“They did a great design, they changed only one thing from what we wanted,” O’Gara said, adding: “We’re really excited and ecstatic that this is happening.” And yet no mention of who designed, or is involved with the construction of the soon to be largest (25,000 square feet) skatepark in LA. You’d think someone with a $2 million dollar construction and design budget would want to brag a little. It’s the Sun Valley neighborhood. (Isn’t all of California sun valley?) Any guesses? [Source: Concrete Disciples]

Nothing to do with Bam Margera: BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) is a multi-arts center located in Brooklyn, New York. For more than 150 years, BAM has been the home for adventurous artists, audiences, and ideas—engaging both global and local communities. With world-renowned programming in theater, dance, music, opera, film, and much more, BAM showcases the work of emerging artists and innovative modern masters. BAM is screening a film series on skateboarding including documentaries, straight up skate videos and hollywood dramatizations. These 19 films date from the 60’s to present day. There are the usual suspects, as well as a few I’ve never heard of. Skateboarding is Not a Crime started September, 6th and the last screening is on September, 23rd.

Some examples of water-release decals from the 60’s during the crossover of the hot-rod skateboarding fads. For sale now by Socal Speed Shop. I threw the weird surfer dude in there to make the cover image 4 panels. Something about those old head culture illustrators, they loved drawing normal guys whose eyes were bugging out in somewhat normal situations.

That’s the title of the video folks. Don’t be a jerk in the comments, Jocelyn has been known to lurk on S&A, and that concrete mini ramp setup in the background is actually hers.

Jeremy Scott and NHS reached a settlement over his pretty blatant copyright infringement on Santa Cruz skateboard graphics and other illustrations by Jim/Jimbo Phillips. Details are slim, as there was some sort of non disclosure agreement, but none of the fashions that Scott “designed” will be produced, and and the samples have been destroyed. Scott issues a lame, sideways apology as well. High Snobiety has additional comments from Bob Denike not found in the press release. – Thanks to Maple XO for the tip.

Lot’s of cats and other animals around here lately, especially cats. This one spotted at Forever 21. – Thanks to Stephanie “I swear I don’t shop at Forever 21” Murdock for the tip.

I don’t know what, or why, but here is an illustration by Dana Lechtenberg from the “Grunge Goat” series. Yes, that’s Tony Owl.

It’s the Cracked Guide to Skateboarding, published in the September, 1976 issue of Cracked Magazine. As a kid, not knowing the history of which came first, I still somehow managed to grok Cracked as a somewhat inferior imitator of Mad Magazine. That didn’t stop me from pouring over each issue I came in contact with. I’ve always associated Mad and Cracked with trailer homes at the lake where my cousin kept his stash hidden from plain sight in his closet. His mother would literally sneer when she’d see us reading them, and she often disapproved vocally of “that trash,” which lent them a small fraction of an illicit quality usually reserved for Playboy and the likes. Sure, there were the frequent Bill Ward illustrations featuring out of place dangerously endowed females, but for the most part it was just adolescent gags and smart-assed comments. Issue 135 of Cracked tackles skateboarding in typical Cracked fashion.

I made some 7 color, screen printed reproductions of an advert for Nash skateboards Park Rider model. These ads appeared in comic books around 1978. I thought I had posted my copy here, but I must have been thinking of this old Bullwinkle ad instead. The idea of printing these has been in the back of my mind for a long time. I went as far as working on the separation file before sitting on it for a year. Earlier this week I got it in my head that I should try to crank these out in time for the Above Coping art show benefit at Commonwealth Skateboarding in Portland tonight. On Tuesday I called RC Screen Shop, luckily they had four screens stretched that the original buyer never picked up. They were large enough that I could burn two colors side by side on one screen, so I decided to go for it. After a few sweaty late evenings (cutting it down to the wire) I have a finished print run. If you buy one at Commonwealth, all the proceeds will go directly to Above Coping. Original advert and more after the jump.

Bloody Nose Ballerina has an interview with adult film/photo actress known as Miss Ladie. I’m not familiar with her work, but apparently she has a fetish for skateboards. Miss Ladie is also into old VHS horror films, making jewelry out of “dead shit” and World of Warcraft. She also has a lifelong ambition to see where the Champagne of Beers is made, so she’s definitely classy. Let’s face it. Pabst sucks. Miller High Life all the way. – Thanks to Colin for the tip. (Don’t worry, Mrs Colin doesn’t read S&A)