Piko Siska

Harold Stuart Wilcox aka Piko Siska (1892-1983) tells the story of an artist whose Bohemian lifestyle led him to travel the enchanted lands of Polynesia and South America for over five decades. While on these journeys that begin in the 1930's he quit his Hollywood career as a set designer, and moved to Tahiti. It wasn't until the 1950's painting and drawing South seas life with a passion would he leave the island beauty he so loved. He then moved to Southern California. It wasn't until the 1960's that he travelled from Mexico to Honduras painting the Campesino people at home in their native land.

While Harold Stuart Wilcox/Piko Siska was best known for his "famous" Polynesian paintings depicting life in the South Seas along with his Polynesian fabric designs, his Campesino paintings reflect a notable shift both in culture and expression. Here, we are drawn into the lives of a Mestizo people living as they had for centuries without outside influence. And though it was not the idyllic life Wilcox once lived, it was by his own definition an"enchanted land," a colorful, profoundly free, and festive land with a charmed and gracious people. The story reveals the life and art of an artist whose work has languished in obscurity until now.

Jerry Stroud is a published author whose first book Along The California Wine Trail, ( illustrated by noted Hawaiian artist Kerne Erickson) was launched at George Stern Fine Arts in Beverly Hills. He attended book signings throughout California, including the prestiges Jonathan Club in Los Angeles. As an avid collector of art he finds great satisfaction in bringing to light fine works of art that have languished in obscurity. Today Jerry is at home with his beautiful wife Suzanne at their Sierra Foothills ranch where he continues writing with his weimaraners Bella and Piper by his side.