this article, there is no need for that because the truth has been finally let free. I enjoy helping to promote the ideals and the history of the Hong Kong Willie Roadside Attraction. I am a firm believer in preservation and recycling more than our little green bins that the city of Tampa offer. I now present the article that tells you some of the behind the scenes of the Brown family and how Hong Kong Willie came about. I quote the following from a Hong Kong Willie flickr description and highlight in GREENwhat I have been trying to get people to see with my previous posts of Hong Kong Willie. This article also hints at why Joe Brown has threatened Gandolfo and myself and we were forced to quit helping Joe spread the message and ideals of Hong Kong Willie as we were doing almost daily for over 15 months.“ROADSIDE ATTRACTION
Jim Tunstall TAMPA TRIBUNE
January 26, 2002
A break with the mainstream led a couple to their own little corner of happiness from another day in time.” I believe every individual has a purpose. When you start going on your journey to discover yours, you learn some things along the way.”JOE BROWN
Joe Brown loves to express himself.
If you want to see how, take a spin by his place on the southwest corner of Interstate 75 and Fletcher Avenue. His yard is coiffed with a sassy blend of crab-trap buoys, bottle art, fishy wind socks and a dog and two cats that co-exist on a mainly peaceful basis.Then there’s the man. Brown, a page out of the 1960’s better side, owns A-24 Hour Bait and Tackle.
On one hand, he’s private enough not to want his photograph taken, on the other, he’s gregarious enough to talk the ears off anyone interested in fishing. Fact is, this 51-year-old Tampa native is primed to gab about next best to anything on the minds of his visitors, including the way things used to be.Like in 1983 when he and his wife, Kim, planted roots on this corner and the new Interstate was their only new neighbor.
Before that, Brown had been part of the establishment, but he chucked his mainstream career and spent 3 years on a 700-hundred acre spread across Fletcher, searching for himself.I was seriously unhappy,” he says.“I left (the job) Nov. 13, 1981. That Date, the moment I left the office, it blazed in my brain, I was 31 and dealing with severe depression.”
One day he heard a voice.
“People will tell you you’ve got serious problems when you hear voices,” he says behind a grin. “But this wasn’t that kind of experience. It just said, ‘Joe, what if it gets better?’
”Well, slowly it did.
He and Kim took an option on the corner that been home to a worm farm for 25 years.” The worm business was at it’s ebb,” Brown says.” I bought it to sell. I had no idea I was going to continue it.”
Over the years, neighbors started putting down roots to the west, including apartment complexes and more than a half dozen hotels, such as Extended Stay America and Residence Inn.
The bait and tackle business stayed reasonably strong until the economy went south last year, Brown says, adding that he still carries a full line of rods, reels, cane poles, lures, crickets, shiners, and shrimp.” But we did a lot a wholesale and we lost 90 percent of that business Sep. 11,” he says.” ” That’s dead. It’s not coming back.”
Fortunately the Browns have branched out.
Last year, they opened a gift shop that sells gator heads, sea shells, stuffed critters, t-shirts, and other trinkets.
Brown also started dabbling in bottle art — melting everything from vodka to Sprite bottles, reshaping them then letting them cool and harden.
Through the last 20 years, he seems to have learned to be a survivor.
He’s also learned his reason for being on this corner.“I believe every individual has a purpose,” he says, turning serious for a moment.“When you start going on your journey to discover yours, you learn some things along the way. I like working with the public and making them happy. And if you’re doing what you want to do, it’s a beautiful thing.””
Posted in habitat, hong kong willie, living green, nature, preservation art, zen of junk No Comments »
Zen of Junk is Hong Kong WillieOctober 11, 2007 by Hong Kong Willie

