Art in brevard

"OFFBEAT AMERICA": HGTV FILMS ED AND HIS HEADS

Tiki artist Ed Volonnino has been well-known in Brevard County for many years. Soon he will be known to the rest of the world as well. A film crew from Home & Garden Television visited Ed on June 19th in his Melbourne home to show him at work and gather footage of places around Brevard where his work is on display. This segment is part of a new series called "Offbeat America" that celebrates the eccentric offbeat and quirky living spaces along with unconventional people and unusual crafts.

Ed came from St. Louis, MO, to Brevard County 31 years ago. His first "heads" were made of clay and were "rather funky", according to Ed. He started carving tikis after watching Cocoa Beach's artist Wayne Coombs and hasn't put down his chisel since.

Ed is also known for his connection to the entertainment business. For years he has worked and exhibited his work at Conchy Joe's, now Abaco Jack's. He also worked as discjockey at Brassy's in Cocoa Beach. This was where he met rock-legend Leon Russell who had the idea to paint the tiki that Ed gave him as a present. All of Ed's Heads have been painted since, and the very first painted tiki was printed on Leon Russell's next album cover.

The exact date of broadcasting has not been announced but Ed already knows: "This is going to be bigger than Super Bowl!"

Right on, Ed!

Brevard Live runs breaking story of Ed on national television. Ed will be on the new HGTV series "Offbeat America".