KAHIKO ARTS

"My passion for art and early technology keeps me in balance."

Welcome to KAHIKO Arts. I'm Dino Labiste and I am the artist and craftsman for KAHIKO Arts. Each item that you see on this webpage is a one-of-a-kind piece. No two items are alike because each artwork is individually hand crafted. Along with the esthetic design of the indigenous objects, all replicas are also utilitarian. I strive for the integration of function and form.

Contact Dino Labiste at KahikoArts@yahoo.com or call (510) 494-9297 to reserve the item(s) you are interestd in. Then fill out the Order Form. If you want to commission a particular item, contact Dino. E-mail or call for any questions.

For a biography of Dino, access The PrimitveWays Clan webpage. Visit THE GALLERY and view his previous artwork and replicas.

Dino has sold his artwork and replicas to the Oakland Museum (Oakland, CA), Monterey State Historic Parks (Monterey, CA), Filoli Estates (Woodside, CA), Chitactac-Adams Heritage County Park (Gilroy, CA), the City of Mountain View (Mountain View, CA) and private individuals throughout the United States. Design Craftsmen, an exhibit producer from Michigan, purchased a full size tule (bulrush) boat. A Schoningen spear and 2 Neanderthal spears were replicated for Shining Red Productions for a PBS 3-part NOVA series entitled "Becoming Human". Dino also has a stone tool displayed at the Maidu Museum (Roseville, CA).

All indigenous objects of the past served a practical or symbolic function. Adornment, added to objects of practical use, related to spiritual knowledge in aiding the power (mana, tipni, inua, qi, orenda, maban, wakanda, kami, teotl, prana or manitou) of the object and so improving its efficiency. All man-made things had a spirit life and were not regarded by indigenous cultures as inanimate "dead" objects, as western society now regard a bowl or a basket. Indigenous objects had meanings in the minds of their users as well as functions in their hands. The rule was utility first, decoration second. The symbolic or spiritual functions of the decorations made the objects and symbols more than things of art.

Item: Soaproot Brush
Item Number: SB15

Description: Brush made of fibers from the dry, outer layers of the Soap Plant (Chlorogalum pomeridianum) bulb. The fibers are bound with dogbane cordage. The handle is coated with layers of a mucilaginous paste from the steamed Soap Plant bulb. The paste hardened as it dried. California natives used the soaproot brush for acorn flour processing or hair brushing.

Dimensions:
Overall height: 5 1/2 inches (14 cm)
Width of widest part of the brush: 3 inches (7.6 cm)
Height of handle: 3 3/4 inches (9.5 cm)

Price: $50.00

Shipping & Handling: $5.00

Total Cost: $55.00

Item: Gourd Drum
Item Number: GD14

Description: Drum made from a gourd with a deer hide drumhead. The rawhide is lashed with 2-ply agave fibers and dogbane cordage. The lower ring is made from willow wrapped with tapa (paper mulberry bark). The designs are burnt on the gourd.

Dimensions:
Height: 11 1/4 inches (28.6 cm)
Diameter of drumhead: 9 1/4 inches (23.5 cm)
Diameter of base: 5 inches (12.7 cm)

Price: $50.00 (reduced price: $40.00)

Shipping & Handling: $9.00

Total Cost: $59.00 (now: $49.00)

Item: Sweet Grass
Item Number: SG14

Description: Braided sweet grass used for smudging (a ritual cleansing and purification for the physical and spiritual bodies). To "smudge" is to purify with smoke using sacred herbs.

Dimensions:
Length: 9 inches (22.8 cm)

Price: $4.00 / braided sweet grass
A minimum of 5 braided sweet grass per order.

Shipping & Handling: $5.00 (add $1.00 to shipping cost per additional 5 braided sweet grass)

Total Cost: $25.00 for 5 braided sweet grass