Great job Hong Kong Willie being noticed by Creative Loafing for the ” Zen of Junk ” article written by Alex Pickett. This was a very well written article from the authors point of view and what information Hong Kong Willie decided to divulge. Deeper truths lie within this Award Winning article that must be written to the masses. This is where I will again quote a Hong Kong Willie blog with the article and include more truth in RED.“The zen of junkA Tampa couple devotes itself to creating something from nothingBY ALEX PICKETTPublished 12.06.06print email mail us del.icio.us digg facebook redditclick to enlarge Alex PickettROADSIDE ATTRACTION: 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 ( This is their supposed Art Gallery ), hanging from their roofs and walls, and stretched out over the property.Strewn about the lawn is a menagerie of surfboards, car doors, CB radios, wooden sculptures and painted signs. A 1979 Ford pickup sits in the front driveway, painted with a rainbow of colors, four racks of antlers affixed to its roof. An old stuffed caribou sits in a lawn chair beckoning visitors.Of the thousands of motorists who pass by this eclectic landmark off Exit 266 every day, few stop in the funky gift shop and Key West-themed folk art gallery that is Hong Kong Willie’s. But this is not your typical roadside store selling cheesy Florida magnets and beach T-shirts (although they have those, too)( Most of the flea market style cheesy cheap items Hong Kong Willie sell are from Taiwan or China ). From the moment the owners come out to greet you, it’s clear that for them this isn’t just a business — it’s a lifestyle.( It is a lifestyle for the Brown Family so if they are having a bad day, you will receive bad customer service as many have told me. They are extremely sensitive when you question the highly expensive prices on Hong Kong Willie art )As I step out of my car, Joe Brown ambles toward me wearing a red Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts. With his disheveled shoulder-length brown hair and strong jaw line, Brown, 56, looks a lot like Mel Gibson in Braveheart ( Does he really? Please look for yourself Joe Brown ). He ends most of his sentences with “Do you follow me?” and stares with wild gray eyes until you nod in agreement ( If you don’t agree with Joe then he has a problem with you ). His 46-year-old wife, Kim, who bears a strong resemblance to Grace Slick, sits near the shop’s open sign, branding her latest creation. Wearing large sunglasses, she gives a smile, hardly looking up.Joe and Kim — Tampa natives — bought the half-acre property off Fletcher Avenue and Morris Bridge Road in 1985. For the next two decades, the Browns operated A-24 Hour Bait and Tackle, living on the premises and bagging worms for K-Mart and Wal-Mart to make a few extra bucks ( Without letting the cat out of the bag here let’s just say they were involved in a few alleged illegal activities using their own EXIT brand ). But in 2001, they decided to abandon fish food to pursue the fickle business of art, although they will tell you Hong Kong Willie’s was always “part of the journey.” ( Hong Kong Willie , the name , was invented in or after 2001 as said in my earlier posts. I was threatened by Joe Brown for injecting the truth but you can’t sue me for telling the truth. I haven’t let the dark side of Hong Kong Willie out of the bag because I have one objective which is keeping Hong Kong Willie honest and true to their values. )“We were artists,” says Joe. “We were born that way. We had no choice. You follow me?” ( Then why start being artists in a later time of life? Why aren’t they known for their art already instead of just being discovered. )The underlying theme of Hong Kong Willie’s is creating art out of objects destined for the landfill ( Burlap and untreated Wood is not filling up our landfills ), and while browsing the items, I get the feeling the Browns are trying to make a point rather than a sale.“Thirty percent of the gifts given will be in the dumpster by next Christmas,” Joe says. “Most Christmas gifts will be given because they think they have to. Very few will have a social impact.” ( Correct Joe but Christmas gifts are usually not made of Wood and Burlap. These Christmas gifts do have a long half life and usually come from other Countries such as India, Taiwan, or China. These are the items destined for the landfill ! )Every item at Hong Kong Willie’s is either art made out of an object destined for the landfill or products that other companies were throwing away and the Browns retrieved before they made it to the dumpster ( Please Hong Kong Willie , show us some items you sell retrieved by the dumpster that do not have a short half life ). But don’t call this recycled art. The Browns prefer “preservation.”Recycling implies the material will be used for the same purpose. “If you get stuck in that word, then you get stuck in that form,” Joe explains ( The definition of recycling is Recycling is the reprocessing of materials into new products as I cite Here ). Instead, the Browns create a whole new use for an item that would have been otherwise thrown away.Kim looks up from her painting after Joe finishes his long ramble. “We’ve always been able to take nothing and make something out of it,” she says.Although most people assume Joe is “Hong Kong Willie,” he says the name refers to the origin of junk: Hong Kong ( aka China ) produces much of the useless merchandise that Americans buy and quickly throw away, he says. So it’s up to the Willies of the world — i.e. the Browns and other conservationists ( such as myself ) — to find new uses for the trash.