One of the highlights of ASR had to be Powells art exhibit celebrating the 30 year anniversary of the Ripper. 58 artists interpreted Vernon Courtlandt Johnson’s (VCJ) classic work that is arguably the most iconic skateboard graphic ever created. There are soem names you will know and some that you won’t. Two Northwest artists were among those whose work was commissioned, Jay Meer and Mark Sellman. I was going comment on how the collection seemed kind of weak until I took a look at the complete installation. The individual pieces as presented isolated in popups don’t really do them justice. If you take a look at the installation you’ll get a better appreciation of the works. Check out the Powell Peralta web site for the whole shebang, including pics from the reception and George Powell’s interesting recollections of the design process. And no, I wasn’t upset that I wasn’t asked to be included in the show. After all, there’s a fine line between tribute and copyright infringement, as you’ll see after the jump.

Bryce kind of looks like a thug in this still from Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground. I snagged this image from Bordistan. This is just a reminder about his show at DOS on Friday the 30th, from 7-10pm. See you there!

I always thought Xeni Jardin seemed cool with that spiky while hair. Turns out she’s actually a punk rock survivor. She does an interview with Glen Friedman on Boing Boing TV. Looks like Glen Friedman had a show at Shepard Fairey’s gallery in LA. Fairey’s interview last week was pretty great too. I was wondering about the skate photos in the background. You tube version embedded after the jump.

He’s been at it for 25 years an he’s got something to show for it. Bryce Kanights’ Renegades & Role Models show opens at The Department. on Friday, January 30th, from 7pm – 10pm. Nothing up on the D.O.S. site as of this posting, but you can view the flyer after the jump. See, I told you he was a local!

The Benton County Skateboarding Alliance, Inc (BCSA) is putting on the 2nd annual Art & Music Benefit 2009 in March at the Odd Fellows Hall. The BCSA needs art for the show (sale/silent auction). This event is a fundraiser for the new skate bowl addition to the Eric Scott McKinley skatepark in Corvallis. Artists must donate at least 51% of art sales to the skatepark fund. For further information, email the BCSA at bcskateboardingalliance@gmail.com or call 541-829-9005. That bowl in the upper right hand corner is a new one that Dreamland is going to add to the existing Corvallis skatepark, that is as soon as they raise the money. We’re also adding BCSA to our rotating Public Service ad spots in the side bar.

This is a temporary installation in Vienna. More at Dezeen.

Empty your wallet by turning your old skateboards into wallets at $60 a pop: Send us your deck & we’ll send you a wallet! Gorilla Vinyl’s Sk8 Deck Wallets are made from new & recycled skateboard decks. Each side is individually handcrafted and fitted to the wallets rectangular shape. The decks are planed and edge-sanded to their thinnest point to keep a sleek style, but still retain a strong durability factor. I’d still have to see one of these in person to get a feel for it. Seems like a wallet made out of a skateboard deck would be either too thick to be useful, or too thin to be durable. Check it out on Gorilla Vinyl.

Louis, Louis, Louis do you love me? Sorry to get distracted by Bow Wow Wow, but I’m not sure how to approach this limited edition run of Louis Vuitton skateboards complete with case by Stephen Sprouse. They are only making three, so maybe that justifies the $8,250 price tag. Maybe not. Can’t afford that? Then pony up for one of the 70 $250 T-shirts! Style king of the week! (Don’t forget to use the funny voice.) Imagine the look on your crew’s face when you walk up to a crowded skate spot with your valet toting a nice big fancy box. He sets it on the ground, then with his white gloves, opens the case and gingerly, but very deliberately hands your board to you. “Your shredding stick, sir. Shall I wax the ledge for you? What scent to you prefer?” – Thanks to Tony Bro for the tip, and the visual. [Source: WWDRETAIL]

Won’t your client’s logo look great printed on the skatepark? Or, we could take pictures of kids at the skatepark and then print the images on the skatepark, then we could get the kids to skate on it and take a picture of that… A method for printing digital images on concrete. Not much more info about this but I got it from Design Spotter.

Only a skater can wander around in southeast Portland, and understand the significance of a Sharpie marker- drawn little bird with “Luda Crooks” written underneath.  The graffiti art of Chet Childress shows up in the places where one would expect it to show up the most: dive bar bathrooms, bus stops, skate-spots, etc.  The above picture is an example taken from his myspace page.  Oh, did I mention that Chet Childress rips? Childress will have a showing of his art from 7-10 pm on Thursday, December 18th at the Department of Skateboarding, located at 15 NE Hancock Portland, OR 97212.