ldm Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 I have followed this board for many years and only posted a couple of times. I have limited computer skills. Am a member of the Art Museum. Today's object of art is a billiken created by a K.C. artist in 1908 and has become an object of art for native persons in Alaska and also the mascot of the SLU athletic programs. It was the object of songs. Maybe if someone is a member of the Museum, that person can bring the picture of the billiken and the explanation into this thread . Thanks NH likes this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slu let the dogs out? Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 https://www.slam.org/collection/objects/65556/ rgbilliken and NH like this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheeseman Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 I wonder if this billiken is the same one that the school took as its mascot. The story I heard was that our billiken came from Asia as a novelty. I believe that the ones that the Native Alaskans use has been in their culture for hundreds of years and has some spiritual connection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thetorch Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 SLU hosted a few years back a conference on the origins of Billiken for bicentennial that I attended. Unfortunately the presenter knew less than I did, and brought fewer props. An MBM and grocery store manager took over the lecture in front a bunch of academic stiffs. A sad sad display by the university. There is a lot of legends out there but the Billiken was created in 1908 in KC. It is prevalent in Japan and Alaska but for different, not ancient reasons. Japan has a love for all American Kitsch, Alaskans love to sell tourists trinkets that look authentic. I went to Osaka as a teen and didn't take in the Billikens like i should have. I hope to go back one day. I own several Billiken figurines including the one pictured above. They are quite plentiful and still being produced in Alaska. Here is the best site I have found for history of the Billiken. https://churchofgoodluck.com/home-of-the-church-of-good-luck-and-museum-of-good-luck/billiken/ cgeldmacher, Slu let the dogs out?, billiken_roy and 1 other like this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Majerus Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 I have a carved Billiken from my Alaska cruise/trip some years ago - small bluish stone but every BBM would recognize it for what it is. My board avatar is the cover of “The Billiken Rag” - written by EJ Stark, the son of Scott Joplin’s St Louis publisher - John Stark. You can find it on You Tube, but the one I heard was more in a honky-rink mode than classic ragtime which can be lyrical. It’s in my repertoire but I’d have to spend some time with it before I’d perform it for others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Majerus Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 Honky tonk - not honky rink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slu let the dogs out? Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 3 hours ago, Slu let the dogs out? said: https://www.slam.org/collection/objects/65556/ If I ever need a tooth replaced i'm having my prosthodontist replace is with this bad boy (gold belly included) SLU_Lax likes this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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