“All of us who believe what we believe is Hong Kong Willie,” Joe says.The gift shop is a space not much bigger than a tool shed, cluttered with handmade candles, pottery, ceramic figures and deer skulls painted tie-dye style ( Now called an Art Gallery by Hong Kong Willie ). Joe, who’s not content to allow me to wander by myself, darts from item to item, sharing each one’s origins. One of the first objects he shows me is an old scuba tank cut in half, stenciled with yellow and purple spray paint with a weighted rope attached on the inside. What would have been a heavy addition to a landfill or junkyard, the Browns now sell as a nautical-themed bell. Another popular item: a used Starbucks Frappuccino bottle filled with sand and shells, and the words “Florida Beachfront Property” written in paint on it.“Is it really pragmatic to say this had one life — to have Frappuccino in it?” he says, holding up the $3 gift. “That’s not true. You follow me?”Joe picks up a droopy glass vase — the result of an Arizona Ice Tea bottle stuck in a kiln for too long. He says it’s a collector’s item: Only 300 were made and none look alike.“People really want something that is one of a kind and something that means something,” he says, holding up the vase and pointing to a stack of Beanie Babies. “Which one is the real collectible? The one that cannot be copied or the one that is mass-produced just on a small scale? You follow me?”Most of the materials the Browns work with come from Key West. Every few months they hop in the pickup, drive the 425 miles to the Keys and start looking for the junk no one else wants: used dive tanks, the lobster trap buoys, burlap bags and even old wooden planks from ships or homes destroyed by storms. ( The only item mentioned that would fill our landfills for a long period of time is the bouys and dive tanks. )In fact, the latter is one of their biggest sellers. They bring back an imperfect piece of lumber, slap some urethane on it and Kim paints everything from colorful fish and birds to old Key West landmarks on it ( One of the secrets, since everybody can be a Hong Kong Willie is the titanium based paint ) . Every piece is branded, marked with a lobster cage tag and affixed with brass rings or forks with which to hang them. In the building opposite the gift shop, among stuffed animals and fish (Joe was once a taxidermist), 30 of these painted planks hang from the walls.Customers are few at Hong Kong Willie’s ( and still are unfortunately ) , but the Browns say they’re doing well. They never try to push their art on anyone, figuring that if someone stops and buys something, it was meant to be. (”A piece of art is a love affair,” Kim says.) They count Gaspar’s Patio Bar and Grille in Temple Terrace as one of their best customers. Their other business comes from Tampa residents looking to add a tiki feel to their backyards. Among Joe’s most popular creations are old car doors outfitted with waterproof speakers ( Car doors can easily be reused or crushed and don’t fill up our landfills ) . A few Key West bars bought the unique sound systems to hang from their ceilings.But the Browns are not just content to sell their art to passersby — they want to live the ideals that inspire their art. The couple is working on getting their business off the electrical grid and powered completely by solar energy. Kim wants to start a coffee and ice cream shop with free wireless Internet to bring in likeminded people. Joe wants to be in the Guinness Book of World Records for hanging the greatest number of buoys to a structure (it’s not a category yet). And they’re always trying to find new uses for the trash they see lining area roads.“We’re not just sitting out here being weird,” ( There is always a weird factor with artists as you can view on Hong Kong Willie on Fox 13 ) Joe says suddenly. “We’re actually taking objects and making these thousands of people say, ‘What’s that?’ We’re doing it because it’s the right thing to do.”His eyes get wide.“You follow me?” ( Yes already, I follow you ) “
Posted in bouy, conch artist, hong kong willie, living green, lobster traps, preservation art, tampa tourist attraction, zen of junk No Comments »
Hong Kong Willie crossed my habitatOctober 10, 2007 by Hong Kong Willie

