Nick writes: The checkered grip–amazingly–has held up almost perfectly. I lost one or two of the half-squares on the edge, but otherwise, it’s all there! I am actually known for some ridiculously intricate grip tape art. Since I only weigh like 140 and don’t really skate street anyways, I tend to have boards forever, so I figure it’s worth it. I’ll attach a photo of my last board which had my favorite grip job to date.

As a follow up to the Underground Skate Plaza post it’s time to investigate another project from The Side Effects of Urethane. This one is an installation called A Surface In Between. A Surface In Between was a group art show. The The Side Effects of Urethane (TSEOU) collective organized the show and built out the space, which included the skateable installation you see above. I like the way these guys think. You will too if you keep reading after the jump.

Strange sights at Glenhaven.

This guy is a type designer as well as a skater. Looks nice but what happens if you use it? Do the little squares come off? Our friend Chuck Ellis does equally intricate but less regular pattern with his grip tape – I’ll try to find a photo.

Rich Burton mounted lights to a helmet and we took it for a spin the other night at Pier Park. It was an amazing experience. Here’s a shot I took of Shawn Reinert. FujiColor 800 film, 30 second exposure. Rich has more photos here.

A group called The Side Effects of Urethane working in conjunction with the U.K. skate rag Kingpin have designed and mostly built a skateplaza in some unused tunnels in London. These guys are the Dreamland of street parks, I’m declaring it. Make it so. They even followed the D.I.Y. ethic of funding and making it themselves on unused public property. Unlike London’s tradition of squatting however, they managed to get permission first. More London Skateplaza action after the jump. [Source: Sleestak]

Andy Jenkins of Mel Bend fame among other things has a vinyl figure of Wrench Pilot character Lettus Bee taking faceplant. Limited to 500 pieces and costing $100 (!??), I suppose people would be upset if you called it a “plastic toy.” It’s pretty cool actually, but not a hundred bucks cool. Too rich for my blood. MOre pics after the jump. [Source: Sublimited]

The premiere issue of Craft Magazine featured artist Jenny Hart supposedly embroidering a skateboard. I actually have this issue, It’s not really embroidered, she just drills and laces the edge like a souvenir indian belt. Actually that might be pretty cool for grabs, like one of those steering wheel covers from Pep Boys. Not so good for slides though. To her credit, she points that out in the article. Pretty good magazine. From O’Reilly those tech publishers who also produce Make.

Do you want to see a dead guy skate vert? (I don’t mean Ben Pappas. ) Gunther von Hagens looks more like a character in a bad movie than he does a scientist, but he started the Institute for Plastination to preserve bodies in clear plastic. His latest traveling exhibition is called Body Worlds 3 and it features a creepy looking skateboarder inverted. Is that a frontside invert? You can even buy posters of a dead guy skating vert, and I don’t mean Jeff Phillips.

No these aren’t more laser cut skateboards again, but a few house cleaning links to skateboard art, including a Paul Schmitt program at a technical school, embroidered skateboards, and one show in Kansas that looks like it was held in Twin Peaks.