By Patti Ewald, Times Correspondent
In Print: Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Artist Robert “Fishbone” Goins remodeled Team Extreme Eyewear using his steel sculptures, including these flames lining the deck, and natural materials such as bamboo. One businesswoman was so impressed that she hired him to bring an island flavor to her property.
GULFPORT — The touch of tiki popping up around the city may remain just that for a while — a touch.
The man charged with bringing an island-outpost feel to the coastal arts community has been tossed out of his most recent project — and was tossed into jail in the process.
Artist Robert "Fishbone" Goins, took a little sunglass shop at 2904 Beach Blvd., added bamboo and some of his steel art pieces, and painted it a deep orange with brushstroke accents.
The resulting beach sophistication of Team Extreme Eyewear is a stark contrast to the stores around it and yet somehow its island motif suited the area.
Suited it so well, in fact, that businesswoman Maddy Guenther called on him to do some work for her across the street at 3107 Beach Blvd.
Goins was in the middle of that project when the tiki started to tumble.
Guenther hired Goins to turn a residential duplex into retail storefronts, so Goins designed the "Bo-Tiki," an island-themed art and specialty shop, and the "Bait-Tiki," a bait and tackle shop.
He was working on the project when he and Guenther had a falling out.
Guenther said she fired him because he wasn't doing the job.
Goins said he walked off the job because Guenther wouldn't pay him.
His job termination isn't the only thing they disagree on.
Guenther said she plans to keep the name of the business — "Bo-Tiki" (playing on the word, boutique) — and its design, but Goins said they are his intellectual property and she didn't pay for them.
"It's not true," said Guenther, a local real estate agent and owner of O'Maddy's restaurant and bar on Shore Boulevard. "The problem is that I paid him cash and I have no record of it. But, I definitely paid him. I already trademarked the name. It's mine," Guenther said.
To make matters worse, Goins broke a window in the front door of the business when he was moving things off the construction site. He said it was an accident. Gulfport police say it was a felony.
Goins was charged with criminal mischief, the charge imposed when damage exceeds $1,000, and jailed. He's out on bond and plans to fight the charge.
Meanwhile, the plans that he had to bring an island flavor to other parts of Gulfport — an idea met with enthusiastic support by residents and business owners alike — have been put on hold.
But, maybe not for long.
This is not his first run-in with a client — or the law — and yet he and his artwork always manage to resurface.
He said he is negotiating to do more storefronts on Beach Boulevard and also some buildings in the 49th Street corridor.
"It's all about going green. People are past vinyl siding. They want bamboo and travertine," the 51-year-old Goins said.
"And the color palettes echo the building materials. They are organic colors," he said.
Goins, who is responsible for the design of many area businesses, including the Salt Rock Grill in Indian Shores, thinks it's important to give Gulfport an identity. He wants to "brand" the coastal art-friendly community and he thinks giving it an island theme is the way to do it.
"It has wide appeal. I'm working with bamboo. It's Asian, Polynesian, whatever slant you want," Goins said.
He believes a person with a vision is needed to transform Gulfport and he's ready to assume that role.
"We need a program of attraction, rather than promotion," he said.
"When you create a business identity, the community starts to have an identity.
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