I crossed paths with Joe Brown of Hong Kong Willie today and it was quite amusing. I was walking up to my local convenience store ( which is somewhat out of his way ) and to my surprise I saw a silver Ford Festiva drive by. Then I heard some freaky cackle coming from the vehicle. Ignoring the bizarre event, I went into the store to make my purchase and what do my eyes see when I get in line to pay? There stands Joe Brown of Hong Kong Willie directly in front of me in line. Now I live by a standard that states: “If you don’t have anything good to say, it is best to say nothing.” which is exactly what I did. With all of the threats Joe Brown of Hong Kong Willie have already made to me and my friends, I expected that he would say something to me. After Joe paid for his gasoline and I paid for my items I walked out of the store to see him once again starring at me while he was pumping gas. That is when I realized that he turned around and went back to the store because he saw me heading there. Anyway, I decided to go about my business and walk back home. I gave Joe Brown a smile and crossed the busy street but before I was able to get that far it happened once again. Joe Brown of Hong Kong Willie jumped back in his plain silver Festiva and heading past me in the opposite direction from which he came I could hear that strange, freaky sinister laugh of his as he passed me. That was everything that happened in a nutshell as I finished walking home.
1) Why would Hong Kong Willie and Joe Brown especially be threatening me in the first place?
2) Since he made all these threats, why didn’t Joe Brown of Hong Kong Willie stop to face me?
3) Why did Joe Brown of Hong Kong Willie decide to travel out of his way to just get gas?
4) If Hong Kong Willie has the shown ability to drive to my house, why don’t they face me?
I figure that their are only one of two answers to this incident with Joe of Hong Kong Willie and the questions and facts that I pose. I hope the correct answer is that Hong Kong Willie realizes that in my own way ( not under Hong Kong Willie orders ) I am promoting the most important part of Hong Kong Willie. Not sales, not keeping them honest, but the true message of recycling and keeping items away from the landfills. If that is not the reason then I figure he is not true to his word and is plain scared of me. I do hope the latter is the wrong answer since I have done nothing to make Hong Kong Willie scared of me.
Let’s all remember that anybody can make less of a footprint on Earth and therefore be a Hong Kong Willie too. The only advice that I have for Hong Kong Willie is to be relevant, tell the truth, and quit selling all of those fishing supplies if you want to be an Art Gallery. If Hong Kong Willie wants to go back to being a Fishing Store then all the best to ya’all. There is not enough room at your location to be both unless you renovate drastically. The above picture of inside Hong Kong Willie does not look like an Art Gallery to me. Finally:
HONG KONG WILLIE BE A HONG KONG WILLIE
The Sinister side to Hong Kong Willie
Posted in conch artist, hong kong willie, living green, preservation, zen of junk No Comments »
Back to the basics Hong Kong Willie pleaseSeptember 23, 2007 by Hong Kong Willie

If you recycle as much as possible, it means you are a Hong Kong Willie as well. The following quote from every Hong Kong Willie blog has been used so many times but still I must inject the truth as told to me by Joe Brown by adding the real facts in RED.“Past days have seen famed Conch artists ( Known in Tampa still as A24Hour Bait Shop by most residents ) after destruction from devastating hurricanes collect ship wreckage, building parts, car doors, any mass which could evolve itself into a canvas for expression ( Not doing much for the landfills because most of their selective medium is recyclable ) . HONG KONG WILLIE, renowned Key’s Artist Collective ( There is no such thing as the Key West Art Collective because I made that up for them ) , gained notoriety only from the blatant choice of medium ( Rarely using anything you can not put in a recycle bin that our taxes are paying for or has a very short half life) , 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 ( Not set up as a Studio but a small space loaded with what they can fit ) located in Tampa, Florida for a true insight into the work. Contact the Artists for appointment @ (813)770-4794A LANDMARK IN TAMPA ( This is far from a Landmark in Tampa since they are unknown as artists by just about everybody that lives here ) . THE TAMPA TOURIST ATTRACTION ( Another set of keywords I suggested but they still are not recognized as such ) HONG KONG WILLIE AN ART GROUP OUT OF TAMPA AND KEY WEST ( They own NO locations out of Key West which is a marketing ploy ) . ARTIST BELIEVING IN PRESERVATION ART. THE WORLD RECORD BUOY TREE, MADE FROM KEY WEST LOBSTER FLOATS ( Hong Kong Willie declares that it’s a World Record with no proof but by most residents considered an eye sore ) SHOW THEIR COMMITMENT TO PRESERVATION. LOCATED ON I-75 EXIT 266 IN TAMPA. APPROXIMATELY 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 LAID BACK,SCENIC OLD FASHION PLACE ( That most people I talk to think the place looks like a Fishing Store ) WHERE A TOURIST WOULD BUY ( Here we go again with trying to boost sales and not convey their ideals like they said to me was most important ) A TRUE ONE OF A KIND FLORIDA SOUVENIR STOP BY HONG KONG WILLIE”
Joe, Kim, and Derek Brown always made the point over and over to me that they were trying to change the World with their lifestyle and ideals. That to them was the primary importance without any doubt. Now they seem to just be selling out as the year comes to an end. I don’t blame them for trying to make some money but Hong Kong Willie must see the light and get away from pushing their products. This was never the image they desired but it surely comes across to many this way. Hong Kong Willie is not even an authorized business at this point which is probably why they only deal in cash. Please Hong Kong Willie, take my advice and clear your heads so you can get back to the basics from just 15 or so months ago. I feel very sad for them at this point and I tried to tell them but it fell on deaf ears. At least I can say I tried.
Tags: hong kong williePosted in boey, conch artist, conservation, driftwood, hong kong willie, key west artist, lobster traps, preservation art, tampa tourist attraction 6 Comments »
Tell the truth Hong Kong WillieSeptember 18, 2007 by Hong Kong Willie

This is the story Hong Kong Willie wants people to believe but the following quote from recent posts are nothing close to the truth. Take this post from a knowledgeable but balanced outside view. Following is a quote used in a Hong Kong Willie’s repetitive posts and I inject the truth as told to me by Joe Brown about the real Hong Kong Willie in the color RED.
“ HONG KONG WILLIE THE NAME OF THE ARTIST ( THIS IS NOT THE NAME OF ANY ARTIST. KIM BROWN IS THE REAL ARTIST ). IN 1958 ( WHEN JOE BROWN WAS ABOUT 8 YEARS OLD AND KIM BROWN WAS EITHER JUST BORN OR NOT EVEN BORN YET ) HIS MOTHER TOOK HONG KONG WILLIE TO AN ART CLASS. THE NAME STARTED THEN ( THE NAME HONG KONG WILLIE WAS INVENTED AFTER 9/11/2001 ). 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 (LANDFILLS ARE STILL COMMON TODAY ) . THE COUNTY HAD TOLD HONG KONG WILLIE’S FATHER, IT WAS SAFE, BUT AS WE KNOW NOW THIS WAS NOT SO. SOMETHING CAN COME FROM BAD TO BE GOOD. HONG KONG WILLIE THE NAME CAME FROM THAT ART TEACHER ( AGAIN THIS IS A BLATANT LIE SINCE THE NAME HONG KONG WILLIE WAS INVENTED AFTER 9/11/01 ) 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 ( I GO INTO FURTHUR DEPTH ABOUT HOW THE NAME CAME ABOUT IN A PREVIOUS POST AND KIM BROWN HELPED TO CREATE THE NAME TOO ). 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 ( UTTERLY FALSE BECAUSE THE FIRST MARRIAGE IN THE LIFE OF JOE BROWN, HE OWNED VARIOUS EXPENSIVE STUFF IN EAST TAMPA AND BEFORE HE DIVORCED HE LIQUIFIED MOST IF NOT EVERYTHING FOR CHILD SUPPORT AND ALIMONY ). ART MADE FROM FOUND OBJECTS, MAKING LESS OF A FOOT PRINT ON THIS WORLD. ART AND ART TEACHERS, HOW IMPORTANT. FOR THE ONES THAT HAVE, AND THE ONES THAT HAVE NOT. MEDIA CAN BE FOUND ( THE CORRECT TERM IS SELECTIVE MEDIA BECAUSE HONG KONG WILLIE USES A NAUTICAL THEME WITH NAUTICAL ITEMS ONLY ). NOW 49 YEARS LATER ( NOT TO MENTION THREE WIVES AND SEVERAL CHILDREN LATER ), WE KNOW 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 ( WHAT ABOUT THE TONS OF RUBBER WORMS AS WELL AS OTHER FISHING TACKLE THAT HE STILL SELLS TO SELECT PEOPLE. WHAT IS THEIR HALFLIFE HONG KONG WILLIE AKA A24HOUR BAIT SHOP? ), WITH OUT MUCH CHANGE. SO FOR THAT ART TEACHER WHAT SHE DID FOR MY LIFE THANK YOU, FOR HONG KONG THANK YOU, FOR AMERICA, THANK YOU, FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HELPED, THANK YOU FOR THE 76,266 VIEWS OF OUR BLOGS SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2006 ( JOE BROWN IS TALKING ABOUT HIS BLOGGER PROFILE WHICH IS A FALSE NUMBER. THIS NUMBER IS NOT UNIQUE HITS ). I STILL HAVE THE GERBER BABY BOTTLE TILL THIS DAY. HONG KONG WILLIE”
What ever happened with the Fox 13 Tampa TV spot Hong Kong Willie was given? That was the best thing as far as TV and Internet that would help the Hong Kong Willie cause and show the true artist ( Kim Brown ) as well as Joe Brown. “Everybody can be a Hong Kong Willie” the TV spot says. Unfortunately the entire endeavor for Hong Kong Willie has lost their way on the Internet and in real life I fear. Following is the TV spot about Hong Kong Willie that is often used in their blogs and even on Flick’r:
Promises are made but rarely kept, as it usually is when money is involved. “By their deeds shall you know them.” See this link for more information about this statement:
Is Hong Kong Willie just acting?
Posted in bouy, conch artist, crab floats, hong kong willie, key west artist, living green, lobster traps, preservation art, tampa tourist attraction, zen of junk 2 Comments »
A Tampa Tourist Attraction trying to save the WorldAugust 9, 2007 by Hong Kong Willie

Hong Kong Willie is all about the ability for our nation to recycle what ends up in a landfill. In Tampa, Florida you are allowed two recycle bins. One is for newspapers and the other is for recycled goods with only a 1 or 2 rating. All other recycled goods which I have seen from 3 to 7 in my house end up in the trash headed for a landfill. The name Hong Kong Willie originated several years ago by the Brown family because in Hong Kong, the recycle rate was at 97%. Willie is just a common name used in the US thus Hong Kong Willie. This idea to save the World also was influenced for the Brown family from their extensive trips to the Florida Keys where each person must make use of what they have because resources aren’t available to them. Joe Brown speaks often of one of his friends that gather drinking water from rain filtered off his roof. This is just a short summary about Hong Kong Willie.
Recently Fox 13 Tampa did a small segment on Hong Kong Willie which can be viewed below:
Now we can all relate to the “Weird Factor” of Artists. People still believe after many years that Hong Kong Willie is just a different name for their old name: A-24 Hour Bait Shop where they sold all the fishing supplies you could imagine. Back in the time of the Bait Shop, I went there and bought my fishing supplies from them.

As you can see I do own two pieces of original Art from Hong Kong Willie. I was helping them for over a year to promote them on the Internet until the Brown family and I parted ways. Never less, anybody can be a Hong Kong Willie as the Fox 13 Tampa segment shows and in my own way I am.


These pictures are recent from when Joe Brown of Hong Kong Willie was able to acquire a crashed helicopter from a NBC affiliate out of Miami. Joe and his son Derek was able (without getting pulled over) to drive the Hong Kong Willie truck with the Helicopter on it from Boot Key to Tampa. What an amazing feat that must have been.
This post alone will probably tell you more about Hong Kong Willie than their blogs do. Hong Kong Willie seems to just repeat the same few paragraphs over and over in his blogs like the following and I quote:
“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 or hongkongwillie@tampabay.rr.com. GOOGLE HONG KONG WILLIE, for BLOG, PRESS, and PHOTOS. When you are in Tampa, stop by the little old fashion Tampa tourist attraction. You will find an old fashion true road side attraction. Artists trying to make a living from their art. Refreshing gifts and souvenirs made right in Tampa. 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, no admission charge. Tampa tourist attraction Hong Kong Willie, a little road attraction started as a Worm Farm in 1965. Artists at Hong Kong Willie saw a bright future for the arts. So for a different thing to do in Tampa; check out Hong Kong Willie a roadside Tampa tourist attraction.”
The above is only one of a few similar posts playing on keywords in order to give them presence on the Internet. It’s too bad that they haven’t told their story as of yet. I do hope that their real story does come out soon because that would be the best for Hong Kong Willie as a whole. What Hong Kong Willie does now, I call keyword spamming which in itself does give you presence on the Internet but unless done well you will never get much of the story. A long time back I wrote the following poem to demonstrate to Joe Brown how keyword spamming can be a good thing occasionally but not always:

So why not spam when everybody you know seems toAll over so much spam in the form of just keywordsMaybe it is because I do not see the true need toGoogle this, Google that, does it make sense like real words
I see all of the spam as in Hong Kong, even WillieBut to me that is nothing but Hong Kong PhooeyMy resentment is not about any man named WillieIt’s about Humankind and their nature to be loony
Allow me to remind you of something I do missTell a story that somebody can believe or have doubtAdd content with keywords giving the story some blissQuit all that spamming, it’s just the easy way out
The foundation of the Internet evolves so I believe it to beSo come on already and give me some reliefSpam this, spam that, how can you not already seeLet me witness more content in order to form some belief
So now it is time for me to just completely shatterEvery blogger who believes this is an easy way outWhatever you happen to believe about this matterI will make sense of my poetry and spam the f#*k out
Google Hong Kong, Google Willie ChanGoogle Hong Kong Phooey, even Hong Kong LouieGoogle Kong Chan, Google Google if you canGoogle Hong Willie, Google Hong Kong Willie
Google Willy Hung cause you like the way he singsGoogle Hong Kong Beccary, Google for pizzaGoogle whatever delights you, so many thingsIs this of relevance Google, or is this beating ya
Go ahead; keep spamming, use colors like magentaRide someones phrase or keyword just to gain noticeSeems to me there’s no relevance to your agendaContinue to spam, we all know it’s completely bogus
So now I end my post about Hong Kong Willie preservation art group and I leave you with one question. Take a look at this picture and see what seems strange:

Hong Kong Willie was established in 1965? That also seems to be a play on words too. Good luck to all members of the Hong Kong Willie preservation art group on telling the World to “Go Green”. I wish them all the best in their endeavours and remember, you can be a Hong Kong Willie too.
Tags: hong kong williePosted in boey, conch artist, crab floats, driftwood, hong kong willie, key west artist, lobster traps, preservation art, tampa tourist attraction 10 Comments »
A New Tampa Tourist AtractionAugust 5, 2007 by Hong Kong Willie

At least there is a beginning to stopping the destruction of our habitat and wildlife. From the bottom of my heart, I thank PRESERVATION ART GROUPS like HONG KONG WILLIE for their ability to recycle many items that would otherwise end up at the bottom of the sea or in a landfill. Hong Kong Willie has another very important objective that humankind must embrace and learn from. Can you turn what most call junk into ART? That question has been answered by Hong Kong Willie art group! YES YOU CAN AND HOPEFULLY MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WILL REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND JOIN WITH THEM ON THEIR QUEST TO CHANGE THE WORLD.

Hong Kong Willie Preservation Art Group is becoming one of the new upcoming Tampa Tourist Attraction. Located on Fletcher Avenue at the I-75 exit 266, you just can’t miss the Christmas Tree made out of used buoys, the Key West style Gallery, not to mention the Hong Kong Willie vehicles. If you are just passing by, this Tampa Tourist Attraction is way too much to view at a glance. Hong Kong Willie offers so much to see, the only way you will ever be able to understand is to spend a little time and visit. This is a tourist attraction that has been many years in the making and has something for everyone. The vehicles alone stand out with their true Key West flair. If you think the Hong Kong Willie Car or the Hong Kong Willie Truck is something else, you must visit the Gallery to see such an assortment of items that it will boggle your mind. If you are ever visiting the Tampa area, I highly recommend that you take the time to stop by Hong Kong Willie Preservation Art Group and see what they are all about.
Tags: hong kong williePosted in boey, conch artist, crab floats, hong kong willie, key west, lobster traps, preservation art, tampa tourist attraction 2 Comments »
Hong Kong Willie is finally coming out of the closetAugust 1, 2007 by Hong Kong Willie

Finally, you must give Hong Kong Willie, the preservation art group praise for their latest post. It is a compilation of articles and video giving you the Chronicles of Hong Kong Willie to the present time. This post is no longer about keyword spamming. You can actually read this post and gain some knowledge from of the history up to the present for this preservation art group. This post is what I call informative and relevant. There is even a few bits of information that I didn’t know about. I hope that by giving them a little push with my posts, they have finally come out of their closet. I wish this little Tampa Tourist Attraction all the best in their endeavours. Now that the Chronicles of Hong Kong Willie are published, I hope to see more relevant and informative information in the future. I love a great story and they really do have one to tell. Let’s hear more about the Conch Artists and their art. Let’s hear more about the future plans and current plans for Hong Kong Willie. There is so much more to go but I can wait. Just follow the link below to view the post for yourself. This is the start to the unveiling of what being a Hong Kong Willie is all about. Go Hong Kong Willie!!!
PS: Check out my slidshow of Hong Kong Willie photos:
http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/slideshow.php?id=34791
Tags: conch artists, hong kong willie, key west, preservation art, recyclePosted in conch artist, hong kong willie, key west artist, preservation art, tampa tourist attraction 1 Comment »

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, January 17, 2008

Hong Kong Willie Politics

There is no need to stick to purity with Hong Kong Willie art. Hong Kong Willie must think outside the box with the green art that is made. We need new ideas from fresh minds to ensure Hong Kong Willie's message of living green. Green Art is far from just what Hong Kong Willie makes. Reuse of objects headed for any landfill can create whatever the imagination dreams. Quit acting like a political canidate continually flip-flopping on the Hong Kong Willie message Joe Brown. It would also be nice if you quit misleading the public as you still continue to do to this day. Being a Hong Kong Willie is a small part of living green. There are much bigger sullutions that already are in progress today.